Updated October 26, 2026

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Written by Holly Johnson

Financial Expert

A CD ladder can help you spread your money across multiple certificates of deposit (CDs) with different maturity dates. That said, figuring out how much to put into each rung, when each CD will mature, and how much interest each one could earn can get complicated fast if you’re doing the math yourself.

Our CD ladder calculator makes the process easier. Enter your total deposit, the amount you want to put into each rung, the CD terms and the APYs to see a side-by-side estimate of when each CD could mature, how much interest it could earn and how much each CD could be worth in the end.

The results can help you see how your choices affect your CD maturity schedule before you commit your money. Just keep in mind that the calculator estimates your initial ladder using the information you enter. If you plan to reinvest a CD when it matures, the future APY isn’t known today and can change over time.



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How to use the CD ladder calculator

Use this calculator to split your total investment across multiple CDs with different terms, see how much your ladder earns at maturity, and optionally project long-term growth if you reinvest each matured CD. Enter your details in the form, adjust each CD’s term and APY, then click Build CD Ladder to view your results.

Step 1: Enter your total investment

Add the total amount you plan to invest across your CD ladder (minimum $1,000). This is the pool the calculator divides among your CD rungs. If you choose Equal allocation, the amount is split evenly; if you choose Custom, you assign amounts to each CD yourself.

Step 2: Choose your allocation method

Select how your total investment is distributed:

• Equal — splits your total evenly across all CD rungs in the ladder.
• Custom — lets you set a specific dollar amount for each CD. The sum of all rungs must equal your total investment.

Use Custom if you want more money in longer (or shorter) terms.

Step 3: Select your ladder strategy

Pick a preset ladder or build your own:

• 3-Year Ladder (default) — 1-year, 2-year, and 3-year CDs
• 5-Year Ladder — 1-year through 5-year CDs
• Quarterly — CDs maturing every 3 months (3, 6, 9, and 12 months)
• Semi-Annually — 6-month and 12-month CDs
• Custom — add your own terms with Add Term (2–5 CDs)

Changing the strategy updates the CD rungs below. For Custom, you control each term manually.

Step 4: Set your compounding frequency

Choose how often interest compounds on each CD: Daily, Monthly, Quarterly, or Annually. More frequent compounding can slightly increase returns. If you’re using APY from a bank, match the compounding frequency to how that rate is quoted when possible.

Step 5: Configure each CD rung (Term, APY, and Amount)

Under CD Ladder Terms, review or edit each rung:

• Term — length of the CD (e.g., 1 Year, 3 Years)
• APY — annual percentage yield for that term
• Amount — deposit for that rung (auto-filled in Equal mode; editable in Custom mode)

In Custom ladder mode, use Add Term to add rungs (up to 5) or remove rungs you don’t need. Terms must stay in ascending order.

Step 6: Enable reinvestment projection

Open Reinvestment Options (Optional) to model what happens after your CDs mature:

1. Set Reinvest CDs to Yes
2. Enter a Projection Period in years (1–20). It must be at least as long as your longest CD term.

When enabled, the calculator assumes each matured CD is reinvested into your longest ladder term at that term’s APY for the rest of the projection period. Projections assume rates stay constant.

Step 7: Click build CD ladder

After entering your inputs, click Build CD Ladder to calculate results. Use Reset to return to the default 3-year ladder with a $10,000 equal split.

Step 8: Review your results

Base mode (Reinvest CDs = No) shows:

• Total Value at Maturity — combined value when all CDs mature
• Interest Earned — total interest across the ladder
• Total Investment — your starting deposit
• CD Ladder Summary and Key Insights — quick takeaways
• CD Ladder Breakdown — chart or table per CD (amount, APY, term, dates, interest, maturity value)
• CD Ladder vs Single CD Comparison — ladder earnings vs putting everything in one CD

You can also click Enable Reinvestment Projection in results to jump to reinvestment options.

Reinvestment mode (Reinvest CDs = Yes) adds:

• Total Value After X Yrs and Interest Earned Over X Yrs
• Portfolio Growth Over Time — line chart or year-by-year table (with Export CSV)
• CD Ladder Reinvestment Timeline — visual maturity and reinvestment schedule
• CD Performance Breakdown — per-rung status and reinvestment history

Switch between Chart and Table views where available, and hover or tap chart segments for details.

How the CD ladder calculator estimates interest and maturity values

The calculator estimates each CD in the ladder separately because each rung can have its own deposit amount, APY and term. That means the maturity value and estimated interest for each CD are calculated based on the information you enter for that specific rung.

For an APY-based estimate, the calculator uses the principal, APY and length of the CD term to estimate its maturity value. When the interest remains in the CD, the calculation is approximately:

Maturity value = principal × (1 + APY)^(days in term ÷ 365)

The estimated interest is then the maturity value minus the original principal.

Because APY already accounts for the effect of compounding, the calculator does not apply a separate compounding frequency to the APY. This helps avoid counting the effect of compounding twice.

How the calculator handles multiple CD rungs

Each rung has its own estimated interest and maturity value. The calculator can add the estimated interest from all of the rungs to show your cumulative first-cycle interest.

