Interest on Judgment Calculator

About the Interest on Judgment Calculator

When a court awards a money judgment, interest accrues on the unpaid amount. Post-judgment interest runs from the date of the judgment until paid, while pre-judgment interest may be awarded from the date the claim arose until the judgment date. Statutory rates vary by jurisdiction.

This calculator computes interest on a judgment based on the principal amount, the applicable statutory interest rate, and the number of days since the judgment (or since the cause of action accrued for pre-judgment interest). Use the current court order or statute for the applicable rate.

When This Page Helps

Judgment interest can add significantly to a court award over time. This calculator gives you a worksheet estimate of the interest owed so you can compare payment scenarios and check totals before using the number in a matter file.

How to Use the Inputs

1. Enter the judgment principal amount.
2. Enter the applicable statutory interest rate (annual).
3. Enter the number of days since the judgment (or accrual date for pre-judgment interest).
4. Select simple or compound interest as applicable.
5. Review the total interest and total amount owed.

Example Calculation

Tips & Best Practices

• For federal judgments, interest is commonly tied to a Treasury-based rate under 28 U.S.C. § 1961.
• If your jurisdiction uses a fixed statutory rate, enter that rate directly into the calculator.
• If your matter uses federal post-judgment interest, enter the governing rate from the applicable court rule or order.
• Pre-judgment interest is discretionary in many jurisdictions and depends on the claim type.
• Interest continues to accrue during the appeal process.
• Partial payments reduce the principal on which future interest accrues.
• Document all payment dates and amounts to track the remaining balance accurately.

Federal vs. State Judgment Interest

Federal courts apply 28 U.S.C. § 1961 using a Treasury-based rate. State courts use their own statutes, court rules, or contract-driven terms, and those can change over time. This worksheet therefore expects the user to enter the governing rate rather than relying on a baked-in jurisdiction table.

Enforcing Judgment Interest

Accrued interest can materially change the total amount owed on a judgment. If the judgment is partially paid, if an appeal affects enforcement, or if the court order uses a different accrual method, the worksheet result should be adjusted to match the actual order.

Strategic Implications

Judgment interest can influence timing because delay may increase the total amount owed. This calculator helps compare those totals without claiming to replace the underlying court rule.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is the federal post-judgment interest rate?

  The federal rate is based on the weekly average 1-year constant maturity Treasury yield, rounded to the nearest 0.01%. It changes regularly, so this page expects you to enter the current governing rate rather than relying on a built-in number.

• What is the difference between pre-judgment and post-judgment interest?

  Pre-judgment interest runs from the date the claim accrued (or demand was made) to the date of judgment. Post-judgment interest runs from the judgment date until the judgment is fully paid.

• Is judgment interest simple or compound?

  Most jurisdictions use simple interest for judgment interest. However, some states allow compound interest in certain circumstances, particularly for contractual claims where the contract specified compounding.

• Can I negotiate the interest rate on a judgment?

  The governing rate is set by the applicable court rule or statute, not by the calculator. In settlement discussions, the parties can agree to different payment terms, which may change how much interest accrues.

• Does interest accrue during an appeal?

  Yes, post-judgment interest continues to accrue while a judgment is on appeal. The appellant may post a supersedeas bond to stay execution during the appeal.

• How do partial payments affect judgment interest?

  Each payment is first applied to accrued interest, then to the principal balance. Future interest accrues only on the remaining principal.