Here’s What $10K Will Earn in a 6-Month CD at April 2025’s Best Rates

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Right now, 6-month certificates of deposit (CDs) offer some of the best CD rates you can find. They currently pay more than CDs with terms of a year or more.Alert: highest cash back card we’ve seen now has 0% intro APR into 2026
This credit card is not just good – it’s so exceptional that our experts use it personally. It features a 0% intro APR for 15 months, a cash back rate of up to 5%, and all somehow for no annual fee!
Click here to read our full review for free and apply in just 2 minutes. Today’s high CD rates may not last long, though. The Federal Reserve predicts that it will cut the federal funds rate twice in 2025 — and it may start as soon as mid-June. When that happens, CD rates will drop soon after, too.Should you invest in 6-month CDs now? Let’s look at how much you could earn, as well as some good reasons to open a CD — or not.How much would $10,000 earn in a 6-month CD now?CD rates vary widely from bank to bank, but the best 6-month CD rate you can get now is about 4.50%. If you deposited $10,000 at that rate, you’d earn $222.52 by the time the CD matured.The average 6-month CD rate is closer to 2.00%, though. At that rate, your $10,000 deposit would only earn $100 in interest. So make sure you shop around for the best possible rate before you invest.Should you open a 6-month CD in April 2025?A 6-month CD is a good idea if…You have some money you want to keep safe, with zero risk of losing your principalYou won’t need to touch the money for the full six monthsYou want to protect your APY from near-term rate dropsIf all the above are true, then opening a 6-month CD may be the right call. Nobody expects CD rates to go up any time soon, so if you’re ready to open a CD, now looks like a good time to pull the trigger.You may even want to lock in today’s rates for a year or longer. Longer-term CDs don’t pay quite as much as 6-month CDs now, but their rates are still guaranteed to last for the duration of the CD term — up to 10 years, in some cases. Check out our list of the best CD rates to find the best option for your needs.An alternative to considerCDs are great for money you need to keep safe while earning a solid APY. However, they’re not great for money that you might need at any time. If you have to withdraw your deposit early, you’ll likely sacrifice some of the interest you’ve earned.High-yield savings accounts are more flexible, and they pay similar rates to CDs right now. Our favorites pay between 3.60% and 4.40%.Here’s how much a $10,000 deposit would earn in six months at those rates:3.60%: $1814.40%: $222You’d earn nearly as much as you would with a 6-month CD — and you’d be able to withdraw, deposit, and transfer money at any time. That makes a high-yield savings account the perfect place for your emergency savings and any other cash that you may need on short notice.If you want to earn up to 4.40% on your savings, then check out our list of the best high-yield savings accounts.Alert: highest cash back card we’ve seen now has 0% intro APR into 2026
This credit card is not just good – it’s so exceptional that our experts use it personally. It features a 0% intro APR for 15 months, a cash back rate of up to 5%, and all somehow for no annual fee!
Click here to read our full review for free and apply in just 2 minutes. We’re firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers.
Motley Fool Money does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from Motley Fool Money is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.James McClenathen has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Barclays Plc. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.”}]] [[{“value”:”

Right now, 6-month certificates of deposit (CDs) offer some of the best CD rates you can find. They currently pay more than CDs with terms of a year or more.

Alert: highest cash back card we’ve seen now has 0% intro APR into 2026

This credit card is not just good – it’s so exceptional that our experts use it personally. It features a 0% intro APR for 15 months, a cash back rate of up to 5%, and all somehow for no annual fee!

Click here to read our full review for free and apply in just 2 minutes.

Today’s high CD rates may not last long, though. The Federal Reserve predicts that it will cut the federal funds rate twice in 2025 — and it may start as soon as mid-June. When that happens, CD rates will drop soon after, too.

Should you invest in 6-month CDs now? Let’s look at how much you could earn, as well as some good reasons to open a CD — or not.

How much would $10,000 earn in a 6-month CD now?

CD rates vary widely from bank to bank, but the best 6-month CD rate you can get now is about 4.50%. If you deposited $10,000 at that rate, you’d earn $222.52 by the time the CD matured.

The average 6-month CD rate is closer to 2.00%, though. At that rate, your $10,000 deposit would only earn $100 in interest. So make sure you shop around for the best possible rate before you invest.

Should you open a 6-month CD in April 2025?

A 6-month CD is a good idea if…

• You have some money you want to keep safe, with zero risk of losing your principal
• You won’t need to touch the money for the full six months
• You want to protect your APY from near-term rate drops

If all the above are true, then opening a 6-month CD may be the right call. Nobody expects CD rates to go up any time soon, so if you’re ready to open a CD, now looks like a good time to pull the trigger.

You may even want to lock in today’s rates for a year or longer. Longer-term CDs don’t pay quite as much as 6-month CDs now, but their rates are still guaranteed to last for the duration of the CD term — up to 10 years, in some cases. Check out our list of the best CD rates to find the best option for your needs.

An alternative to consider

CDs are great for money you need to keep safe while earning a solid APY. However, they’re not great for money that you might need at any time. If you have to withdraw your deposit early, you’ll likely sacrifice some of the interest you’ve earned.

High-yield savings accounts are more flexible, and they pay similar rates to CDs right now. Our favorites pay between 3.60% and 4.40%.

Here’s how much a $10,000 deposit would earn in six months at those rates:

• 3.60%: $181
• 4.40%: $222

You’d earn nearly as much as you would with a 6-month CD — and you’d be able to withdraw, deposit, and transfer money at any time. That makes a high-yield savings account the perfect place for your emergency savings and any other cash that you may need on short notice.

Alert: highest cash back card we’ve seen now has 0% intro APR into 2026

This credit card is not just good – it’s so exceptional that our experts use it personally. It features a 0% intro APR for 15 months, a cash back rate of up to 5%, and all somehow for no annual fee!

Click here to read our full review for free and apply in just 2 minutes.

We’re firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers.
Motley Fool Money does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from Motley Fool Money is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.James McClenathen has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Barclays Plc. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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