Keep in mind that the CDs won’t all mature on the same date. The total estimated interest represents the combined interest from the individual rungs over their initial terms. It does not mean that the combined maturity values will be available as one lump sum on a single date.

If the calculator uses an estimated number of months or years rather than the actual number of days between the CD’s start and maturity dates, the results are an approximation. Financial institutions may use different methods for calculating and crediting interest, so the actual amount you receive can vary based on the CD’s terms.

All results from the calculator are estimates. Before opening a CD, check the financial institution’s disclosures for the APY, term, interest calculation and other account terms.

If you only want to estimate the growth of a single CD, you can also use our CD calculator.

How a CD ladder works after the first CD matures

A CD ladder starts with multiple CDs that have different terms and maturity dates. Instead of having your entire CD allocation mature at once, the ladder spreads those maturity dates out so portions of your money become available at different times.

The initial ladder

For example, you might divide your money among several CDs with one-, two-, three- and four-year terms. Each CD has its own maturity date, so the first CD matures before the others.

When a CD matures, you can choose what to do with the proceeds. You can cash the CD out and put the money into a high-yield savings account (HYSA), or you can use it for other goals.

Keeping the ladder going

If you want to maintain a ladder over time, you can choose to reinvest a maturing CD into another CD. This can create a new rung that extends the ladder as the original CDs mature.

However, you won’t know the APY available when a CD matures in the future. Rates can change between now and then, so don’t assume the APY you enter into the calculator will be available when it’s time to reinvest. If a calculator models future reinvestments, any future APY should be treated as an assumption rather than a known rate.

Also check your CD’s renewal policy before maturity. Some CDs automatically renew if you don’t take action during a grace period, and you’ll need to know those details and mark your calendar ahead of time. Your account agreement and maturity disclosures should explain how renewal, withdrawal and maturity dates work.

For a more detailed explanation of how CD ladders work, see our guide to CD ladder strategies.

How to choose rungs, terms and APYs for your scenario

Different CD ladder setups can work for different people. The terms and rung spacing you enter should reflect when you expect to need access to portions of your money.

The calculator can help you see how different choices affect your maturity schedule and estimated earnings.

Start with your planned maturity schedule

Think about when you may want portions of your money to become available. You could space your rungs a year apart, for example, or use shorter intervals if you expect to need access to your savings more frequently.

Try running a few different scenarios in the calculator to see how changing the number of rungs or the spacing between them affects your results. This can help you compare different maturity schedules that could suit your goals.

Use the APYs you’re actually considering

When possible, enter the APYs from the specific CDs you’re considering rather than using a generic rate. This gives you a more useful estimate of what each rung could earn.

Before opening a CD, verify the details with the financial institution. Check the APY, term and maturity date, minimum deposit or balance requirement, early withdrawal penalty and renewal policy in the account disclosures.

You can compare CD rates to find offers to consider, then enter the applicable APYs and terms into the calculator. Rates can change, so verify the details directly with the financial institution before opening an account.

You can also run multiple scenarios using different APYs or rung spacing. Comparing those projections can help you understand how your choices affect the ladder without assuming that one particular setup will produce a specific future result.

Calculator assumptions and limits to know

A CD ladder calculator can help you estimate how much each rung could earn, but the results aren’t a guarantee of what you’ll actually receive. The calculator uses the information you enter and may not account for every detail of a financial institution’s CD agreement.

Interest calculation and payout rules

Actual earnings can differ if a financial institution uses different methods for calculating or crediting interest than the calculator assumes. The CD’s specific terms, including how and when interest is credited or paid, can also affect the amount you receive.

Early withdrawal penalties

The standard calculation does not subtract an early withdrawal penalty. If you withdraw money before a CD matures, the financial institution’s penalty rules will determine how much you could lose. Check the account disclosures to understand when a penalty applies and how it’s calculated.

Taxes

Calculator results are generally shown before taxes. Interest earned on CDs is typically considered taxable as interest income, although your individual tax situation can vary. The calculator isn’t intended to provide personalized tax advice.

Deposit insurance

Don’t assume a CD is insured simply because the deposit amount falls below the typical coverage of $250,000. FDIC coverage depends on factors including the insured bank, the depositor and the ownership category. CDs offered by federally insured credit unions are subject to NCUA share insurance rules.

Before opening a CD, verify the institution’s insurance status and review the applicable coverage rules. You can also learn more about FDIC deposit insurance and NCUA share insurance coverage before relying on this protection.

The calculator’s results should be treated as estimates rather than guaranteed returns or a determination that a particular CD is insured. Always review the financial institution’s disclosures before opening an account.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Holly Johnson

Financial Expert

Holly Johnson is a professional writer who has been covering personal finance, credit cards and loyalty programs for more than a decade. She is passionate when it comes to explaining the ins and outs of various programs and financial products to consumers, as well as how they can make the most of the money they work hard to earn. Johnson is also the co-author of “Zero Down Your Debt: Reclaim Your Income and Build a Life You’ll Love,” published in 2017. She lives in Indiana with her husband and children.