Savings Bond Calculator: Value at Maturity
Work out what a savings bond is worth once it has been held and left to compound — the value waiting at maturity.
Adjust the inputs and select Calculate for a full breakdown.
Compare Common Scenarios
How the numbers shift across typical situations for this calculator:
| Scenario | Maturity value | Interest earned |
|---|---|---|
| $5k · 4% · 30yr | $16,216.99 | $11,216.99 |
| $1k · 3.5% · 20yr | $1,989.79 | $989.79 |
| $10k · 5% · 25yr | $33,863.55 | $23,863.55 |
| $2.5k · 4.5% · 15yr | $4,838.21 | $2,338.21 |
How This Calculator Works
Enter the amount paid for the bond, its annual rate, and how many years it is held. The calculator compounds the purchase amount each year at the fixed rate and reports the maturity value together with the interest earned along the way.
The Formula
Future Value of a Lump Sum
PV = present value, r = annual rate, n = number of years
Worked Example
A $5,000 savings bond earning 4% a year and held for 30 years grows to about $16,217. The interest earned — roughly $11,217 — exceeds the original purchase, the reward for a very long holding period.
Key Insight
Savings bonds reward patience: they are designed to be held for many years, and stopping early forfeits much of the compounding. Their safety is the trade-off for returns that rarely beat riskier long-term investments.
Series EE + Series I structure
SERIES EE BONDS.
Substantial — substantial $25 minimum purchase.
Substantial — substantial $10K annual limit per SSN.
Substantial — substantial 30-year maximum.
Substantial — substantial GUARANTEED to double in 20 years.
Substantial — substantial = effective 3.53% annual.
Substantial — substantial current rate Nov 2023-Apr 2024. 2.70%.
Substantial — substantial substantial rate adjusts every 6 months.
Substantial — substantial 20-yr doubling substantial guaranteed regardless.
Substantial — substantial substantial substantial substantial substantial.
Substantial — substantial 'one-time adjustment' at 20-yr substantial.
SERIES I BONDS substantial.
Substantial — substantial $25 minimum electronic.
Substantial — substantial $10K annual limit per SSN.
Substantial — substantial PLUS $5K paper via tax refund.
Substantial — substantial 30-year maximum.
Substantial — substantial COMPOSITE RATE = fixed + variable inflation.
Substantial — substantial Fixed rate (set at purchase, holds for life).
Substantial — substantial Variable rate (resets every 6 months based on CPI-U).
RATE HISTORY I-BONDS.
Nov 2021-Apr 2022. 7.12% composite.
May 2022-Oct 2022. 9.62%.
Nov 2022-Apr 2023. 6.89%.
May 2023-Oct 2023. 4.30%.
Nov 2023-Apr 2024. 5.27%.
May 2024-Oct 2024. 4.28%.
Substantial — substantial substantial substantial inflation-protected substantial.
RULES substantial.
Substantial — substantial 12-month MINIMUM hold.
Substantial — substantial substantial 3-month interest penalty if redeemed before 5 yrs.
Substantial — substantial substantial substantial substantial substantial.
Tax treatment + Education exclusion
TAX TREATMENT substantial.
Federal. Substantial — substantial tax-deferred until redemption.
Substantial — substantial OR annual cash-basis election.
State + local. Substantial — substantial EXEMPT.
Substantial — substantial substantial substantial substantial substantial.
EDUCATION TAX EXCLUSION (Section 135).
Substantial — substantial qualifying education expenses.
Substantial — substantial tuition + fees only (not room/board).
Substantial — substantial bond holder age 24+ at purchase.
Substantial — substantial PHASE OUT income limits 2024.
Single. $96,800-$111,800.
MFJ. $145,200-$175,200.
Substantial — substantial substantial substantial substantial substantial.
FORM 8815 substantial filing.
Substantial — substantial bond purchased in parent's name.
Substantial — substantial child as dependent.
Substantial — substantial substantial substantial substantial substantial.
529 PLAN substantial alternative.
Substantial — substantial higher contribution limits.
Substantial — substantial broader expenses.
Substantial — substantial substantial substantial substantial.
TREASURY DIRECT substantial.
Substantial — substantial online platform.
Substantial — substantial substantial substantial substantial substantial.
Substantial — substantial paper Series I via IRS Form 8888 tax refund.
Substantial — substantial $5K limit/year per SSN.
Substantial — substantial substantial substantial substantial substantial.
GIFT savings bonds substantial.
Substantial — substantial substantial substantial substantial substantial.
Substantial — substantial substantial transfer to recipient TreasuryDirect.
