Right now, 6-month certificates of deposit (CDs) offer some of the best CD rates you can find. They currently pay more than CDs with terms of a year or more.
Today’s high CD rates may not last long, though. The Federal Reserve predicts that it will cut the federal funds rate twice in 2025 — and it may start as soon as mid-June. When that happens, CD rates will drop soon after, too.
Should you invest in 6-month CDs now? Let’s look at how much you could earn, as well as some good reasons to open a CD — or not.
How much would $10,000 earn in a 6-month CD now?
CD rates vary widely from bank to bank, but the best 6-month CD rate you can get now is about 4.50%. If you deposited $10,000 at that rate, you’d earn $222.52 by the time the CD matured.
Our Picks for the Best High-Yield Savings Accounts of 2025
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American Express® High Yield Savings Account Member FDIC. APY 3.70%
Rate info
Member FDIC.
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3.70%
Rate info |
$0 |
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CIT Platinum Savings Member FDIC. APY 4.10% APY for balances of $5,000 or more
Rate info Min. to earn $100 to open account, $5,000+ for max APY
Member FDIC.
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4.10% APY for balances of $5,000 or more
Rate info |
$100 to open account, $5,000+ for max APY |
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Barclays Tiered Savings Member FDIC. APY 4.10%
Rate info
Member FDIC.
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4.10%
Rate info |
$0 |
The average 6-month CD rate is closer to 2.00%, though. At that rate, your $10,000 deposit would only earn $100 in interest. So make sure you shop around for the best possible rate before you invest.
Should you open a 6-month CD in April 2025?
A 6-month CD is a good idea if…
- You have some money you want to keep safe, with zero risk of losing your principal
- You won’t need to touch the money for the full six months
- You want to protect your APY from near-term rate drops
If all the above are true, then opening a 6-month CD may be the right call. Nobody expects CD rates to go up any time soon, so if you’re ready to open a CD, now looks like a good time to pull the trigger.
You may even want to lock in today’s rates for a year or longer. Longer-term CDs don’t pay quite as much as 6-month CDs now, but their rates are still guaranteed to last for the duration of the CD term — up to 10 years, in some cases. Check out our list of the best CD rates to find the best option for your needs.
An alternative to consider
CDs are great for money you need to keep safe while earning a solid APY. However, they’re not great for money that you might need at any time. If you have to withdraw your deposit early, you’ll likely sacrifice some of the interest you’ve earned.
High-yield savings accounts are more flexible, and they pay similar rates to CDs right now. Our favorites pay between 3.60% and 4.40%.
Here’s how much a $10,000 deposit would earn in six months at those rates:
You’d earn nearly as much as you would with a 6-month CD — and you’d be able to withdraw, deposit, and transfer money at any time. That makes a high-yield savings account the perfect place for your emergency savings and any other cash that you may need on short notice.