Your Series EE bond's current value depends on how long you've held it and the interest rate it earned when you bought it

A Series EE bond grows in value every month, but the growth follows a specific schedule set by the U.S. Treasury when you purchased it. You cannot simply look at what you paid and assume that's what it's worth. The actual value is higher — sometimes much higher — and it changes based on how many months have passed since the issue date printed on your bond.

The fastest way to find your exact current value is to use the Treasury's online tool called Savings Bond Calculator, which is free and requires only information from your bond itself. You enter the bond's series, denomination, issue date, and the month and year you want to check, and it tells you the precise redemption value. This takes about two minutes and gives you a number you can trust.

Key Takeaways

  • The Treasury's Savings Bond Calculator is the official tool for finding your bond's current value and requires only the issue date and denomination from your bond certificate.
  • Series EE bonds purchased before May 2003 are may provide to reach face value (double your purchase price) by the 17-year mark, but bonds purchased after that date have no doubling may provide.
  • Your bond continues earning interest for 30 years from the issue date, so even old bonds may still be growing in value.
  • If you redeem your bond before five years have passed, you lose the last three months of interest as a penalty.
  • The interest rate your bond earns was locked in when you bought it and never changes, so older bonds may earn more or less than current bonds depending on Treasury rates at the time.

How to use the Savings Bond Calculator

Go to treasurydirect.gov and look for the Savings Bond Calculator link in the Tools section. You will need four pieces of information from your physical bond or your TreasuryDirect account: the bond series (always EE for your bonds), the denomination (the amount printed on the bond — typically $50, $100, $500, or $1,000), the issue date (month and year), and the current month and year you want to check.

Enter these details and the calculator returns your redemption value — the exact amount you would receive if you cashed the bond in that month. This is the only number that matters for knowing what your bond is worth right now. Write it down or take a screenshot, because you may need it for tax planning or financial decisions.

If you own bonds through a TreasuryDirect account (the online system for holding Treasury securities), you can also log in directly and see the current value of each bond listed in your account. This is often faster than using the calculator if you have many bonds, because the system updates the values automatically.

Why your bond's value is not simply what you paid for it

When you buy a Series EE bond, you pay half the face value. A $100 bond costs $50. But that $50 does not sit idle — it earns interest every single month, and that interest is added to your bond's value. After enough time passes, your $50 becomes $100, then $110, then higher still.

The interest rate your bond earns was set by the Treasury on the month you bought it and locked in for the life of the bond. Bonds bought in different months earn different rates. A bond purchased in May 2008 earns a different rate than one purchased in November 2010, even though both are Series EE bonds. This is why two bonds of the same denomination can have different values if they were purchased at different times.

Your bond's value grows every month on a predictable schedule. The Treasury publishes the interest rates for each issue month, so if you know when you bought your bond, you can look up the exact rate it earns. The calculator does this math for you automatically.

The 17-year doubling may provide and what it means

If you bought your Series EE bond before May 2003, the Treasury may provide that it would reach face value (double your purchase price) by the 17-year mark. A $50 bond purchased in 2000 was may provide to be worth at least $100 by 2017, regardless of interest rates. This may provide no longer applies to bonds purchased after May 2003.

If your bond has already passed the 17-year mark and you bought it before May 2003, you can be certain it is worth at least face value. If it has not yet reached 17 years, the calculator will show you whether it has already doubled or how much longer until it does. Most bonds reach face value well before 17 years, so this may provide is usually not the limiting factor.

For bonds purchased after May 2003, there is no doubling may provide. Your bond's value depends entirely on the interest rate it was issued at and how long you have held it. This does not mean the bond is a bad investment — it simply means you cannot assume it will double by any particular date.

How long your bond keeps earning interest

Series EE bonds earn interest for 30 years from the issue date. After 30 years, the bond stops earning interest and the value freezes. At that point, you should cash it in, because holding it longer gains you nothing.

This means a bond issued in January 2000 stops earning interest in January 2030. A bond issued in June 2015 will stop earning interest in June 2045. The calculator will show you the final value your bond will reach, and that value is locked in once the 30-year period ends.

If you have very old bonds — issued in the 1990s or earlier — they may have already stopped earning interest. Check the issue date on your bond. If it is more than 30 years old, the value shown on the calculator is the final value and will not change.

The early redemption penalty and the five-year rule

If you redeem your Series EE bond before five years have passed since the issue date, you lose the last three months of interest. This is not a fee you pay — it is interest that simply does not get added to your redemption value. A bond that would be worth $105 after five years and one month is worth only $102 if you cash it in at four years and eleven months.

After five years have passed, there is no penalty. You can redeem the bond at any time and receive the full value the calculator shows. This five-year window is the only restriction on when you can cash in your bond.

If you are thinking about redeeming a bond that is close to the five-year mark, use the calculator to check the value both before and after five years have passed. The difference will show you exactly how much interest you would lose by cashing in early.

Understanding the interest rate your bond earns

The Treasury sets new interest rates for Series EE bonds every six months, on May 1 and November 1. The rate your bond earns is the rate that was in effect on the month you purchased it, and that rate never changes for the life of the bond.

This means if you bought a bond in a month when rates were high, your bond earns that high rate forever. If you bought a bond in a month when rates were low, your bond earns that low rate forever. You cannot switch rates or move your bond to a better rate later.

The Treasury publishes historical rates on its website, so you can look up exactly what rate your bond earns if you know the purchase month. The calculator does not show you the rate directly, but it uses the correct rate to calculate your bond's value.

What to do if you cannot find your bond's issue date

If you have a physical bond certificate but the issue date is faded or unclear, look for other identifying information. The series (EE), denomination, and serial number are usually printed more clearly. You can contact TreasuryDirect directly at 1-844-284-2676 to ask for help locating your bond's issue date if you have the serial number.

If you own bonds through a TreasuryDirect account, log in and the system will display all the information for each bond, including the exact issue date. This is the easiest route if your bonds are registered online.

If you have lost the bond entirely and do not have an account record, you can still file a claim with the Treasury to locate it, but this process takes longer. Start by contacting TreasuryDirect or visiting the Bureau of the Fiscal Service website for instructions on filing a claim for a lost or destroyed bond.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I check my bond's value without the issue date?

No. The calculator requires the issue date because that is what determines the interest rate and how much time has passed. If you have the bond in hand, the issue date is printed on the certificate. If you cannot read it, contact TreasuryDirect with the serial number and they can provide it.

What if the calculator shows my bond is worth less than I paid for it?

This should not happen for a bond you have held for more than a few months, because Series EE bonds always earn interest. If the calculator shows a value lower than your purchase price, double-check that you entered the issue date correctly. If the date is right and the value is still low, the bond may be very new (purchased within the last month or two).

Do I have to pay taxes on the interest my bond earned?

Yes. The interest your Series EE bond earns is subject to federal income tax. You can choose to report the interest each year as it accrues, or you can wait and report all the interest when you redeem the bond. Most people wait until redemption. State and local taxes may also apply depending on where you live.

Is my bond still worth something if it is 30 years old?

Yes, but it is no longer earning interest. A 30-year-old bond has reached its final value and that value will not increase. You should redeem it and move the money to a current investment, because holding it longer provides no benefit. Use the calculator to confirm the final value before you cash it in.

Can I cash in my bond for more than what the calculator shows?

No. The calculator shows the exact redemption value set by the Treasury. You cannot negotiate or receive a higher amount. You can redeem the bond at any bank or through TreasuryDirect for the value the calculator displays.