Reaching the 401(k) limit is simple arithmetic: what you have left to contribute divided by the paychecks you have left. This is general information, not financial advice.
401k contribution per paycheck to reach the limit by December
The IRS set the 2026 employee deferral limit at $24,500. Subtract what you have already put in, then divide by the paychecks remaining. If you have contributed $10,000 and have 6 biweekly paychecks left, you need $14,500 divided by 6, which is $2,416.67 per paycheck. If you were paid weekly with 11 paychecks left, it is $1,318.18. Count paydays from your next one through December 31.
How to max out a 401(k) with biweekly pay
Starting from January with 26 biweekly paychecks, the even pace is $24,500 divided by 26, or $942.31 per paycheck. With 24 semi-monthly checks it is $1,020.83, and with 12 monthly checks $2,041.67. The later you start, the larger each check has to be, which is why the per-paycheck amount can exceed a whole paycheck by December.
401k catch-up contribution per paycheck at ages 50 and 60 to 63
People 50 and older can add $8,000, for a $32,500 limit. People who are 60, 61, 62 or 63 can add a higher $11,250 instead of the regular $8,000, for $35,750 if the plan allows it. At 64 you return to the $8,000 catch-up. Starting from zero with 26 biweekly checks, the even pace is $1,250 at $32,500 and $1,375 at $35,750. Starting in 2026, if you earned more than $150,000 from the plan sponsor last year, catch-up contributions generally must go in as Roth.
Employer match and front-loading
The $24,500 counts only your own deferrals; the employer match is separate. If your plan matches each pay period without a year-end true-up, reaching the limit early can end the match for the rest of the year, so check your plan before front-loading. Some plans also cap the percent of pay you can defer, which can make a late-year catch-up impossible.
Try the per-paycheck calculator → Related: 401(k) calculator.
Sources: IRS news release, 401(k) limit increases to $24,500 for 2026; IRS Notice 2025-67; IRS retirement topics on catch-up contributions. Rules verified October 9, 2026.