CD Calculator — Certificate of Deposit Returns
Find your CD's maturity value, total interest, and effective APY in seconds. Compare terms side by side, build a laddered CD strategy, and see exactly what an early withdrawal would cost you.
CD Calculator
Certificate of Deposit · Maturity & Returns
CD DETAILS
TAX & INFLATION (OPTIONAL)
EARLY WITHDRAWAL
Maturity Value
$10,512
12 months at 5.0% monthly compounding
$512
Interest Earned
5.116%
Effective APY
$10,512
After-Tax Value
$10,000
Initial Deposit
$512
Total Interest
$10,512
Maturity Value
Maturity Breakdown
- Initial Deposit
- Interest Earned
⚠️ Early Withdrawal (if you withdraw after 6 months)
$253
Penalty Amount
$10,000
Net Received
📊 CD Term Comparison
| Term | Maturity Value | Interest Earned | APY |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 months | $10,126 | $126 | 5.116% |
| 6 months | $10,253 | $253 | 5.116% |
| 1 year ✓ | $10,512 | $512 | 5.116% |
| 2 years | $11,049 | $1,049 | 5.116% |
| 3 years | $11,615 | $1,615 | 5.116% |
| 5 years | $12,834 | $2,834 | 5.116% |
📅 Period-by-Period Schedule
| Period | Opening Balance | Interest | Closing Balance | Cumulative Interest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Period 1 | $10,000 | $42 | $10,042 | $42 |
| Period 2 | $10,042 | $42 | $10,084 | $84 |
| Period 3 | $10,084 | $42 | $10,126 | $126 |
| Period 4 | $10,126 | $42 | $10,168 | $168 |
| Period 5 | $10,168 | $42 | $10,210 | $210 |
| Period 6 | $10,210 | $43 | $10,253 | $253 |
| Period 7 | $10,253 | $43 | $10,295 | $295 |
| Period 8 | $10,295 | $43 | $10,338 | $338 |
| Period 9 | $10,338 | $43 | $10,381 | $381 |
| Period 10 | $10,381 | $43 | $10,425 | $425 |
| Period 11 | $10,425 | $43 | $10,468 | $468 |
| Period 12 | $10,468 | $44 | $10,512 | $512 |
💡 CD Tips
🪜 CD Ladder Builder
| Rung | Amount | Rate | Interest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rung 1 (1yr) | $10,000 | 4.60% | $460 |
| Rung 2 (2yr) | $10,000 | 4.70% | $962 |
| Rung 3 (3yr) | $10,000 | 4.80% | $1,510 |
| Rung 4 (4yr) | $10,000 | 4.90% | $2,109 |
| Rung 5 (5yr) | $10,000 | 5.00% | $2,763 |
Best CD Rates in 2026
Before you lock money into a CD, it's worth scanning what else is available — sometimes a high-yield savings account or a short CD ladder beats a single long-term CD. Compare your own numbers with our savings calculator and interest rate calculator.
| Account Type | Typical APY 2026 | Liquidity | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| High-Yield Savings | 4.0 – 5.0% | Immediate | Emergency fund, short-term goals |
| Money Market Account | 3.8 – 4.8% | Immediate | Larger balances, some check access |
| 6-Month CD | 4.5 – 5.2% | Fixed term | Short-term locked savings |
| 1-Year CD | 4.8 – 5.5% | Fixed term | Predictable returns, 12-month goal |
| 5-Year CD | 4.0 – 5.0% | Fixed term | Medium-term goals |
| Regular Savings | 0.3 – 1.0% | Immediate | Convenience only — avoid for growth |
| Roth IRA (invested) | 7 – 10% historical | Retirement age | Long-term, tax-free growth |
How to Build a CD Ladder
A CD ladder splits your total savings across several CDs with staggered maturities instead of one lump deposit. When the shortest CD matures, you reinvest it at the longest rung's term, keeping the ladder going while capturing regular access to cash and generally higher average yields than an all-short-term approach.
| Rung | Amount | Term | Rate | Interest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rung 1 | $5,000 | 1 year | 4.6% | $230 |
| Rung 2 | $5,000 | 2 years | 4.7% | $481 |
| Rung 3 | $5,000 | 3 years | 4.8% | $756 |
| Rung 4 | $5,000 | 4 years | 4.9% | $1,057 |
| Rung 5 | $5,000 | 5 years | 5.0% | $1,381 |
Every year, one CD matures — giving you access to that rung plus interest. You can spend it or roll it into a new 5-year CD at whatever rate is available then.
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