Savings Bond Calculator

Q: Where do I find the issue date on my bond?

The issue date is printed on the front of your paper bond. It shows only a month and year, not a specific day. Enter that month and year into the calculator.

Q: Where is the serial number on a savings bond?

The serial number is printed along the lower edge of your paper bond. It can be up to 13 characters long. This field is optional, so leave it blank if you do not have the bond in front of you.

Q: How far back can I check a bond's value?

You can check values as far back as January 1996 . The U.S. Treasury does not provide redemption data before that date, so the calculator cannot go further back.

Q: Can I check a bond's value for a future date?

Yes, but only within the current six-month rate period. The calculator cannot project values beyond that because future interest rates have not been announced yet.

Q: What is the 3-month penalty shown on my bond?

If you cash a Series I or Series EE bond before holding it for 5 years , you lose the last 3 months of interest. The calculator applies this penalty automatically and shows the adjusted value.

Q: What does the next accrual date mean?

Savings bonds add interest every 6 months based on the month they were issued. The next accrual date is when your bond will next gain interest. If you cash out before that date, you only get the value from the previous accrual.

Q: What does a matured status mean?

A matured bond has reached its final maturity date and has stopped earning interest. You should redeem it because keeping it will not add any more value.

Q: How many bonds can I add to the inventory?

There is no limit. You can add as many bonds as you like. The calculator will track each one and give you a combined portfolio summary at the bottom.

Q: What does the weighted average rate in the portfolio summary mean?

It is the blended interest rate across all your bonds that are still earning interest. Bonds with a higher current value have more weight in the average. Matured bonds are not included because they earn 0%.

Q: Why does my Series EE bond show a different issue price than its face value?

Paper Series EE bonds were sold at half their face value. A $100 EE bond cost $50. The calculator shows $50 as the issue price because that is what was actually paid.

Savings Bond Calculator

Updated Sep 1, 2026 By Jehan Wadia

Introduction

This free Savings Bond Calculator helps you find the current value of your U.S. savings bonds. It works with Series I, Series EE, Series E, and Savings Notes. Just pick your bond type, enter the face value and issue date, and the tool works out the value. It shows how much interest you have earned, what your bond is worth today, and when it will reach full maturity.

You can add more than one bond to build a full inventory. The calculator tracks each bond's interest rate history, next accrual date, and whether it still earns interest or has matured. It also gives you a step-by-step breakdown of how your bond's value is computed, so you can see exactly where the numbers come from. A portfolio summary ties everything together with your total return and blended rate across all bonds.

Check the value of old paper bonds you found in a drawer or bonds you bought years ago, with no account login needed.

How to Use Our Savings Bond Calculator

Enter a few details about your U.S. savings bond below. The calculator will show you its current value, total interest earned, interest rate, and maturity date. You can add more than one bond to see a full portfolio summary.

Bond Series: Pick the series printed on your bond. Choose from Series I, Series EE, Series E, or Savings Notes. Each type earns interest in a different way.

Denomination: Select the face value printed on your bond, such as $50, $100, or $1,000. The choices update based on the series you picked.

Issue Date: Enter the month and year your bond was issued. You can find this date printed on the front of your bond.

Serial Number — This field is optional. Type the serial number found along the bottom edge of your bond. It helps you tell your bonds apart if you add more than one.

Calculate Value As Of: Choose the month and year you want to check your bond's value. You can pick today's date, a past date back to January 1996, or a near-future date. Press Update Date to recalculate all bonds in your list at once.

Click Add Bond to place your bond in the inventory table. You can add as many bonds as you like. The calculator will display each bond's issue price, total interest, year-to-date interest, current rate, next accrual date, and maturity status. It also provides a step-by-step breakdown of how your bond's value is calculated and a chart comparing issue price to interest earned.

What Are U.S. Savings Bonds?

U.S. savings bonds are a way to lend money to the federal government. In return, the government pays you interest over time. They are one of the safest investments you can make because they are backed by the full faith of the U.S. Treasury.

Types of Savings Bonds

Series I bonds protect your money from inflation. They earn a fixed rate plus a rate that changes every six months based on how fast prices rise. If inflation goes up, your interest goes up too.

Series EE bonds earn a fixed interest rate set when you buy them. They also come with a guarantee: if you hold an EE bond for 20 years, the Treasury will double its value.

Series E bonds are older bonds sold between 1941 and 1980. They are no longer sold, but many are still held by families. All Series E bonds have now reached final maturity and have stopped earning interest.

Savings Notes (Freedom Shares) were sold from 1967 to 1970. Like Series E bonds, they have all matured and no longer earn interest.

How Savings Bonds Earn Interest

Savings bonds do not pay interest like a bank account. Instead, their value grows over time through compound interest. Interest is added every six months based on the month the bond was issued. This is called an accrual date. If you cash a bond between accrual dates, you only get the value from the last one.

For Series I and EE bonds bought within the last five years, there is a penalty. You lose the last three months of interest if you cash the bond before holding it for five years. You cannot cash any I or EE bond at all during the first 12 months.

