Series EE Bond Calculator and Value Guide
Series EE savings bonds are issued by the US Treasury and are one of the most straightforward savings instruments available. Every EE bond issued since May 2005 carries a fixed interest rate that applies for the bond's entire 30-year life, plus a 20-year doubling guarantee that makes them unusually predictable for long-term savers.
Use the main savings bond calculator to estimate your EE bond's current value, or read below to understand exactly how EE bond values are calculated.
Current Series EE Bond Rate (2026)
Series EE bonds issued from May 2026 through October 2026 earn an annual fixed rate of 2.40%, as announced by the US Treasury on May 1, 2026.
Rates are set twice per year — on May 1 and November 1. The rate you receive when you purchase an EE bond is locked in for the bond's entire 30-year life.
Source: TreasuryDirect.gov – EE Bonds (as of May 1, 2026).
The 20-Year Doubling Guarantee — Explained
This is the defining feature of modern EE bonds. The Treasury guarantees that any EE bond issued since May 2005 will be worth at least twice its purchase price at exactly 20 years from the issue date.
Example: A $100 EE bond (face value) costs $50 to purchase. At 20 years, it is guaranteed to be worth at least $100 — double the $50 purchase price. If the accumulated interest at the stated fixed rate would produce less than $100, the Treasury makes a one-time lump-sum payment to reach exactly $100.
For bonds issued during the low-rate era (2015–2021) at 0.10% annually, the compounded value at 20 years would be approximately $51. The Treasury's guarantee effectively pays the difference to reach $100 — delivering a minimum annualized yield of roughly 3.53% at the 20-year mark.
After 20 years, the bond continues to earn interest at the original fixed rate (or any supplemental rate the Treasury applies) for the remaining 10 years, up to the 30-year final maturity.
How EE Bond Value Is Calculated
EE bonds issued since May 2005 use semiannual compounding at the fixed annual rate. The formula for the value at time t (in years) is:
- V = Bond value at time t
- P = Purchase price (= face value ÷ 2)
- r = Annual fixed rate as a decimal (e.g. 0.0240 for 2.40%)
- t = Complete years held (interest accrues in complete months)
Interest accrues monthly but compounds (is added to principal) every six months. You receive credit for complete months only — a bond held 5 years and 11 months earns the same as one held 5 years and 10 months, because that final partial month's interest has not yet been added.
Worked Example
A $100 EE bond (face value) issued in May 2010 at a 0.10% annual fixed rate, held to June 2026 (16 years, 1 month → 193 complete months):
- Purchase price P = $50
- Monthly rate = (1 + 0.0010/2)1/6 − 1 ≈ 0.0000833
- V = $50 × (1.0000833)193 ≈ $50.83
- No doubling guarantee until year 20 (2030)
- At 20 years (2030), value would be guaranteed to reach $100
Use the calculator on the home page to run this for your own bond. For the precise cent-accurate value, verify with the TreasuryDirect official calculator.
EE Bond Rate History (Selected Periods)
Rates below are sourced from TreasuryDirect.gov announcements.
| Issue Period | Annual Fixed Rate | Note |
|---|---|---|
| May 2026 – Oct 2026 | 2.40% | Current |
| Nov 2025 – Apr 2026 | 2.70% | |
| May 2025 – Oct 2025 | 2.70% | |
| Nov 2024 – Apr 2025 | 2.60% | |
| May 2023 – Apr 2024 | 2.50% | |
| Nov 2022 – Apr 2023 | 2.00% | |
| May 2015 – Oct 2022 | 0.10% | 20-yr guarantee very valuable in this range |
| Nov 1997 – Apr 2005 | Variable (market-based) | 90% of 5-yr Treasury yield |
Source: TreasuryDirect.gov EE Bonds page (as of June 2026). Full rate history for all periods available on TreasuryDirect.
Key Rules to Know
- Minimum hold: 12 months before you can redeem.
- Early penalty: Redeem before 5 years, forfeit last 3 months of interest.
- Final maturity: 30 years — bonds stop earning after this date.
- Purchase limit: $10,000 face value per person per calendar year (electronic); $5,000 per year in paper bonds via tax refund.
- Denomination: Available from $25 to $10,000 (face value).
- Tax: Interest is subject to federal income tax; exempt from state and local tax. You may defer reporting until redemption.
Related Tools
- Savings Bond Calculator (EE + I)
- I Bond Calculator
- EE vs I Bond Comparison
- How to Cash In Savings Bonds
- Savings Bond Maturity Checker
Frequently Asked Questions
The US Treasury guarantees that Series EE bonds issued since May 2005 will be worth at least twice their purchase price at the 20-year mark. If the compounded value at the stated fixed rate would be less than 2x, the Treasury makes a one-time supplemental payment to reach that minimum. For a bond with a low fixed rate (such as the 0.10% bonds issued between 2015 and 2021), this guarantee effectively delivers a minimum annualized yield of approximately 3.53% at 20 years.
Series EE bonds issued from May 2026 through October 2026 earn a fixed annual rate of 2.40%, set by the US Treasury. This rate is locked in for the life of the bond. Rates are announced on May 1 and November 1 each year. Source: TreasuryDirect.gov, May 1, 2026.
EE bonds earn interest monthly and compound semiannually. At the end of each 6-month period, all accrued interest is added to the bond's principal, and the next period's interest is calculated on that new, higher balance.
Yes, you can redeem an EE bond after 12 months. However, if you redeem before 5 years, you forfeit the last 3 months of interest. After 5 years, there is no penalty.
No. Series EE bonds stop earning interest after 30 years from the issue date. If you hold a bond past its 30-year final maturity, it no longer grows. You should redeem it at that point.