Turning 60, 61, 62 or 63 This Year? Your 401(k) Limit Is Higher Than You May Think

Workers ages 60 through 63 can contribute up to $35,750 of their own money to an eligible 401(k) in 2026, combining the $24,500 regular limit with the $11,250 special catch-up limit – Shutterstock

Turning 60 in 2026 comes with an unusual retirement perk: a bigger 401(k) catch-up contribution limit. If you turn 60, 61, 62 or 63 at any point this year, you may be able to put up to $35,750 of your own money into a traditional 401(k) or similar workplace plan.

That figure comes from a regular employee contribution limit of $24,500 plus a special catch-up limit of $11,250. The IRS raised the regular 401(k) limit for 2026, but the age-specific catch-up rule comes from the SECURE 2.0 Act.