CD Rates by Term: 2026 Average APY & Top Rates Chart

National average CD APY by term, October 26, 2026

These are MARKET AVERAGES and TOP LISTED RATES, not offers — the rate you get depends on the bank, the minimum deposit (top rates often need $500–$10,000), and your region. CD rates are FIXED for the term (unlike a savings account, the rate cannot move — good if rates fall, bad if they rise). The figures assume the money stays in for the full term (withdrawing early triggers a penalty, usually months of interest) and no tax (CD interest is taxed as ordinary income in the year it is earned).

Table 1 — National average CD APY by term, October 26, 2026 ($10,000 deposit)

On $10,000 the top 5-year rate earns $1,813.71 more than the average ($2,762.82 − $949.11); the top 1-year rate earns $258.00 more ($475.00 − $217.00). The 3-year average interest on $10,000 is $543.56 (not $543.51) and the 4-year average interest is $794.64 (not $795.08).

Table 2 — Top CD rates by term, October 2026 ($10,000 deposit)

The top 5-year rate of 5.00% from Popular Direct earns $2,762.82 on $10,000.00 — more than the average 1-year, 2-year, 3-year and 4-year rates combined would earn on the same deposit over their own terms ($217.00 + $391.76 + $543.56 + $794.64 = $1,946.96). Top rates change weekly and may already have moved.

How your deposit and term set your interest

On the defaults — a $10,000.00 deposit for 1 year — your term is 1 year, the national average APY is 2.17%, the interest at the average is $217.00, the future value is $10,217.00, the top rate is 4.75%, the interest at the top rate is $475.00, and the top rate earns $258.00 more. The whole calculation is the deposit times one plus the rate, raised to the term, minus the deposit.

Five things about the model are worth stating plainly. First, the future value is the deposit times (1 + APY) raised to the term — $10,000.00 × (1 + 2.17%)^1 = $10,217.00. Second, the interest is the future value minus the deposit — $10,217.00 − $10,000.00 = $217.00. Third, the top rate uses the same formula with the top APY — $10,000.00 × (1 + 4.75%)^1 = $10,475.00. Fourth, the extra is the top interest minus the average interest — $475.00 − $217.00 = $258.00. And fifth, longer terms earn more mostly from extra years of compounding, not from a higher rate — the 5-year average rate of 1.83% is barely above the 3-year rate of 1.78%, yet the 5-year interest of $949.11 beats the 3-year interest of $543.56 by $405.55; all listed in Accuracy & limitations.

The worked example, line by line

Setup: $10,000.00 deposit, 1-year term.

Line 1 — the average APY. The 1-year national average APY is 2.17%.

Line 2 — the future value at the average. The future value is $10,000.00 × (1 + 2.17%)^1 = $10,217.00.

Line 3 — the interest at the average. The interest is $10,217.00 − $10,000.00 = $217.00.

Line 4 — the top rate. The 1-year top rate is 4.75% (E*TRADE), the interest is $475.00, the future value is $10,475.00, and the extra over the average is $258.00.

Every branch, checked

5-year term, $10,000: Deposit $10,000.00, term 5 years: average APY 1.83%, interest $949.11, future value $10,949.11; top rate 5.00%, interest $2,762.82, future value $12,762.82; top rate earns $1,813.71 more — At 5 years the top rate earns $2,762.82 against the average’s $949.11 — $1,813.71 more.

Deposit $25,000, 1 year: Deposit $25,000.00, term 1 year: average APY 2.17%, interest $542.50, future value $25,542.50; top rate 4.75%, interest $1,187.50, future value $26,187.50; top rate earns $645.00 more — $25,000 at 1 year earns $542.50 at the average and $1,187.50 at the top — $645.00 more.

Deposit $1,000, 3 years: Deposit $1,000.00, term 3 years: average APY 1.78%, interest $54.36, future value $1,054.36; top rate 4.85%, interest $152.67, future value $1,152.67; top rate earns $98.31 more — $1,000 over 3 years earns $54.36 at the average and $152.67 at the top — $98.31 more.

2-year term, $10,000: Deposit $10,000.00, term 2 years: average APY 1.94%, interest $391.76, future value $10,391.76; top rate 4.75%, interest $972.56, future value $10,972.56; top rate earns $580.80 more — At 2 years the average earns $391.76 and the top earns $972.56 — $580.80 more.

4-year term, $10,000: Deposit $10,000.00, term 4 years: average APY 1.93%, interest $794.64, future value $10,794.64; top rate 4.55%, interest $1,948.03, future value $11,948.03; top rate earns $1,153.39 more — At 4 years the average earns $794.64 and the top earns $1,948.03 — $1,153.39 more.

