CD Ladder Calculator
A CD ladder splits your money across certificates of deposit that mature in different years, so you get higher long-term rates plus regular access to cash. Enter your total and tweak each rung’s APY.
Estimates only — not financial advice. This calculator gives approximate figures for planning. It is not financial, tax, or legal advice; check with a qualified professional before making decisions.
How the CD ladder calculator works
Your total is split evenly across the rungs: rung 1 is a 1-year CD, rung 2 a 2-year CD, and so on. Each rung grows at its own APY with annual compounding, and the calculator shows what each rung is worth when it matures — plus the blended APY across the whole ladder.
The classic use: when the 1-year rung matures, you roll it into a new longest-term CD, keeping the ladder rolling and capturing rising rates. Edit any rung’s APY to match real offers from your bank; longer terms usually pay more.
maturity value = (total ÷ rungs) × (1 + APY)^years · blended APY = mean of rung APYs
Related tools
Keep exploring: EMI Calculator · Sales Tax Calculator · Tip Calculator.
CD ladder calculator FAQ
What is a CD ladder?
Instead of locking all your money in one long CD, you split it across several CDs with staggered maturities — say 1 through 5 years. Every year one rung matures, giving you access to cash or a chance to reinvest at current rates.
Why stagger the maturities?
Longer CDs usually pay higher rates, but lock money up. A ladder captures those higher rates on the long rungs while the short rungs keep some money accessible each year.
What happens when a rung matures?
You can withdraw the cash or roll it into a new longest-term CD, which keeps the ladder going and lets you benefit if rates have risen.
Are CDs safe?
CDs at banks are generally FDIC-insured up to the legal limit per depositor per bank. This calculator only models the math — check the bank’s terms for early-withdrawal penalties.
Does the calculator assume annual compounding?
Yes. Maturity values use annual compounding at each rung’s APY. Banks that compound daily will differ by a tiny amount.