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Finance Calc Kit
Miscellaneous

Post Judgment Interest Calculator

Calculate post-judgment interest owed on legal judgments and court awards based on principal amount, annual interest rate, start date, and end date.

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%

Total post-judgment interest

$3,952.05

Accrued over 577 days ($6.85/day)

Total amount owed

$53,952.05

Principal plus accrued interest

Accrual period

577 days

1.58 years (365-day basis)

Daily interest

$6.85

Simple daily accrual on principal

Calculation breakdown

MetricValue
Principal judgment award$50,000.00
Annual post-judgment rate5%
Interest calculation typeSimple interest
Start date (judgment date)2025-01-01
End date (settlement date)2026-08-01
Total accrual period577 days (1.58 years)
Daily interest amount$6.85
Total interest accrued$3,952.05
Total amount owed$53,952.05

Post-judgment interest rates vary by jurisdiction, court, and contract. Confirm the applicable statutory or court-ordered rate before relying on these figures.

Report tool

What is post-judgment interest?

Post-judgment interest accrues on a court award from the judgment date until payment is received. It compensates the winning party for the time value of money while the loser delays payment. Rates and compounding rules vary by state, federal court, and contract. All math runs in your browser.

For general simple interest calculations outside a legal context, use the periodic interest rate calculator. To compare lump-sum present values, see the present value calculator.

Post-judgment interest formulas

Simple interest accrues linearly on the principal over the accrual period:

I=P×r×days365I = P \times r \times \frac{\text{days}}{365}

Annual compounding applies the rate once per year over the fractional year period:

I=P×((1+r)years−1)I = P \times \left((1 + r)^{\text{years}} - 1\right)

Total owed equals principal plus accrued interest: Total=P+I\text{Total} = P + I.

Worked example

A $50,000 judgment accrues 5% simple interest from January 1, 2025 to August 1, 2026 (577 days).

  • Years = 577 / 365 = 1.58 years
  • Interest = $50,000 x 5% x 1.58 = $3,952.05
  • Total owed = $50,000 + $3,952.05 = $53,952.05

Simple vs annual compounding

Many U.S. state statutes apply simple interest on judgments. Federal courts and some contracts may specify compound interest. Annual compounding produces slightly higher totals over long accrual periods because interest earns interest each year.

Post-judgment interest rates vary by jurisdiction, court, and contract. Confirm the applicable statutory or court-ordered rate before relying on these figures.

Frequently asked questions

When does post-judgment interest start?
Interest typically begins on the date the judgment is entered, though some jurisdictions start from a different event such as verdict or filing. Check your court rules for the exact trigger date.
Who sets the post-judgment interest rate?
Rates come from state statutes, federal law (28 U.S.C. section 1961 for federal judgments), or the contract between parties. Courts may also order a specific rate in the judgment.
Is post-judgment interest taxable?
Interest income is generally taxable as ordinary income in the United States. Consult a tax professional about reporting judgment interest on your return.
What is the difference between prejudgment and post-judgment interest?
Prejudgment interest accrues from the injury or breach until the judgment date. Post-judgment interest accrues from the judgment date until payment. Some cases award both.
Why use 365 days instead of 360?
Many legal interest calculations use a 365-day year (actual/365). Some commercial contexts use 360. This calculator uses a 365-day basis, which is common for court-ordered interest.

Resources and references

The formulas and methods in this calculator were checked against these independent sources.