Issue Price vs. Face Value

Not all bonds cost the same as their face value. Series EE paper bonds were sold at half their face value. A $100 EE bond cost $50. Series I paper bonds were sold at full face value, so a $100 I bond cost $100. Series E bonds were sold at 75% of face value, and Savings Notes were sold at 81%.

When Do Savings Bonds Mature?

Series EE and I bonds reach final maturity 30 years after their issue date. Series E bonds matured 40 years after issue. Savings Notes matured after 30 years (by the year 2000 at the latest). Once a bond matures, it stops earning interest completely. At that point, you should cash it in.

Why Use a Savings Bond Calculator?

The value of a savings bond changes every six months, and the interest rates can shift with each new period. A savings bond calculator lets you look up exactly what your bond is worth on any given date. It shows you how much interest you have earned, what rate you are getting now, and when your next interest payment will be added. This helps you decide the best time to redeem your bonds.

Formulas used

Issue Price

P = \text{Face Value} \times f, \quad f \in \{0.50,\;0.75,\;0.81,\;1.00\}

Series I Composite Annual Rate

r = f + 2i + f \times i, \quad r = \max(r,\;0)

Six-Month Accrual Periods Held

n = \left\lfloor \frac{\text{Months Held}}{6} \right\rfloor

Bond Value (Semiannual Compounding)

V = P \times \prod_{k=1}^{n}\left(1 + \frac{r_k}{2}\right)

3-Month Early-Redemption Penalty (held < 5 years)

V_{\text{penalty}} = P \times \prod_{k=1}^{\left\lfloor (\text{months} - 3)/6 \right\rfloor}\left(1 + \frac{r_k}{2}\right)

Series EE 20-Year Doubling Guarantee

V_{20} = \max\!\left(V_{\text{compounded}},\; 2P\right)

Total Interest Earned

I = V - P

Portfolio Weighted Average Rate

\bar{r} = \frac{\displaystyle\sum_{i} r_i \times V_i}{\displaystyle\sum_{i} V_i}

Frequently asked questions

Where do I find the issue date on my bond?

The issue date is printed on the front of your paper bond. It shows only a month and year, not a specific day. Enter that month and year into the calculator.

Where is the serial number on a savings bond?

The serial number is printed along the lower edge of your paper bond. It can be up to 13 characters long. This field is optional, so leave it blank if you do not have the bond in front of you.

How far back can I check a bond's value?

You can check values as far back as January 1996. The U.S. Treasury does not provide redemption data before that date, so the calculator cannot go further back.

Can I check a bond's value for a future date?

Yes, but only within the current six-month rate period. The calculator cannot project values beyond that because future interest rates have not been announced yet.

What is the 3-month penalty shown on my bond?

If you cash a Series I or Series EE bond before holding it for 5 years, you lose the last 3 months of interest. The calculator applies this penalty automatically and shows the adjusted value.

What does the next accrual date mean?

Savings bonds add interest every 6 months based on the month they were issued. The next accrual date is when your bond will next gain interest. If you cash out before that date, you only get the value from the previous accrual.

What does a matured status mean?

A matured bond has reached its final maturity date and has stopped earning interest. You should redeem it because keeping it will not add any more value.

How many bonds can I add to the inventory?

There is no limit. You can add as many bonds as you like. The calculator will track each one and give you a combined portfolio summary at the bottom.

What does the weighted average rate in the portfolio summary mean?

It is the blended interest rate across all your bonds that are still earning interest. Bonds with a higher current value have more weight in the average. Matured bonds are not included because they earn 0%.

Why does my Series EE bond show a different issue price than its face value?

Paper Series EE bonds were sold at half their face value. A $100 EE bond cost $50. The calculator shows $50 as the issue price because that is what was actually paid.

How is the interest rate calculated for Series I bonds?

Series I bonds use a fixed rate set when you buy the bond plus an inflation rate that changes every six months. The two rates are combined using a formula: fixed + (2 × inflation) + (fixed × inflation). The result cannot go below zero.

Will my Series EE bond really double in value?

Yes. The Treasury guarantees that an EE bond reaches its full face value (double the purchase price) at its original maturity: 20 years for bonds issued June 2003 or later, and 17 years for bonds issued May 1995 through May 2003. If interest alone hasn't doubled the bond by then, Treasury makes a one-time adjustment to the guaranteed value, and the bond keeps earning on that adjusted value until it stops at 30 years. The calculator applies these guarantees automatically. Bonds issued before May 1995 carried guaranteed minimum rates instead; their values here come directly from U.S. Treasury redemption data.

What is year-to-date interest?

Year-to-date (YTD) interest is how much interest your bond has earned since January 1 of the year shown in the as-of date. It helps you estimate the taxable interest for that calendar year.

How do I update the as-of date for all my bonds at once?

Change the month and year in the Calculate Value As Of fields, then click the Update Date button. Every bond in your inventory will be recalculated to that new date.

Why is my bond's value the same as last month?

It depends on the series. Series I bonds and Series EE bonds issued May 1997 or later increase in value every month, with interest compounded twice a year. Older bonds (Series E, Savings Notes, and EE bonds issued before May 1997) only step up every 6 months on their accrual dates. Also note that if a bond has reached final maturity it has stopped earning entirely, and a bond held under 5 years always shows a value with the last 3 months of interest deducted.

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