EE Savings Bond Calculator for 2026: What a $100 Bond Is Worth

A $100 Series EE bond bought between May 1 and October 31, 2026 is guaranteed to be worth at least $200 after 20 years. Its fixed rate is 2.40%, which gives $126.94 at 10 years. The 30-year figure, about $253.89, holds only if that rate continues for years 21 to 30, and Treasury may change it.

This page covers Series EE bonds only. I bonds pay a rate that resets every six months, so they have their own page: I bond rates. Every rule below comes from TreasuryDirect, mainly its EE bond pages, read on October 10, 2026. The dollar figures are our calculations from those rules, rounded to the cent.

FinanceRadar data: the average APY across the 49 high-yield savings accounts we verify is 3.25%, as of October 10, 2026 (high-yield savings statistics). On today's numbers an EE bond pays less than that average. What you get in exchange is a rate that cannot fall for the first 20 years.

What the bond grows to

Each row assumes a bond bought at the current fixed rate and held for the years shown. The 20-year guarantee is applied at year 20.

Without the guarantee, a fixed rate compounded every six months would take about 29 years to double a bond. The guarantee brings that to 20 years, which is why the 20-year row shows the doubled amount rather than $161.15. If you will hold for 20 years, that floor does not depend on any future rate. It is the most reliable number on this page.

The formula, so you can check any term

Each six months the bond adds half the annual rate to its value and then earns on the larger amount. For a 2.40% rate, that is 1.2% every six months. Over years 1 to 20, the value is the purchase price times 1.012 raised to twice the number of years. At year 20 the value is raised to at least twice the purchase price.

A $500 bond held for 10 years is worth $500 × 1.012^20, or $634.72.

Between the six-month points, TreasuryDirect adds interest every month, so the value in your account can differ slightly from a six-month calculation. For an electronic bond, the value in your TreasuryDirect account is the number to trust.

The 30-year number is the least certain

The 30-year value is the least certain of the four rows. The 20-year guarantee covers the first 20 years only. From year 20, TreasuryDirect says it may change the interest rate, or the way the bond earns interest, for the last 10 years. Any such change must be made before the bond is 20 years old. If you do not want the new terms, you can cash the bond at 20 years, provided it has at least doubled.

So plan on the $200 figure at 20 years. Treat anything above that as an assumption about a rate Treasury has not set yet.

The rate depends on the month you buy

Treasury sets a new fixed rate each May 1 and November 1. A bond keeps the rate it was bought at for its first 20 years.

The next rate is set on November 1, 2026. A bond bought now keeps its rate even if the November rate is lower. That is the trade you make for a fixed rate: you give up the chance of a higher rate, and you get protection from a lower one.

Lockup and early cash-out

You can cash an EE bond after 12 months. Before 5 years, you lose the last three months of interest. TreasuryDirect's example: a bond cashed at 18 months gets the first 15 months of interest.

On the current rate, a bond cashed at 12 months receives nine months of interest, or $101.81 per $100. Holding it to 12 months with no forfeit would give $102.41, so the penalty is about 60 cents. The bigger cost of an early exit is the growth you give up, and the 20-year guarantee only applies if you keep the bond.

After 5 years, nothing is forfeited. TreasuryDirect shows values for bonds under five years old without those last three months, because an early cash-out does not pay them.

Buying, limits and taxes

• Electronic only. New EE bonds are sold electronically, so you buy and hold them in a TreasuryDirect account.
• Minimum $25. Any amount above that is allowed to the cent.
• $10,000 a year. The limit is per calendar year for each Social Security number, counted against the first-named owner.
• Federal tax yes, state and local tax no. You choose whether to report the interest each year or when you cash the bond. TreasuryDirect also says that qualified higher education expenses may mean no tax on the earnings.

Some paper EE bonds are still in circulation. TreasuryDirect's paper bond calculator covers paper bonds only, so an electronic bond needs your TreasuryDirect account to check its value.

EE, I bonds and savings side by side

The I bond rate in the table is from TreasuryDirect's I bond page.

Held 10 years, the 3.25% average would give $137.69 per $100 if it held flat. How much interest a high-yield savings account earns shows the same compounding on a balance. The EE bond gives $126.94, which is $10.75 less. Savings wins on rate today. EE wins on how long its rate is locked, and on state tax, because EE interest is exempt from state and local income tax while savings interest generally is not. The best high-yield savings guide ranks the accounts behind that average. If you need the money inside a year, the where to put cash guide is the better place to start.

When an EE bond is the wrong pick

• You may need the cash inside 12 months. No early exit is allowed before a year.
• You may cash before 5 years. Each early cash-out gives up three months of interest.
• You want the highest rate today. The fixed rate is below the savings average we verify.
• You need a known value at 30 years. Years 21 to 30 are not set.
• You plan to buy more than $10,000 a year. The purchase limit applies to each Social Security number.

What we checked

We read TreasuryDirect's EE bond pages on October 10, 2026, including the rate table for bonds issued since May 2005, the cash-in rules and the tax text. We read the FinanceRadar high-yield savings statistics the same day. The dollar figures are our calculations from the current fixed rate, with semiannual compounding and the 20-year guarantee, the rate held and nothing added or withdrawn. We did not buy or cash a bond for this page.

This page is general information, not personalized financial advice. Confirm the current rate and terms on TreasuryDirect before you buy, because the next EE rate is set on November 1, 2026.

Cite this: FinanceRadar, "EE Savings Bond Calculator for 2026: What a $100 Bond Is Worth", October 2026.

FAQ

What is an EE bond worth after 20 years?

At least twice its price, which is $200 per $100 bought. TreasuryDirect guarantees that an EE bond bought now will be worth at least twice its price at 20 years, with a one-time adjustment if needed. The fixed rate alone would give $161.15, so the guarantee is the number to plan around.

How much is an EE bond worth after 30 years?

About $253.89, if the same fixed rate applies to years 21 to 30. TreasuryDirect says it may change the rate for that last 10-year stretch, and the doubling guarantee is applied at 20 years, so nothing guarantees the years after that. Treat $253.89 as a calculation, not a promise.

How do I check what my EE bond is worth?

An electronic EE bond shows its value in your TreasuryDirect account. TreasuryDirect's Savings Bond Calculator works for paper bonds only. For bonds under five years old, the value leaves out the last three months of interest.

Can I cash an EE bond after one year?

Yes, after 12 months. Before 5 years you lose the last three months of interest. On the current rate, a bond cashed at 12 months receives $101.81, which is nine months of interest.

How much can I buy in EE bonds each year?

Up to $10,000 per calendar year for each Social Security number, counted against the first-named owner. The minimum purchase is $25, and any amount above that is allowed to the cent.

Are EE bond earnings taxed by states?

No. TreasuryDirect lists EE bond interest as not subject to state and local income tax. Federal income tax applies, and you choose whether to report the interest each year or when you cash the bond.

Is an EE bond better than a high-yield savings account?

Not on today's rates. The fixed rate for bonds bought from May to October 2026 is below the 3.25% average we verify across 49 high-yield savings accounts, as of October 10, 2026. The EE rate is locked for 20 years, while a savings rate can change at any time.