Use this free savings calculator to understand how your money can grow over time.
By Margarette Burnette
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Savings calculator tip
Use the free savings calculator below to understand how your money can grow over time. When you put money in a savings account, the interest you earn builds on itself.
First, run the numbers without a monthly deposit. Then try it again with a deposit amount that fits your budget. See how regularly adding any amount can move you closer to your savings goal.
» Learn how your money grows with compounding by reading this explainer on compound interest
Savings calculator help
Starting balance: This is the amount you plan to deposit in the savings account initially.
Contribution amount: This is the amount you will deposit on an ongoing basis, whether monthly or annually.
Time to grow: This is the number of years your money will be in savings without a withdrawal.
Annual interest rate: This is the rate you expect to earn each year. The average national savings rate is 0.47%, though some high-yield savings accounts earn much more.
Compound frequency: This is how often interest is added to the account. Note that the total yield considers both interest rate and compound frequency.
» Want to upgrade your account? Check out NerdWallet's picks for the best high yield online savings accounts
APY calculator: Determining annual percentage yield
When you earn interest in a bank account, that money starts to earn interest as well. This is known as compounding. The higher the interest rate and the more times an account compounds, the higher the yield will be. The APY you see associated with a savings account includes compound interest and reflects the total amount of money earned over a period of one year.
» Learn more about the difference between APY and interest rate
What is a bank interest calculator?
A bank interest calculator tallies how much interest you can earn over time in your savings account. These calculators will usually show you the total balance after compounding.
How do you calculate interest on a savings account?
You can calculate the amount of simple interest your account earns by multiplying the account balance by the interest rate for a select time period. To calculate compound interest, you’ll need to add up interest earned over time. You can do that by adjusting the compound frequency in this savings calculator.
How much should I save each month?
Focus on any amount that you can save consistently. Overall, there is no one answer for how much you should have in savings, but an ideal target for an emergency fund is enough to cover three to six months' worth of basic expenses. If you’re able to save 20% of your take-home income each month, for example, you may be well on your way. But it’s more important to be consistent, even if it means saving a smaller amount each month. With time, you can still reach your savings goal.
How can I save $5,000?
If you start with zero and put away $135 a month (about $33.75 a week) in a savings account that compounds monthly and earns a 5% annual interest rate, you would save more than $5,200 in three years. Use this savings calculator to compare other contribution amounts and yields.
How much interest can you earn on $10,000?
If your savings account earns only a 0.01% annual interest rate, which is common with large banks, your earnings after a year would be $1. Put that $10,000 in a high-yield savings account that earns 5%, for the same amount of time, and you can earn more than $500.
How much will a savings account grow?
The answer depends on the interest rate, deposit balances and time. The higher the rate, the faster a savings account will grow. Also, because of compounding, the more often interest is deposited into a savings account, the more the overall balance will grow. An account that compounds daily can grow slightly faster than one that compounds less frequently, such as once a month. To get the most growth over time, put your money in an account with a high yield that compounds daily.
