CD Ladder Calculator
Split a deposit across staggered fixed-rate CDs and estimate the interest and maturity value for every rung. Adjust the term and advertised APY to match the products you are comparing.
Models the initial ladder only. It assumes equal allocations, fixed APYs, interest left on deposit, and no fees, taxes, early withdrawals, or reinvestment after a rung matures.
The combined figure adds values reached on different maturity dates. It is not a single-date account balance and assumes no reinvestment.
| Rung | Allocation | Term | APY | Est. interest | Est. maturity value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $10,000.00 | 1 yr | 4.00% | $400.00 | $10,400.00 |
| 2 | $10,000.00 | 2 yrs | 4.10% | $836.81 | $10,836.81 |
| 3 | $10,000.00 | 3 yrs | 4.20% | $1,313.66 | $11,313.66 |
| 4 | $10,000.00 | 4 yrs | 4.25% | $1,811.48 | $11,811.48 |
| 5 | $10,000.00 | 5 yrs | 4.30% | $2,343.02 | $12,343.02 |
Illustrative combined monthly schedule
Active rungs grow at their monthly-equivalent APY. A matured rung stays flat as cash; no renewal rate or reinvestment is assumed.
| Month | Rungs matured | Maturing this month | Combined projected value |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | — | $50,170.51 |
| 2 | 0 | — | $50,341.61 |
| 3 | 0 | — | $50,513.29 |
| 4 | 0 | — | $50,685.55 |
| 5 | 0 | — | $50,858.40 |
| 6 | 0 | — | $51,031.85 |
| 7 | 0 | — | $51,205.88 |
| 8 | 0 | — | $51,380.51 |
| 9 | 0 | — | $51,555.73 |
| 10 | 0 | — | $51,731.55 |
| 11 | 0 | — | $51,907.98 |
| 12 | 1 | $10,400.00 | $52,085.00 |
| 13 | 1 | — | $52,228.58 |
| 14 | 1 | — | $52,372.66 |
| 15 | 1 | — | $52,517.23 |
| 16 | 1 | — | $52,662.30 |
| 17 | 1 | — | $52,807.87 |
| 18 | 1 | — | $52,953.94 |
| 19 | 1 | — | $53,100.52 |
| 20 | 1 | — | $53,247.60 |
| 21 | 1 | — | $53,395.18 |
| 22 | 1 | — | $53,543.28 |
| 23 | 1 | — | $53,691.88 |
| 24 | 2 | $10,836.81 | $53,841.00 |
| 25 | 2 | — | $53,954.29 |
| 26 | 2 | — | $54,067.96 |
| 27 | 2 | — | $54,182.04 |
| 28 | 2 | — | $54,296.50 |
| 29 | 2 | — | $54,411.37 |
| 30 | 2 | — | $54,526.64 |
| 31 | 2 | — | $54,642.30 |
| 32 | 2 | — | $54,758.37 |
| 33 | 2 | — | $54,874.84 |
| 34 | 2 | — | $54,991.72 |
| 35 | 2 | — | $55,109.00 |
| 36 | 3 | $11,313.66 | $55,226.69 |
| 37 | 3 | — | $55,305.93 |
| 38 | 3 | — | $55,385.45 |
| 39 | 3 | — | $55,465.25 |
| 40 | 3 | — | $55,545.33 |
| 41 | 3 | — | $55,625.69 |
| 42 | 3 | — | $55,706.32 |
| 43 | 3 | — | $55,787.24 |
| 44 | 3 | — | $55,868.45 |
| 45 | 3 | — | $55,949.93 |
| 46 | 3 | — | $56,031.70 |
| 47 | 3 | — | $56,113.76 |
| 48 | 4 | $11,811.48 | $56,196.10 |
| 49 | 4 | — | $56,237.70 |
| 50 | 4 | — | $56,279.43 |
| 51 | 4 | — | $56,321.32 |
| 52 | 4 | — | $56,363.35 |
| 53 | 4 | — | $56,405.53 |
| 54 | 4 | — | $56,447.86 |
| 55 | 4 | — | $56,490.34 |
| 56 | 4 | — | $56,532.96 |
| 57 | 4 | — | $56,575.74 |
| 58 | 4 | — | $56,618.67 |
| 59 | 4 | — | $56,661.74 |
| 60 | 5 | $12,343.02 | $56,704.97 |
How this CD ladder calculator works
SaverGrid divides the total deposit equally among the selected rungs, to the nearest cent. Each rung uses the standard CD estimate:
rung value = allocation × (1 + APY)^(term months ÷ 12)
The first-cycle interest is the sum of each rung's estimated interest at its own maturity. Those maturity dates differ, so the combined maturity-values figure is not a balance that exists on one date.
