How to find the current value of an EE bond you own
The value of an EE savings bond depends on how long you have held it and the issue date. The U.S. Treasury does not publish a single value for all EE bonds — instead, each bond has its own value based on when it was issued and how many months have passed since then.
To find what your specific bond is worth, you need the Series EE bond value tables published by TreasuryDirect. These tables are organized by issue date and show the value at each month of ownership. You can search them free at treasurydirect.gov under "Savings Bond Values" or use the Savings Bond Calculator on the same site, which lets you enter your bond's series, denomination, and issue date to see its current worth.
If you own paper bonds issued before 2003, you will need the issue date printed on the bond itself. If you own digital bonds held in a TreasuryDirect account, you can log in and see the current value of each bond listed in your account.
Key Takeaways
- EE bond value grows on a fixed schedule set by the Treasury at the time of issue, and you can look up your bond's current worth using the free TreasuryDirect value tables.
- A bond's value depends entirely on its issue date and how many months you have owned it — two bonds bought on different dates will have different values even if they were the same denomination.
- Paper bonds and digital bonds are valued the same way, but you will need the printed issue date for paper bonds and can see digital bond values by logging into your TreasuryDirect account.
- EE bonds reach their face value (the amount printed on the bond) after 20 years, and continue to earn interest for up to 30 years total.
Why EE bond value grows slowly at first
EE bonds do not earn interest the way a savings account does. Instead, the Treasury sets an earnings rate when the bond is issued, and that rate stays the same for the life of the bond. The earnings rate changes every six months for new bonds, but your bond's rate never changes once you buy it.
The value grows by a small amount each month, but the growth is not linear. In the first few years, the monthly increase is tiny — sometimes less than a dollar per month on a $50 bond. This is why a bond you bought five years ago may be worth only slightly more than you paid for it. The growth accelerates in later years as the compounding effect builds.
This slow early growth is one reason EE bonds are not a good choice if you need the money soon. If you cash in a bond before five years have passed, you lose the last three months of interest as a penalty. If you cash it in between five and 20 years, you keep all the interest earned, but the total value may still be modest.
The may provide value at 20 years
Every EE bond issued after May 2003 has a 20-year may provide: the bond will be worth at least double what you paid for it after exactly 20 years, even if the earnings rate was very low. This means a $50 bond will be worth at least $100 after 20 years, and a $100 bond will be worth at least $200.
Bonds issued before May 2003 have a 17-year may provide instead. If your bond does not reach double value by the may provide date, the Treasury automatically adds a one-time payment to bring it to exactly double.
After the may provide date passes, the bond continues to earn interest at its original rate for up to 30 years total from the issue date. At 30 years, the bond stops earning interest and you should cash it in, because holding it longer gains you nothing.
How to read the TreasuryDirect value tables
The value tables on TreasuryDirect are organized by issue date in columns, with rows showing the value at each month of ownership. To use them, find the column for your bond's issue date, then read down to the row that matches how many months you have owned the bond.
For example, if you bought a $100 EE bond in January 2020 and it is now January 2024 (48 months later), you would find the January 2020 column and read across to the row labeled "48 months" to see the current value.
The tables show values for bonds in $50, $100, $500, and $1,000 denominations. If you own a different amount, you can calculate it by proportion — a $25 bond is worth half what a $50 bond is worth at the same age.
Why your bond's value may differ from the face amount
The amount printed on the bond (the face value) is not the same as what you paid for it or what it is worth now. EE bonds are always sold at a 50 percent discount, so you pay $50 for a bond with a face value of $100. This discount is built into the price when you buy, not added later.
The current value of your bond — the amount you would receive if you cashed it in today — is somewhere between what you paid and the face value, unless the bond is older than 20 years. Once a bond reaches 20 years old, its value will be at least equal to the face value, and may be higher if the earnings rate was favorable.
What happens if you need to cash in your bond early
You can cash in an EE bond at any time after you own it for one year. If you cash it in before five years have passed, you lose the last three months of interest as a penalty. This means the value you receive will be less than the current value shown in the tables.
If you have owned the bond for five years or longer, you receive the full current value with no penalty. You can cash in paper bonds at most banks, or digital bonds through your TreasuryDirect account. The money is usually deposited within a few business days.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I find the value of a bond I lost the paperwork for?
Yes. If you remember the approximate issue date, you can search the TreasuryDirect value tables by that date. If you own the bond in a TreasuryDirect account, you can log in and see all your bonds and their current values listed. For paper bonds with no documentation, contact your bank or the Treasury's Savings Bond Division at 1-800-553-2663.
Does the value shown in the tables include the early redemption penalty?
No. The tables show the full current value. If you cash in before five years, you must subtract three months of interest yourself, or ask your bank to calculate it. After five years, the table value is what you will receive.
What if I bought my bond before 2003?
Older bonds are still valued using the same TreasuryDirect tables, but they have a 17-year doubling may provide instead of 20 years. You can look up the value the same way — find your issue date and the number of months you have owned it. If your bond is older than 30 years, it has stopped earning interest and you should cash it in.
Is the value I see in TreasuryDirect updated every day?
Values are updated monthly, not daily. The new values are posted on the first business day of each month and reflect the bond's worth as of the last day of the previous month. If you check your account mid-month, you are seeing the value from the previous month's update.
Can I see what my bond will be worth in the future?
Yes. The TreasuryDirect value tables show values for the full 30-year life of the bond. You can look ahead to see what your bond should be worth at any future month, though the actual value may differ slightly if the Treasury changes how bonds are valued in the future.