Deposit $50,000, 5 years: Deposit $50,000.00, term 5 years: average APY 1.83%, interest $4,745.54, future value $54,745.54; top rate 5.00%, interest $13,814.08, future value $63,814.08; top rate earns $9,068.54 more — $50,000 over 5 years earns $4,745.54 at the average and $13,814.08 at the top — $9,068.54 more.

3-year term, $10,000: Deposit $10,000.00, term 3 years: average APY 1.78%, interest $543.56, future value $10,543.56; top rate 4.85%, interest $1,526.71, future value $11,526.71; top rate earns $983.15 more — At 3 years the average earns $543.56 and the top earns $1,526.71 — $983.15 more.

The reverses, worked backwards

Deposit for exactly $500.00 of interest in 1 year at the 2.17% average: $23,041.47 — the exact deposit is 23041.4747. At the displayed $23,041.47 the interest is $500.00 and the future value is $23,541.47. $23,041.48 is the smallest cent amount whose unrounded interest reaches $500.00 ($23,041.47 gives an unrounded $499.9999, which still rounds to $500.00). The star is DOLLARS.

APY for exactly $1,000.00 of interest on $10,000 over 5 years: 1.92% — the exact APY is 1.9245%. At the displayed 1.92% the interest is $997.58 — $2.42 short of the $1,000.00 target. 1.93% gives $1,002.97. The star is PERCENT.

Deposit for exactly $1,000.00 of interest over 5 years at the 1.83% average: $10,536.21 — the exact deposit is 10536.2145. At the displayed $10,536.21 the interest is $1,000.00 and the future value is $11,536.21. $10,536.22 is the smallest cent amount whose unrounded interest reaches $1,000.00. The star is DOLLARS.

Term where TOP-rate interest first reaches $1,000.00 ($10,000): 3 years is the shortest term where top-rate interest reaches $1,000 (interest $1,526.71); 2 years gives interest $972.56. The star is YEARS.

Deposit for exactly $2,000.00 of interest over 5 years at the top 5.00%: $7,238.99 — the exact deposit is 7238.9919. At the displayed $7,238.99 the interest is $2,000.00 and the future value is $9,238.99. $7,239.00 is the smallest cent amount whose unrounded interest reaches $2,000.00. The star is DOLLARS.

APY for exactly $300.00 of interest on $10,000 in 1 year: 3.00% — the exact APY is 3.0000. At the displayed 3.00% the interest is $300.00 and the future value is $10,300.00 — exact. The star is PERCENT.

