💰 Finance

Effective Annual Rate Calculator

A 6% nominal rate compounded monthly is not 6% a year — the interest earns interest, so the true annual cost is higher. The effective annual rate (also called APY or EAR) restates it on a once-a-year basis so products with different compounding frequencies can be compared fairly.

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Nominal rate versus effective rate

Stated rate6.000What you really pay6.168

How it works

Nominal (stated) rate Compounding frequency Nominal rate Effective annual rate Rate per compounding period Effective minus nominal Compounding periods per year

Frequently asked questions

How do I use the Effective Annual Rate Calculator?

Fill in the fields above — the result recalculates instantly as you type. Everything runs in your browser, so the values you enter are never collected or stored.

Is this calculator free?

Yes. It is completely free, requires no account, and works on phones, tablets and desktops.

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