Post-Judgment Interest Calculator
Figure out how much interest has accrued on a court judgment: enter the judgment amount, the annual rate, and the dates. Supports partial payments (applied to interest first, then principal), daily accrual, simple or compound interest, and per-state statutory rate presets.
Basic calculation
With partial payments
Payments (applied to interest first, then principal)
Results
How each payment was applied
| # | Date | Days | Interest accrued | Payment | To interest | To principal | Balance |
|---|
Accrual by month
| Month | Days | Interest | Payments | Balance |
|---|
How post-judgment interest works
Post-judgment interest is the interest that accrues on a money judgment from the date it is entered until it is paid. The standard formula is simple interest:
Interest = principal × annual rate × (days ÷ 365)
Example: a $25,000 judgment at 10% for 180 days accrues $25,000 × 0.10 × (180 ÷ 365) = $1,232.88, for a total due of $26,232.88. The daily accrual is $25,000 × 0.10 ÷ 365 = $6.85 per day.
When the debtor makes partial payments, the standard U.S. rule applies each payment first to accrued interest, then to principal. Only a few states compound post-judgment interest by statute (for example Colorado and Michigan); most use simple interest.
Statutory rate presets by state
Illustrative rates and formulas below are labeled with their basis. Rates change — always verify the current rate with the court clerk or local counsel. This table is not legal advice.
| State | Rate / basis | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| California | 10% | Fixed by statute — Cal. Civ. Proc. Code §685.010 |
| New York | 9% | Fixed by statute — CPLR §5004 |
| Illinois | 9% | Fixed by statute — 735 ILCS 5/2-1303 |
| Oregon | 9% | Fixed by statute — ORS 82.010 |
| Connecticut | 10% | Fixed by statute — Conn. Gen. Stat. §37-3a |
| Alabama | 7.5% | Fixed by statute — Ala. Code §8-8-10 |
| Massachusetts | 12% | Fixed by statute — G.L. c.231 §§6B, 6C |
| Virginia | 6% | Fixed by statute — Va. Code §6.2-302 |
| Pennsylvania | 6% | Fixed by statute — 41 Pa.C.S.A. §202 |
| Maryland | 10% | Fixed by statute — Cts. & Jud. Proc. §11-107 |
| Hawaii | 10% | Fixed by statute — HRS §478-2 |
| North Carolina | 8% | Fixed by statute — N.C.G.S. §24-1 |
| Colorado | 8% | Fixed by statute, compounded annually — C.R.S. §5-12-106 |
| Texas | Formula | Prime-based, floor 5% / ceiling 15% — Tex. Fin. Code §304.003. The 2024 published rate was 8.25% (TX OCCC); verify the current year |
| Florida | Formula | Set quarterly by the CFO — Fla. Stat. §55.03; verify the current quarter |
| Georgia | Formula | Prime + 3% — O.C.G.A. §7-4-12; changes with prime |
| Ohio | Formula | Federal short-term rate + 3% — ORC §1343.03 |
| Arizona | Formula | Lesser of 10% or prime + 1% — A.R.S. §44-1201 |
| Washington | Formula | Greater of 12% or T-bill + 4% — RCW 4.56.110 |
| Michigan | Formula | 6-month T-bill + 1%, compounded annually — MCL 600.6013 |
| Nevada | Formula | Prime + 2% — NRS 17.130 |
| New Jersey | Formula | Cash rate index — R. 4:42-11(a)(ii); verify the current index |
| Delaware | Formula | 5% over the Federal Reserve discount rate — 6 Del.C. §2301 |
| Federal | Formula | Weekly 52-week T-bill rate — 28 U.S.C. §1961; variable |
Frequently asked questions
Estimate only — not legal advice. Answers explain the math; they do not tell you which rate or rule applies to your case.
How is post-judgment interest calculated?
Multiply the judgment principal by the annual rate and by the number of days since the judgment, then divide by 365: interest = principal × rate × (days ÷ 365). For example, a $25,000 judgment at 10% for 180 days accrues $25,000 × 0.10 × (180 ÷ 365) = $1,232.88 in interest, for a total of $26,232.88. Most courts use simple interest, so interest does not compound unless the judgment or statute says otherwise.
How much interest accrues per day on a court judgment?
Divide the annual interest by 365 to get the daily accrual. On a $25,000 judgment at 10%, the daily amount is $25,000 × 0.10 ÷ 365 = $6.85 per day. Multiply the daily figure by the number of days since the judgment date to get the total accrued interest, then add it to the principal for the amount due.
How are partial payments applied to a judgment with interest?
Under the standard U.S. rule, each payment is applied first to accrued interest and then to principal. Example: a $10,000 judgment at 9% accrues $448.77 of interest over the 182 days from January 1 to July 1, 2024. A $2,000 payment on July 1 covers the $448.77 of interest first, leaving $1,551.23 to reduce principal to $8,448.77. From July 1 to December 31, 2024 (183 days), that balance accrues $381.24 more, so the total due is $8,830.00. This calculator follows that interest-first rule.
Is post-judgment interest simple or compound?
Usually simple. With simple interest, a $10,000 judgment at 8% over 730 days accrues $10,000 × 0.08 × (730 ÷ 365) = $1,600.00. Compounded annually, the same judgment grows to $10,000 × 1.08^2 = $11,664.00, which is $1,664.00 of interest — $64.00 more. A few states, such as Colorado and Michigan, compound by statute; most do not. This calculator defaults to simple interest and offers annual, monthly, or daily compounding as options.
What are typical post-judgment interest rates by state?
They vary widely. Examples of fixed statutory rates include California 10%, New York 9%, Illinois 9%, Oregon 9%, Connecticut 10%, Alabama 7.5%, Massachusetts 12%, Virginia 6%, Pennsylvania 6%, and North Carolina 8%. Other states use formulas that change over time, such as Texas (prime with a 5% floor and 15% ceiling; the 2024 published rate was 8.25%), Florida (set quarterly by the CFO), and Georgia (prime plus 3%). Federal judgments use the weekly Treasury bill rate under 28 U.S.C. 1961. Rates and statutes change, so always verify the current rate with the court clerk or local counsel before relying on it.
Is this calculator legal advice?
No. It is a math tool that computes interest from the numbers you enter; it is not legal advice and not a substitute for an attorney. Statutory rates differ by state and change over time, and courts may apply special rules for costs, fees, or the day-count method in your case. Verify the rate and method locally before using any figure in a filing or settlement.
Sources
- Rate presets are drawn from the cited state statutes (see table notes) and 28 U.S.C. §1961 for federal judgments. Statutes are amended — verify locally.
- Payment-application order (interest first, then principal) follows the standard U.S. rule applied by federal and most state courts.
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