Staking Rewards Calculator
Estimate staking rewards over any time period with compound interest at your chosen frequency.
Formula
P = principal, r = annual rate (APY as decimal), n = compounds per year, t = time in years.
The difference between your final value and initial stake is the total rewards earned.
The equivalent daily rate that produces the same annual yield when compounded daily.
Examples
- Stake = $102,400 (32 ETH × $3,200), APY = 4%
- Compounding: daily (n = 365), Duration = 365 days (t = 1)
- FV = $102,400 × (1 + 0.04/365)^365
- FV = $102,400 × 1.04081 = $106,578.93
- P = $10,000, APY = 25%, n = 365 (daily), t = 0.5 years
- FV = $10,000 × (1 + 0.25/365)^(365 × 0.5)
- FV = $10,000 × (1.000685)^182.5
- FV = $10,000 × 1.1180 = $11,180.34
- P = $5,000, APY = 8%, n = 12 (monthly), t = 3 years
- FV = $5,000 × (1 + 0.08/12)^(12 × 3)
- FV = $5,000 × (1.00667)^36
- FV = $5,000 × 1.2702 = $6,351.18
Key Concepts
Proof of Stake Rewards
Proof-of-stake blockchains reward validators and delegators for securing the network. Ethereum yields ~3-5% APY, Solana ~6-8%, Cosmos ~15-20%. Rates depend on total staked supply, network inflation, and MEV tips.
Liquid Staking
Liquid staking (Lido, Rocket Pool) lets you stake ETH and receive a liquid receipt token (stETH, rETH) that accrues rewards automatically. You can use this token in DeFi while still earning staking rewards — compounding yield.
Compounding Effect
Restaking rewards compounds your returns. If you earn 100 tokens in month 1 and restake them, month 2's rewards are calculated on your original stake plus those 100 tokens. Over years, this compounding significantly outperforms simple staking.
Validator vs Delegator
Running a validator (e.g., 32 ETH for Ethereum) earns maximum rewards but requires hardware and uptime. Delegating to a validator or using a staking pool earns slightly less (minus the operator's commission) but requires no infrastructure.
Slashing Risk
Validators can be 'slashed' (penalized) for malicious behavior or extended downtime, losing a portion of their stake. When delegating, choose reputable validators with strong uptime records to minimize slashing risk.
Unstaking Periods
Most PoS chains have an unbonding period when you stop staking: Ethereum ~1-5 days (exit queue), Cosmos 21 days, Polkadot 28 days. During this period, your tokens earn no rewards and cannot be transferred. Liquid staking tokens can be sold immediately instead.
How to Calculate Staking Rewards
Staking rewards are calculated using the compound interest formula. Your initial stake earns rewards at the advertised APY, and if those rewards are restaked (compounded), they begin earning rewards themselves. The frequency of compounding — daily, weekly, or monthly — affects your total returns.
The key inputs are your stake amount, the APY offered by the protocol, the duration you plan to stake, and how often rewards are compounded. Most liquid staking protocols auto-compound, while native staking may require manual restaking of rewards.
Keep in mind that advertised APY rates are not fixed — they fluctuate based on network participation, token inflation schedules, and protocol governance. Historical rates can guide expectations, but future yields are never guaranteed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is staking APY guaranteed?
No. Staking APY fluctuates based on the total amount staked on the network, token inflation rate, and protocol parameters. When more people stake, rewards are split among more participants, reducing individual APY. Governance votes can also change emission rates.
Do I need to manually compound staking rewards?
It depends on the platform. Liquid staking tokens (stETH, rETH) auto-compound by accruing value. Native staking on most chains requires you to manually claim and restake rewards. Some third-party services auto-compound for a small fee.
Does this account for token price changes?
No. This calculator assumes constant token prices and computes rewards in the same unit as your stake. If the token price drops 50% while you earn 10% in staking rewards, your USD value still decreases. Consider price risk alongside yield.
What about staking fees and commissions?
Staking pools and liquid staking protocols charge a commission (typically 5-15%) on earned rewards. If a pool shows 5% APY with a 10% commission, your effective rate is 4.5%. This calculator uses the net rate you enter — adjust for commissions before inputting.