CD Calculator
See what a certificate of deposit grows to at maturity, plus the interest earned and APY.
How to use the CD Calculator
- Enter the amount you are depositing.
- Enter the CD's interest rate and its term in years.
- Choose how often interest compounds.
- See the maturity value, interest earned and effective APY.
Maturity = Principal × (1 + rate ÷ n)^(n × years)
About the CD Calculator
A certificate of deposit locks a sum of money away for a fixed term at a fixed rate, in exchange for a higher return than an everyday savings account. This calculator applies the standard compound-growth formula to show what your deposit is worth when the CD matures, how much of that is interest, and the effective APY once compounding is counted. Because the rate is fixed for the whole term, the result is unusually certain — a rare thing in saving and investing.
The trade-off for that certainty is access. Money in a CD is committed until maturity, and taking it out early normally forfeits a chunk of interest as a penalty. That makes CDs well suited to money you know you will not need for a set period, and it is why savers often ladder several CDs of different lengths so some matures regularly.
The figures here assume the rate holds for the full term and interest stays in the account to compound. For a flexible balance instead, use the compound interest calculator; to compare accounts on equal terms, the APY calculator.
Frequently asked questions
What happens if I withdraw early?
Most CDs charge an early-withdrawal penalty, often several months of interest, which this calculator does not deduct. It assumes you hold the CD to maturity, which is when the shown value applies.
Is the rate fixed?
For a standard CD, yes — the rate is locked for the whole term, which is why the maturity value is predictable. The calculator assumes a fixed rate throughout.
What is the effective APY?
It is the true annual yield once compounding is included, which is slightly above the nominal rate. It lets you compare the CD fairly with savings accounts quoted as APY.