Substantial — substantial substantial substantial substantial substantial.
CALCULATION substantial.
Substantial — substantial TreasuryDirect.gov bond calculator.
Substantial — substantial enter serial + denomination.
Substantial — substantial substantial accurate to date.
Substantial — substantial substantial substantial substantial substantial.
STRATEGY substantial.
(1) Substantial — substantial Series I for inflation hedge substantial.
(2) Substantial — substantial Series EE substantial guaranteed doubling 20 yr.
(3) Substantial — substantial Education exclusion substantial planning.
(4) Substantial — substantial substantial substantial substantial substantial.
(5) Substantial — substantial $10K/yr × couple × children = substantial annual.
Substantial — substantial substantial substantial substantial substantial.
Substantial — substantial 5-yr hold substantial — avoid 3-mo penalty.
Substantial — substantial substantial substantial substantial substantial.
U.S. Savings Bond benchmarks (2024)
Reference Series EE + I rates.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Series EE 20-yr doubling | Effective 3.53% |
| Series EE current rate | 2.70% (Nov 2023-Apr 2024) |
| Series I May-Oct 2024 | 4.28% composite |
| Series I Nov 2023-Apr 2024 | 5.27% |
| Series I peak May-Oct 2022 | 9.62% |
| $10K annual limit (electronic) | Per SSN |
| $5K paper Series I (tax refund) | Per SSN |
| Minimum hold | 12 months |
| 3-month interest penalty | Before 5 yrs |
| Tax federal | Deferred |
| Tax state | EXEMPT |
| Education exclusion phase-out (single) | $96,800-$111,800 |
Series I substantial inflation hedge — composite rate resets every 6 months. Series EE 20-yr doubling guaranteed = 3.53% effective. State tax-exempt federal-taxable. Education Tax Exclusion substantial for qualifying tuition/fees (not room/board). TreasuryDirect platform. $10K electronic + $5K paper limits per SSN. Treasury + IRS + FRED data.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does a savings bond grow?
Interest accrues and compounds over the years the bond is held, raising its redemption value. The longer it is held, the larger the share of value that is interest.
What rate should I enter?
Use the rate that applies to your bond. Some savings bonds combine a fixed rate with an inflation component; this calculator applies a single steady rate as an estimate.
Are savings bonds safe?
Government savings bonds are considered very low risk. The trade-off is a return that is usually modest compared with riskier long-term investments.
Can I redeem a savings bond early?
Often yes, after a minimum holding period, though redeeming early can forfeit some interest and cuts short the compounding the bond is designed for.
Is savings bond interest taxable?
Interest is generally subject to federal income tax, though it may be exempt from state tax and, in some cases, deferred until redemption. Confirm the rules for your bond.
When is this calculator unreliable?
Less reliable when Series EE 20-year doubling guarantee requires holding full term, when I-Bond composite rate resets every 6 months (May 1 + Nov 1), when 12-month minimum hold + 3-month interest penalty if redeemed before 5 yrs, when $10K annual purchase limit per SSN ($5K paper Series I via tax refund), when Education Tax Exclusion income limits ($96,800-$111,800 single 2024), or when state-exempt federal-taxable. Use TreasuryDirect bond calculator for accurate current value.
References & Authoritative Sources
- U.S. Treasury Direct — Savings Bonds — Series EE + I · consulted June 1, 2026 · Federal Treasury
- U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) — Education Tax Exclusion Pub 970 · consulted June 1, 2026 · Federal tax
- Federal Reserve / FRED — Treasury Yield Data · consulted June 1, 2026 · Federal economic data
Related Calculators
Data Sources & Benchmarks
This calculator draws on 2 independent, dated sources. The starting values for annual rate are taken from the benchmarks below and refresh whenever the snapshots are updated.
Methodology & Review
U.S. Savings Bond value = purchase price × interest accrual. Series EE: doubles in 20 yrs (3.53% effective); Series I: composite rate (fixed + inflation) — May-Oct 2024 4.28%, Nov 2023-Apr 2024 5.27%. Calculator returns current + maturity value. Tax-deferred federal; state-exempt; education exemption substantial qualifying. RELIABILITY: Reliable for current series + rate. Less reliable when (a) Series EE 20-year doubling guarantee requires holding full term, (b) I-Bond composite rate resets every 6 months (May 1 + Nov 1), (c) 12-month minimum hold + 3-month interest penalty if redeemed before 5 yrs, (d) $10K annual purchase limit per SSN ($5K paper Series I via tax refund), (e) Education Tax Exclusion income limits, (f) state-exempt federal-taxable.
Updated