How do I find the value of my savings bonds?

Use the Treasury Department's official calculator at TreasuryDirect.gov for exact values. For estimates, Series EE bonds double after 20 years and I Bonds earn a rate based on inflation adjustments.

Do savings bonds expire?

Savings bonds stop earning interest after 30 years from issue date. Series EE and I Bonds issued after 1989 have a 30-year maturity. After that, you should cash them as they no longer grow.

Savings Bond Calculator: How Much Are Your Bonds Worth?

Understand the value and growth of your US savings bonds.

Types of US Savings Bonds

Bond Type	Current Rate	How It Earns	Best For
Series I (I Bonds)	~4.28%*	Fixed rate + inflation adjustment	Inflation protection
Series EE	2.70%	Fixed rate, guaranteed to double in 20 yrs	Long-term, guaranteed growth

*I Bond rate changes every 6 months based on inflation

Series EE Bond Values

EE Bonds earn a fixed rate and are guaranteed to double after 20 years.

EE Bond Growth Example

$1,000 EE Bond purchased in 2024 at 2.70%:

Year	With Interest (2.70%)	If Not Doubled Yet
0	$1,000	Start
5	$1,142	—
10	$1,305	—
15	$1,491	—
20	$1,704	Adjusted to $2,000*
25	$2,287	—
30	$2,720	Stops earning

*Treasury makes up the difference to ensure doubling at 20 years

Historical EE Bond Rates

Issue Period	Rate
Nov 2024-Apr 2025	2.70%
May-Oct 2024	2.70%
Nov 2023-Apr 2024	2.70%
May-Oct 2023	2.50%
Nov 2022-Apr 2023	2.10%
May-Oct 2022	0.10%
2020-2022	0.10%

Series I Bond Values

I Bonds earn interest based on a fixed rate plus an inflation rate that adjusts semi-annually.

Current I Bond Rate Components

Component	Current Rate
Fixed rate	1.20%
Inflation rate	1.54% (semi-annual)
Composite rate	~4.28%

I Bond Value Example

$10,000 I Bond purchased in May 2024:

Month	Value*
May 2024	$10,000
Nov 2024	$10,214
May 2025	$10,434
Nov 2025	$10,660
May 2026	$10,893

*Approximate based on composite rate; actual varies with inflation adjustments

Historical I Bond Rates

Period	Fixed Rate	Inflation Rate	Composite
Nov 2024	1.20%	1.54%	4.28%
May 2024	1.30%	1.48%	4.28%
Nov 2023	1.30%	1.97%	5.27%
May 2023	0.90%	1.69%	4.30%
Nov 2022	0.40%	3.24%	6.89%
May 2022	0.00%	4.81%	9.62%

Paper vs Electronic Bonds

Feature	Paper Bonds	Electronic (TreasuryDirect)
Purchase	No longer sold	Online purchase
Maximum/year	N/A	$10,000 per person
Value lookup	Treasury calculator	TreasuryDirect account
Redemption	At bank	Online
Tax refund	Can buy $5,000 paper I Bonds	Add to electronic account

Bond Redemption Timeline

Event	EE Bonds	I Bonds
Minimum hold	12 months	12 months
Early redemption penalty	3 months interest if < 5 years	3 months interest if < 5 years
Penalty-free	After 5 years	After 5 years
Stop earning	30 years	30 years

Early Redemption Example

$10,000 I Bond cashed after 2 years at 5% average rate:

Item	Amount
Purchase value	$10,000
Interest earned (2 years)	$1,025
Penalty (3 months interest)	-$128
Cash value	$10,897

Tax Considerations

When You Pay Taxes

Option	When Taxed
Default: At redemption	Federal tax due when you cash
Annual accrual	Elect to report yearly (rare)

Tax-Free for Education

Requirement	Details
Bond type	I Bonds or EE Bonds
Used for	Higher education expenses
Income limits	Phase-out at higher incomes
Owner requirements	Registered in your name, 24+ when purchased

Tax Rates on Bond Interest

Federal Tax Bracket	Tax on $1,000 Interest
12%	$120
22%	$220
24%	$240
32%	$320

Note: Savings bond interest is exempt from state and local taxes

Old Paper Bonds

Finding Value of Old Bonds

For paper bonds, use the official Treasury calculator: TreasuryDirect.gov/BC/SBCPrice

Enter:

Series (EE, I, E, etc.)
Denomination
Issue date
Serial number (optional)

Bonds That Have Stopped Earning

Series	Stopped Earning After
Series E	30-40 years (varies by issue)
Series EE	30 years
Series I	30 years

Action needed: Cash bonds that have stopped earning—they’re losing value to inflation

I Bonds vs EE Bonds

Factor	I Bonds	EE Bonds
Current rate	~4.28%	2.70%
Rate type	Variable (inflation)	Fixed
Guaranteed doubling	No	Yes (at 20 years)
Inflation protection	Yes	No
Best holding period	Flexible	20 years minimum

Which to Choose?

If You…	Choose
Want inflation protection	I Bonds
Plan to hold 20+ years	EE Bonds (guaranteed double)
Want predictable growth	EE Bonds
Concerned about rising inflation	I Bonds
Need flexibility	I Bonds

Purchase Limits

Bond Type	Per Person/Year	Via Tax Refund
I Bonds	$10,000 electronic	+$5,000 paper
EE Bonds	$10,000 electronic	N/A

Maximizing Purchases

Strategy	Amount
Individual I Bonds	$10,000
Spouse I Bonds	$10,000
Tax refund paper I Bonds	$5,000
Trust or business entity	Additional $10,000
Gift I Bonds (buy now, deliver later)	$10,000

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