Certificate of Deposit (CD)

See your CD's value at maturity and the effective annual yield.

Your CD

$
%

At maturity

Value at maturity
$0
Assumes the CD is held to maturity with no early-withdrawal penalty. APY reflects the effect of compounding on the stated rate. Illustrative only.
About this calculator

Certificate of Deposit (CD)

A certificate of deposit (CD) calculator shows what your CD will be worth at maturity and its effective annual yield (APY). Enter your deposit, rate, term, and compounding frequency to see exactly how much interest you'll earn.

How CDs work

A certificate of deposit locks in a fixed rate for a set term in exchange for leaving your money untouched until maturity. Because the rate is guaranteed and (at U.S. banks) deposits are FDIC-insured up to limits, CDs are among the safest places to earn interest, the trade-off is access, since withdrawing early usually costs a penalty of several months' interest.

Laddering and rate shopping

To keep some money accessible while still earning CD rates, many savers build a ladder, splitting the deposit across CDs that mature at staggered intervals so a portion comes due regularly. It's also worth shopping around: online banks and credit unions often pay noticeably more than large national banks. Compare offers by APY, which already reflects compounding.

How to use it

  1. Enter your deposit amount and the CD's interest rate.
  2. Choose the term and compounding frequency.
  3. See the value at maturity and the effective APY.
  4. Compare terms and rates to find the best return.

Frequently asked questions

How much will a CD earn?

It depends on the deposit, rate, term, and compounding. Enter them above to see the maturity value and interest earned.

What's the difference between APR and APY on a CD?

APR is the stated rate; APY reflects the effect of compounding and is the true yearly yield. Banks quote CDs in APY.

Is my money locked up in a CD?

Usually yes until maturity, withdrawing early typically triggers a penalty. This estimate assumes you hold to maturity.

See the exact formula and a worked example on our methodology page.

Related calculators