Free CD Calculator — Compare Terms Before You Lock In

Last updated: July 14, 2026

MoneyMath's CD calculator shows what a certificate of deposit is worth at maturity and the interest earned, then compares every standard term from 6 to 60 months at the same APY so savers can see whether locking up longer is worth it.

Free to useRuns in your browserSource-backed assumptions

Calculate a certificate of deposit's value at maturity and interest earned from the deposit, APY, and term in months.

Compare the standard 6, 12, 18, 24, 36, and 60-month terms side by side at the same APY before locking your money up.

See the month-by-month growth curve and context on early-withdrawal penalties, CD laddering, and FDIC insurance.

How to use this calculator

Step 1Enter your starting information. Add the core inputs requested by the CD Calculator, such as amounts, dates, rates, income, weight, or other scenario details.
Step 2Review the calculated result. Read the headline answer first, then scan the supporting breakdown, chart, or comparison table.
Step 3Compare another scenario. Change one input at a time to understand what drives the result and which option is most realistic.

Formula, Sources & Assumptions

Formula

Value at maturity = deposit × (1 + APY)^(months ÷ 12). APY is the effective annual yield, so compounding frequency is already included.

Assumptions

Assumes you hold to maturity — early-withdrawal penalties are not modeled.
The term comparison applies the same APY to every term; real banks usually pay different rates by term.
Interest is taxable as ordinary income in the year it is credited; taxes are not included.

Sources

FDIC deposit insuranceCD and deposit account insurance coverage limits.

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