Judgment Interest Calculator - New York

For most money judgments in New York in 2026, CPLR § 5004(a) sets nine percent (9%) per year simple interest on unpaid principal. Qualifying consumer debt judgments against natural persons use two percent (2%) per year under the same section, reflecting post-April 2022 reforms. The rate is fixed by statute—not tied to a market index. Confirm your judgment category on the signed judgment and docket before demanding nine percent. Government and specialized judgments may involve different treatment. Download the judgment and compare claim type to CPLR § 5004(a) before abstracting or serving a garnishment in 2026.

Use simple interest: Interest equals principal times annual rate times years. At nine percent under CPLR § 5004(a), fifty thousand dollars for two years equals nine thousand dollars ($50,000 × 0.09 × 2). At two percent for qualifying consumer debt, the same inputs equal two thousand dollars. Partial periods may use daily accrual: (Principal × Rate) ÷ 365. Partial payments reduce principal going forward. TheLegalCalc multiplies principal, rate, and years you enter. Match the rate to the consumer or default category before sending a payoff letter. Court clerks may show a different balance if fees or credits posted—reconcile with the docket.

Under CPLR § 5003, post-judgment interest generally begins accruing from the date of entry of the judgment on the unpaid principal. That is the entry date on the court register, which may differ from the verdict date or the date of a decision on a motion. Pre-judgment interest, if awarded, follows CPLR § 5001 and related authority for the prejudgment window. Build a chronology of entry, partial payments, and any stays. If you are within the twenty-year enforcement window in CPLR § 211(b), interest may continue while principal remains unpaid subject to the correct § 5004(a) rate category.

CPLR § 5004(a) expresses annual rates applied to principal in routine post-judgment planning; New York does not describe compounding interest on interest in the default judgment interest framework. Contracts or court orders could provide different treatment. This calculator uses simple interest only. Do not capitalize accrued interest into principal without authority. Consumer judgments at two percent and commercial judgments at nine percent both use simple math on the unpaid principal balance going forward after each partial payment credit. Document principal, rate category, payment chronology, and governing statute on every demand letter or payoff quote. Partial payments reduce the principal base prospectively under simple interest math. This calculator provides educational estimates only and does not replace advice from a licensed attorney familiar with your court, claim type, and docket. Verify official statute text and court rules before filing, settling, or enforcing.

Interest under CPLR § 5004 can run while principal remains unpaid, but CPLR § 211(b) makes a money judgment enforceable for twenty years from entry—coordinate execution, renewal, and rate category together. Interest math alone does not extend enforcement if procedural deadlines are missed. Track abstract and execution strategy with New York counsel. The two percent consumer rate and nine percent default rate both apply to the same enforcement window but produce very different carry costs over a multi-year collection. Document principal, rate category, payment chronology, and governing statute on every demand letter or payoff quote. Partial payments reduce the principal base prospectively under simple interest math. This calculator provides educational estimates only and does not replace advice from a licensed attorney familiar with your court, claim type, and docket. Verify official statute text and court rules before filing, settling, or enforcing.

Parties may settle and agree to reduce or waive post-judgment interest subject to capacity, fraud rules, and bankruptcy law. Settlements should state whether CPLR § 5004 interest stops on the payment date and whether the release covers costs and fees. A creditor quoting nine percent should confirm the judgment is not in the two percent consumer category before waiving the wrong baseline. This tool does not provide legal advice on releases. Document agreements in writing and consult a New York attorney before filing a satisfaction or crediting a partial payment.