What the defaults assume

The defaults are a $10,000.00 deposit for 1 year — average APY 2.17%, interest $217.00, future value $10,217.00, top rate 4.75%, interest at the top rate $475.00, extra $258.00. With a 5-year term, Deposit $10,000.00, term 5 years: average APY 1.83%, interest $949.11, future value $10,949.11; top rate 5.00%, interest $2,762.82, future value $12,762.82; top rate earns $1,813.71 more — At 5 years the top rate earns $2,762.82 against the average’s $949.11 — $1,813.71 more. With a $25,000 deposit for 1 year, Deposit $25,000.00, term 1 year: average APY 2.17%, interest $542.50, future value $25,542.50; top rate 4.75%, interest $1,187.50, future value $26,187.50; top rate earns $645.00 more — $25,000 at 1 year earns $542.50 at the average and $1,187.50 at the top — $645.00 more. With a $1,000 deposit for 3 years, Deposit $1,000.00, term 3 years: average APY 1.78%, interest $54.36, future value $1,054.36; top rate 4.85%, interest $152.67, future value $1,152.67; top rate earns $98.31 more — $1,000 over 3 years earns $54.36 at the average and $152.67 at the top — $98.31 more. With a 2-year term, Deposit $10,000.00, term 2 years: average APY 1.94%, interest $391.76, future value $10,391.76; top rate 4.75%, interest $972.56, future value $10,972.56; top rate earns $580.80 more — At 2 years the average earns $391.76 and the top earns $972.56 — $580.80 more. With a 4-year term, Deposit $10,000.00, term 4 years: average APY 1.93%, interest $794.64, future value $10,794.64; top rate 4.55%, interest $1,948.03, future value $11,948.03; top rate earns $1,153.39 more — At 4 years the average earns $794.64 and the top earns $1,948.03 — $1,153.39 more. With a $50,000 deposit for 5 years, Deposit $50,000.00, term 5 years: average APY 1.83%, interest $4,745.54, future value $54,745.54; top rate 5.00%, interest $13,814.08, future value $63,814.08; top rate earns $9,068.54 more — $50,000 over 5 years earns $4,745.54 at the average and $13,814.08 at the top — $9,068.54 more. With a 3-year term, Deposit $10,000.00, term 3 years: average APY 1.78%, interest $543.56, future value $10,543.56; top rate 4.85%, interest $1,526.71, future value $11,526.71; top rate earns $983.15 more — At 3 years the average earns $543.56 and the top earns $1,526.71 — $983.15 more. With a deposit of $0.00, Deposit $0.00, term 1 year: average APY 2.17%, interest $0.00, future value $0.00; top rate 4.75%, interest $0.00, future value $0.00; top rate earns $0.00 more — no deposit, no interest. With a $250,000 deposit for 5 years, Deposit $250,000.00, term 5 years: average APY 1.83%, interest $23,727.69, future value $273,727.69; top rate 5.00%, interest $69,070.39, future value $319,070.39; top rate earns $45,342.70 more — the interest at the average is $23,727.69. With a $100.00 deposit for 1 year, Deposit $100.00, term 1 year: average APY 2.17%, interest $2.17, future value $102.17; top rate 4.75%, interest $4.75, future value $104.75; top rate earns $2.58 more — the interest is $2.17. With a $100,000 deposit for 5 years, Deposit $100,000.00, term 5 years: average APY 1.83%, interest $9,491.07, future value $109,491.07; top rate 5.00%, interest $27,628.16, future value $127,628.16; top rate earns $18,137.09 more — the interest at the top rate is $27,628.16. With a $1,000 deposit for 5 years, Deposit $1,000.00, term 5 years: average APY 1.83%, interest $94.91, future value $1,094.91; top rate 5.00%, interest $276.28, future value $1,276.28; top rate earns $181.37 more — the extra at the top rate is $181.37. With a deposit of -$100.00, the calculator shows an error — enter a deposit of $0 or more — not an interest figure. With 3 years vs 5 years at the average, 3 years: Deposit $10,000.00, term 3 years: average APY 1.78%, interest $543.56, future value $10,543.56; top rate 4.85%, interest $1,526.71, future value $11,526.71; top rate earns $983.15 more; 5 years: Deposit $10,000.00, term 5 years: average APY 1.83%, interest $949.11, future value $10,949.11; top rate 5.00%, interest $2,762.82, future value $12,762.82; top rate earns $1,813.71 more — the 5-year term earns $405.55 more than the 3-year term.

Output · formula · meaning

Who uses this

• The saver comparing terms: they learn the 1-year average of 2.17% earns $217.00 on $10,000.00 while the 5-year average of 1.83% earns $949.11 — and they check the 3-year reverse to see the shortest term where top-rate interest reaches $1,000.00.
• The saver sizing a deposit: they learn $23,041.47 earns exactly $500.00 of interest in a year at the average — and they check the $10,536.21 reverse to see the deposit that earns exactly $1,000.00 over 5 years.
• The saver chasing the top rate: they learn the top 5-year rate of 5.00% earns $2,762.82 on $10,000.00 — $1,813.71 more than the average — and they check the $7,238.99 reverse to see the deposit that earns exactly $2,000.00 at the top rate.
• The saver checking the FDIC limit: they learn $250,000.00 for 5 years earns $23,727.69 at the average — and they check the 1.92% reverse to see the APY that earns exactly $1,000.00 on $10,000.00 over 5 years.

Accuracy & limitations

The math is first-principles: the future value is the deposit times (1 + APY) raised to the term, rounded to cents half-up, and the interest is the future value minus the deposit; the extra is the top interest minus the average interest. What the model cannot do is lock YOUR rate: these are MARKET AVERAGES and TOP LISTED RATES, not offers — the rate you get depends on the bank, the minimum deposit (top rates often need $500–$10,000), and your region; CD rates are FIXED for the term (unlike a savings account, the rate cannot move — good if rates fall, bad if they rise); the figures assume the money stays in for the full term (withdrawing early triggers a penalty, usually months of interest); the figures assume no tax (CD interest is taxed as ordinary income in the year it is earned); the figures ignore inflation (at 3.4% inflation, a 2.17% CD loses purchasing power even as the balance grows); top rates change weekly and may already have moved; and a negative deposit shows an error, not an interest figure. Use it to see what each term earns on your deposit — then check the bank’s current rate before you lock in.

Frequently asked questions