CD Calculator

Free CD calculator to see what your certificate of deposit earns at maturity. Compare CD terms and rates, APY vs rate, early withdrawal penalties, and CD ladder returns.

CD Details View Results

Enter deposit, rate or APY, compounding, and term to see maturity value, term comparison, and optional early withdrawal penalty.

Maturity Value
Total Interest
Entered Rate / APY

Maturity Date

Term Comparison (APY per term)

TermAPY (%)MaturityInterest

Month-by-Month Growth

MonthInterestBalance
How This Is Calculated

CD maturity uses A = P(1 + r/n)nt with your exact term in months. APY and nominal rate convert both ways at your compounding frequency. Early withdrawal penalties forfeit X months of simple interest on the deposit.

Enter CD details to see the math…
Guide & Reference

Everything behind the CD Calculator

Formulas, reference charts, and detailed answers — expand any section you need.

CD Calculator by Term: 6 Month to 5 Year Comparison

The CD calculator term comparison runs the same deposit across every common term at each term's own rate, since banks price terms independently and longer does not always mean better yield, especially when short-term rates run high.

TermRate (example)$10,000 at Maturity
6 months4.30%$10,213
12 months4.50%$10,450
24 months4.20%$10,858
36 months4.00%$11,249
60 months3.90%$12,110

Example rates; enter your bank's actual quotes per term.

CD Calculator: What Will My Certificate of Deposit Earn?

This CD calculator shows the maturity value and total interest on any certificate of deposit: enter the deposit, rate or APY, compounding, and term, and the CD calculator displays what you'll have at maturity with the full month-by-month growth behind it. Rate and APY are interchangeable inputs, converted automatically, so the result matches the bank's advertised numbers instead of quietly diverging from them.

Example: $10,000 in a 12-month CD at 4.50% APY grows to $10,450 at maturity, earning $450 in interest.

CD Interest Calculator: Rate vs APY

A CD interest calculator has to handle the rate-versus-APY distinction banks blur: the rate is the nominal annual figure the formula uses, while APY includes the compounding and is what banks advertise. At daily compounding, a 4.40% rate is a 4.50% APY. Enter either one and the calculator shows both, so quotes from different banks compare on the same basis.

CD Early Withdrawal Penalty Calculator

The CD early withdrawal penalty calculator shows what breaking a CD before maturity actually costs: typically 3 months of interest on terms under a year and 6 to 12 months on longer terms. Enter a withdrawal date and the calculator shows the penalty, the interest you keep, and your effective return, and it flags when a withdrawal early in the term would cut into principal because the penalty exceeds interest earned so far.

CD Ladder Calculator: Staggered Terms, Steady Access

The CD ladder calculator splits one deposit across staggered maturities, a third each into 12, 24, and 36 month CDs, for example, so money becomes available every year while most of the balance earns longer-term rates. The ladder view shows each rung's maturity date and value plus the blended yield, which is the practical answer to choosing between short-term access and long-term rates.

CD vs High-Yield Savings: Which Earns More?

A CD locks the rate for the term; a high-yield savings account stays liquid but can drop its rate any month. When CD and savings rates are similar, the CD's value is the rate guarantee, and when savings rates run higher, liquidity wins unless rates are expected to fall. Run the CD calculator with your actual quotes on both and the maturity figures make the trade concrete for your amount and timeline.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

How Do I Calculate CD Interest?
Enter the deposit, rate or APY, compounding frequency, and term. The CD calculator compounds the deposit to maturity and shows total interest and the month-by-month growth.
How Much Does a $10,000 CD Earn in a Year?
At 4.50% APY, $450, for a $10,450 maturity value. Enter your actual rate and the calculator shows your exact figure.
What Is the Difference Between CD Rate and APY?
The rate is the nominal annual figure; APY includes compounding and is what banks advertise. The calculator converts between them automatically.
What Happens If I Withdraw a CD Early?
You forfeit a penalty, typically 3 to 12 months of interest depending on the term. The penalty scenario shows the exact cost and your effective return after breaking early.
What Is a CD Ladder?
Splitting a deposit across staggered terms so a portion matures regularly while the rest earns longer-term rates. The ladder mode builds one and shows the blended yield.
Is This CD Calculator Free?
Yes, completely free, with no signup, term comparison, penalty math, and ladder building included.

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