How do you calculate interest earned in 2 years?

September 28, 2022 |3 min read

Know how much you’re earning to better plan your savings goals

September 28, 2022 |3 min read


Wondering how to calculate savings interest? Nowadays there are plenty of online calculators that do the math for you. 

But learning to make sense of the numbers can help you understand the specifics of why you’re earning as much (or as little) as you are.

How do you calculate monthly interest earned on a savings account?

Calculating your monthly interest earned starts with knowing the basic equations for calculating simple and compound interest:

Simple interest1

A = P x R x T

Compound interest2

A = P(1 + R/N)NT

You may recognize the equation from high school algebra—remember when your teacher said you’d use it in real life some day? Well, today’s the day!

While it looks daunting, the equation uses variables that can easily be decoded. Here’s what each variable represents:

  • A: the amount of money you’ll have in your bank account after interest is paid
  • P: your principal deposit, or the original balance of your account
  • R: the interest rate of your account in decimal format
  • N: the number of times your bank compounds interest in a year
  • T: the time, in years, you want to calculate for

But before you break out your calculator, it may be helpful to understand the two different types of interest and how they can earn you money.

The two types of interest

While it may seem like a couple of pennies now, interest can add up over time. Those pennies turn into dollars, then into tens of dollars, and well, you get the rest. Whether you are a strict saver who doesn't touch a cent of their savings or a planner who likes to save for specific life events or goals, figuring out how to calculate monthly interest on a savings account starts with a basic understanding of simple and compound interest.

Simple interest

Simple interest is money earned on the principal, or the original amount of money deposited.1 It doesn’t account for interest earned over time. Most interest-earning accounts use compounding interest formulas.1

Compound interest

Compound interest is calculated using the principal balance plus interest earned over time.2 When interest is compounded depends on your bank and your account. Interest could be compounded daily, monthly, quarterly or annually.3

How much interest will I get on $1,000 a year in a savings account?

Generally, traditional savings accounts use compound interest.1 To calculate how much annual interest you’ll earn on $1,000 use this equation: A = P(1 + R/N)NT

If you have an account with $1,000 that compounds monthly at a 1% interest rate, first you would identify all your variables:

  • A: the total amount you’re trying to find
  • P: your principal amount of $1,000
  • R: your interest rate in decimal format 0.01 (divide 1 by 100)
  • N: your bank compounds monthly, so it would compound 12 times a year
  • T: you are looking to find your interest earned of 1 year

Then plug it into the equation: A = 1,000(1+ 0.01/12)12 x 1

And finally, type the equation into a calculator—or use a pencil and paper if you’d like—to get your total amount of $1,010.05.

If you’re looking for faster ways to save, other savings vehicles like money market accounts (MMAs) and certificates of deposits (CDs) may be a better fit for you.

Growing your savings over time

Learning how to calculate interest earned on savings is a process. But if you understand more about how interest works, managing your money can be easier.


This site is for educational purposes. The material provided on this site is not intended to provide legal, investment, or financial advice or to indicate the availability or suitability of any Capital One product or service to your unique circumstances. For specific advice about your unique circumstances, you may wish to consult a qualified professional.

  1. Simple interest (undated). Retrieved February 10, 2022, from https://www.bankrate.com/glossary/s/simple-interest/.
  2. Interest (undated). Retrieved February 10, 2022, from https://www.bankrate.com/glossary/i/interest/.
  3. What is compound interest? (August 20, 2020). Retrieved February 10, 2022, from https://www.bankrate.com/banking/what-is-compound-interest/.

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How do you calculate simple interest for 2 years?

Simple interest is calculated with the following formula: S.I. = P × R × T, where P = Principal, R = Rate of Interest in % per annum, and T = Time, usually calculated as the number of years.

How do you calculate interest on a 2 year loan?

Great question, the formula loan calculators use is I = P * r *T in layman's terms Interest equals the principal amount multiplied by your interest rate times the amount in years. Where: P is the principal amount, $3000.00. r is the interest rate, 4.99% per year, or in decimal form, 4.99/100=0.0499.

What is the formula of compound interest for 2 years?

For 2 years, T = 24. If interest is compounded half yearly, rate of interest = R / 2 and A = P [ 1 + ( {R / 2} / 100 ) ]T, where 'T' is the time period. For example, if we have to calculate the interest for 1 year, then T = 2.

How do you calculate interest per year?

Firstly, multiply the principal P, interest in percentage R and tenure T in years. For yearly interest, divide the result of P*R*T by 100. To get the monthly interest, divide the Simple Interest by 12 for 1 year, 24 months for 2 years and so on.