Super · Retirement — updated May 2026
How much super do you need to retire in Australia?
The ASFA comfortable standard, the 4% rule applied to Australia, super benchmarks by age, and how the Age Pension acts as your safety net.
The ASFA comfortable retirement standard
ASFA (the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia) publishes quarterly benchmarks for what a "comfortable" retirement costs in Australia. These figures assume you own your home outright and are relatively healthy.
Comfortable — single
$51,814/yr
$997/wk
Private health, leisure travel, dining out, home maintenance
Comfortable — couple
$73,337/yr
$1,411/wk
Per household. Economies of scale from sharing fixed costs.
Modest — single
$32,417/yr
$624/wk
Basic lifestyle, mostly domestic. Similar to Age Pension level.
Modest — couple
$46,620/yr
$897/wk
Per household. Supplemented by part-pension for most.
Source: ASFA Retirement Standard Q1 2025–26. Figures assume homeownership, indexed to CPI.
Note
The 4% rule: what lump sum do you need?
The 4% rule says you can withdraw 4% of your portfolio annually and expect it to last 30+ years, based on historical investment returns. Working backwards from the ASFA comfortable standard:
Comfortable single ($51,814/yr)
$51,814 ÷ 4% = $1.295M
Comfortable couple ($73,337/yr)
$73,337 ÷ 4% = $1.833M
Modest single ($32,417/yr)
$32,417 ÷ 4% = $810k (Age Pension supplements this)
Modest couple ($46,620/yr)
$46,620 ÷ 4% = $1.165M
Tip
Super balance benchmarks by age
Age 30
On track for a comfortable single retirement at 67.
Age 35
Mid-career check. Salary sacrifice can accelerate this.
Age 40
Peak earning years approaching — time to boost contributions.
Age 45
Past halfway. Gap analysis should be done regularly.
Age 50
Catch-up contributions (carry-forward rules) available now.
Age 55
Downsizer contributions become available. Preservation age nearing.
Age 60
Super accessible tax-free in retirement phase.
Source: ASFA benchmarks for a comfortable single retirement. Individual targets vary.
The Age Pension as a backstop
The full Age Pension for a single person is currently $29,754/year ($1,144 per fortnight), and $44,855/year for couples combined. To receive the full pension, your assets (excluding the family home) must be below $301,750 (single homeowner) or $451,500 (couple homeowner).
The part-pension taper means many retirees with moderate super balances receive some Age Pension — reducing the amount of super they need to fully self-fund retirement. A single retiree drawing $25,000/year from super and receiving a part-pension of $15,000/year can meet the ASFA modest standard on significantly less than $810k of super.
Note
Frequently asked questions
What is the ASFA comfortable retirement standard?
ASFA (Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia) publishes quarterly benchmarks for retirement spending. The 'comfortable' standard for 2025–26 is $51,814/year for a single person and $73,337/year for a couple. This covers a good lifestyle: regular leisure, private health insurance, occasional travel, and home maintenance — but not luxury living. The 'modest' standard is $32,417 (single) and $46,620 (couple), broadly similar to the Age Pension.
What is the 4% rule and does it apply in Australia?
The 4% rule is a US retirement planning guideline suggesting you can safely withdraw 4% of your portfolio annually without running out of money over a 30-year retirement. For a $1.3M portfolio, that's $52,000/year — close to the ASFA comfortable standard for a single. The rule is based on historical stock and bond returns. In Australia, it is a reasonable starting point but should be tested against your specific circumstances, especially since Australian retirees also have access to the Age Pension as a backstop.
How does the Age Pension affect how much super I need?
The Age Pension provides up to $29,754/year for a single (as at 2025–26) if you meet residency and assets/income tests. For a retiree with modest super, the pension fills the gap significantly — someone drawing $20,000/year from super and receiving a part-pension of $20,000 can sustain the ASFA modest standard. This means Australians with less super than the 'full self-funded' target can still retire comfortably by combining super drawdowns with a part-pension.
What superannuation balance should I have at my age?
ASFA benchmarks suggest: at 30 — $67,000 for a comfortable retirement on track; at 40 — $154,000; at 50 — $323,000; at 60 — $473,000. These are averages for a comfortable retirement. Your target depends on your expected lifestyle, when you plan to retire, whether you'll receive the Age Pension, and your partner's super. Couples have lower per-person targets because shared fixed costs (housing, utilities) are split.
What happens if I don't have enough super?
You have several options: work longer (each extra year of SGC contributions and investment growth makes a significant difference), make salary sacrifice contributions to boost your balance, downsize your home and contribute proceeds to super (the downsizer contribution scheme allows up to $300,000 per person into super from age 55), or adjust your expected retirement lifestyle. The Age Pension also provides a safety net for those with lower balances.
Can I retire early if I have more than the target balance?
Yes — but super is only accessible from your preservation age (60 for anyone born after 1 July 1964). If you want to retire before 60, you need accessible savings or investments outside of super to cover the gap years. Many early retirees use a combination of non-super investments (ETFs, property) for the pre-60 phase, then draw on super from 60 onwards when earnings are tax-free.