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CD Calculator (2026)

Free educational estimate · Last reviewed: June 2026

Enter your deposit amount, the APY, the term in months, and how often interest compounds. This calculator estimates the interest you will earn and the maturity value of a certificate of deposit. Everything runs in your browser; nothing is stored or sent anywhere.

Certificate of deposit growth illustration CD
Illustrative diagram. A CD locks in a fixed rate for a set term; results are estimates if held to maturity.
WarningThis is a simplified educational estimate, not financial or tax advice. It assumes the rate you enter is the APY, that you hold the CD to maturity, and that the rate stays fixed for the term. It ignores early-withdrawal penalties, taxes on interest, and any account fees. CD rates change often and vary by institution. Always verify the current APY, term, penalty terms, and insurance coverage directly with the bank or credit union before opening a CD.
Maturity value at end of term
$0
$0
Interest earned
$0
Your deposit

Estimate updates as you type. The rate you enter is treated as the APY (the effective yearly return), held to maturity.

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How the CD estimate works

The calculator grows your deposit using compound interest. It converts the APY into a per-period rate based on how often interest compounds, then applies it over the full term. The formula is final value = deposit × (1 + APY/n)n × years, where n is the number of compounding periods per year. The interest earned is simply the final value minus your original deposit. Because a CD locks in a fixed rate, the only inputs that change the result are your deposit, the rate, the term, and the compounding frequency.

CD vs. high-yield savings, briefly

A certificate of deposit usually offers a fixed rate in exchange for locking your money up for the term, with a penalty for early withdrawal. A high-yield savings account keeps your money accessible but its rate can change at any time. CDs can make sense for money you know you will not need until a set date, while savings accounts suit an emergency fund you might need at any moment. Compare the trade-offs and the current rates before deciding, and confirm penalty and insurance details with the institution.

Common questions

Should I enter the rate or the APY?

Enter the APY, which is the figure banks advertise and which already reflects compounding within the year. If you only have the nominal rate, your real earnings with compounding will be a little higher than the rate alone implies.

Does this include taxes or penalties?

No. It assumes you hold the CD to maturity and ignores early-withdrawal penalties and taxes owed on the interest. Treat the figure as a clean, pre-tax estimate and confirm the exact terms with the bank.

Is my data saved?

No. The calculation runs entirely in your browser. Nothing you type is stored, transmitted, or shared.

Related calculators → Compound Interest Calculator: model any compounding balance → Savings Goal Calculator: reach a target by a deadline → Inflation Calculator: what your money will be worth

Method: compounds the initial deposit at the entered APY over the chosen term, converting the APY into a per-period rate using the compounding frequency, then subtracts the deposit to find interest earned. General references include published CD explainers from Bankrate, NerdWallet, and MoneyGeek, plus FDIC deposit-insurance basics ($250,000 per depositor, per insured bank, per ownership category). This is educational information, not financial advice.