A worked five-rung example: $25,000.00 split across five terms
Say you have $25,000.00 you don't need for day-to-day spending. A classic five-rung ladder puts $5,000.00 into each of five CDs, from one year out to five. The APYs below are hypothetical, chosen to show a mildly inverted curve where shorter terms pay slightly more. Use the rates your own bank is quoting.
| Rung | Term | APY | Deposit | Interest | Value at maturity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 year | 4.10% | $5,000.00 | $205.00 | $5,205.00 |
| 2 | 2 years | 4.00% | $5,000.00 | $408.00 | $5,408.00 |
| 3 | 3 years | 3.95% | $5,000.00 | $616.21 | $5,616.21 |
| 4 | 4 years | 3.90% | $5,000.00 | $826.83 | $5,826.83 |
| 5 | 5 years | 3.85% | $5,000.00 | $1,039.52 | $6,039.52 |
| Total | $25,000.00 | $3,095.56 | $28,095.56 | ||
Across the full first cycle those five CDs earn $3,095.56 in interest. That total spans five different maturity dates, so it is a comparison figure rather than a balance you could withdraw on any single day. Something becomes available every twelve months, starting at month 12.
What happens in year two, when the first rung matures
This is the part most ladder examples skip. The ladder only becomes a ladder once you start renewing. At each maturity you roll the proceeds into a new CD at the longest term, which is five years here. Do that, and after the first four years every rung is a five-year CD, but one still matures every single year.
| When | What matures | Cash available | Rolled into | Worth at its maturity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month 12 | Rung 1, the 1 year CD | $5,205.00 | A new 5 year CD at 3.85%, maturing month 72 | $6,287.14 |
| Month 24 | Rung 2, the 2 years CD | $5,408.00 | A new 5 year CD at 3.85%, maturing month 84 | $6,532.35 |
At month 12 the one-year rung hands back $5,205.00. Renewed for five years it is projected to reach $6,287.14, adding $1,082.14. A year later the two-year rung does the same thing. You keep annual access to roughly a fifth of the money while the rest earns long-term rates.
The renewal APY above is a single hypothetical rate applied to every rung. Real renewal rates are unknown when you open the ladder, and a bank that auto-renews may do so at a rate well below what you could get by shopping. The interactive calculator above deliberately does not project renewals for that reason. See what happens when a CD matures for grace periods and renewal rules.
How to plan a ladder
- Choose how much money can remain in CDs without affecting your emergency fund.
- Select staggered terms and enter the actual APY offered for each term.
- Check minimum deposits, early-withdrawal penalties, renewal rules, and grace periods.
- At each maturity, decide whether to spend, hold, or reinvest the proceeds.
Reinvestment is a new decision at an unknown future rate, so this calculator deliberately does not project automatic renewals. Verify each account's terms before opening it. See themethodology for formulas and assumptions.
Frequently asked questions
What is a CD ladder?
A CD ladder divides one deposit among several CDs with staggered maturity dates. The initial rungs can provide access to part of the money sooner while leaving other rungs in longer terms.
How does SaverGrid divide the deposit?
This calculator splits the total deposit equally among two to ten rungs, to the nearest cent. You enter the term and advertised APY for each rung.
Does this calculator assume each CD renews?
No. Each rung grows only until its first maturity. The combined schedule then holds matured proceeds flat as cash because a future renewal APY is not known.
Is the combined maturity value a balance on one date?
No. It adds each rung’s value on that rung’s own maturity date. Because the dates differ, it is a first-cycle comparison figure rather than a single-date account balance.