How much is my savings bond worth? For a paper U.S. savings bond, check TreasuryDirect’s official Savings Bond Calculator using the series, denomination and issue month and year. For an electronic bond, sign in to TreasuryDirect and check Current Holdings. The amount printed on a paper bond is not necessarily its current cash value.
A useful answer needs a date as well as a dollar amount. A bond’s redemption value can change while it earns interest, and the rules differ by series and issue period. A generic “$100 bond value” chart cannot give an exact answer without those details.
Know the bond. Check the date. Find the value.
Where to Check Your Savings Bond’s Value
| What you own | Where to check | What you need |
|---|---|---|
| Paper EE, E or I bond, or Savings Note | TreasuryDirect’s paper calculator | Series, printed denomination and issue date |
| Electronic EE or I bond | Your TreasuryDirect account | Access to the account holding the bond |
| A different older series | Treasury’s guidance for that series | Series and ownership records |
USA.gov’s savings bond guidance points owners to these two main routes. Check the actual holding rather than applying a new bond’s advertised rate to an older bond.
How to Check a Paper Savings Bond
Start with the original bond in front of you. Use the official paper savings bond calculator, which supports Series EE, E and I bonds and Savings Notes.
- Identify the series. Select the letters printed on the bond. An EE bond and an I bond issued in the same month can have different values.
- Select the denomination. Use the face amount printed on the paper, such as $50, $100 or $500.
- Enter the issue date. Use the printed month and year, in MM/YYYY format. Do not substitute the date someone gave you the bond.
- Check “Value as of.” This is the month for which you want the valuation.
- Calculate and review the result. Record the value and final maturity date, then check any notes alongside the result.
A serial number is optional for calculating value. Treasury’s calculator help confirms that series, denomination and issue date are sufficient. A serial number can still help identify individual bonds when keeping records.
If you have several bonds, enter each separately. Grouping all “$100 bonds” together can hide differences in their issue dates or series. Keep the papers secure and retain a dated record of the results.
How to Check an Electronic Savings Bond
Sign in through TreasuryDirect’s official website and look under Current Holdings. Review the particular EE or I bond and its current value.
Do not use the paper calculator for electronic bonds. Treasury specifically states that it does not give correct electronic bond values. An electronic holding may also have a purchase amount that does not correspond to a paper denomination.
Checking value does not require redeeming the bond. You can review a holding before deciding whether to keep it, compare it with other savings, or plan a future withdrawal.
Face Value, Purchase Price and Current Value Are Different
Three amounts are easy to confuse:
- Face value: the denomination printed on a paper bond.
- Purchase price: what was originally paid.
- Current redemption value: what the bond is worth for the selected date under Treasury’s rules.
Older paper EE bonds were generally sold for half their face amount. A paper EE bond marked $100 therefore generally cost $50 when issued. Electronic EE bonds are purchased at face value, so a $100 electronic purchase starts at $100. Paper I bonds were also sold at face value.
Those purchase rules do not tell you today’s value. Interest, age, the issue period and any applicable adjustment still matter. Our guide to choosing between EE and I bonds explains their different growth features.
A Simple Lookup Example
Suppose you find a paper EE bond marked $100 with an issue date of June 2000. Select EE, choose $100 and enter 06/2000. Then read the calculator’s value for your chosen month.
Do not assume it is worth exactly $100, exactly twice that amount, or the same as another $100 bond issued later. This example shows the inputs to use; it does not claim a current redemption quote.
How to Read the Calculator Result
Treasury’s detailed calculator instructions explain the fields and status notes.
| Field or note | What it tells you |
|---|---|
| Value | Cash value for the selected month |
| Issue Price | Original purchase amount |
| Interest | Interest included in the calculation |
| Next Accrual | Next date the bond increases in value |
| Final Maturity | When interest stops |
| P5 | A three-month interest penalty is included |
| MA | The bond has matured and no longer earns interest |
| NE | The bond is not yet eligible for payment |
Read the value together with its date and notes. A result is a calculation based on your inputs; it does not authenticate the paper, establish ownership or guarantee eligibility to cash it.
Why a Bond May Be Worth Less Than You Expected
The Printed Amount Was Not the Purchase Price
A half-price paper EE bond began below its printed denomination. That starting point can explain why an old gift is not worth the amount someone assumed it was when purchased.
The Bond Is Less Than Five Years Old
EE and I bonds redeemed before five years generally lose the final three months of interest. Values shown in TreasuryDirect and the calculator for these younger bonds omit those three months. Do not subtract the penalty a second time from a value that already includes it.
You Used the Wrong Date or Series
Recheck every input before treating a surprising result as an error. A one-year difference in issue date, or selecting I instead of EE, can materially change the answer.
You Expected Today’s Rate to Apply to an Older Bond
EE bond rules depend on when the bond was issued. I bonds combine a lifetime fixed component with an inflation component that changes on the bond’s six-month schedule. Today’s advertised purchase rate is not a shortcut for calculating decades of growth.
Do Savings Bonds Keep Growing Forever?
No. EE and I bonds earn interest for up to 30 years, unless redeemed earlier. Once final maturity arrives, keeping the bond does not produce additional interest. Check older series under their own rules rather than assuming all savings bonds have the same maturity period.
For EE bonds purchased under current rules, Treasury guarantees doubling after 20 years and makes an adjustment if needed. That is distinct from final maturity at 30 years. Earlier issue periods can have different original maturity rules, so use the actual issue date.
An I bond has no promised doubling date. Its future growth depends on the rates that apply over time. The Treasury’s I bond overview explains its interest structure.
Can You See What a Bond Will Be Worth Later?
The official paper calculator provides historical values from January 1996 and future values only through the remaining months of the current six-month rate period. It is not an unlimited forecast of future inflation or interest rates.
For a planning estimate beyond that window, clearly separate assumptions from an official redemption value. A projection based on a constant rate can be misleading for an I bond whose inflation component will change.
Also consider purchasing power. A larger dollar balance does not necessarily buy more goods after inflation; our explanation of real and nominal returns shows why.
Check Redemption and Taxes Before Cashing Out
Under the normal rules, EE and I bonds can be redeemed after 12 months. Paper bonds must be redeemed for their full value, while eligible electronic bonds allow partial redemption subject to Treasury’s minimums.
For paper bonds, contact your bank first: some banks do not redeem them, and policies on amounts and identification vary. Treasury also provides a mail-in route. Follow its current redemption instructions, especially for inherited bonds or other ownership complications.
Redemption value is not necessarily your after-tax amount. Savings bond interest is generally subject to federal income tax and exempt from state and local income taxes. If you defer reporting, interest generally becomes reportable at redemption, disposition or final maturity, whichever comes first. Previously reported interest and qualifying education exclusions can affect treatment. Review IRS interest-income guidance for the applicable rules.
If you plan to move the proceeds elsewhere, compare liquidity, rates and risks. Our comparison of bonds and certificates of deposit can help frame that decision.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is a $100 savings bond worth?
There is no single answer. You need its series, issue month and year, and valuation date. For a paper bond, enter the printed $100 denomination in Treasury’s calculator.
Do I need a serial number to check value?
No, not for a paper calculator valuation. Keep it in your private records because it helps distinguish bonds and can be important if paperwork is lost.
Can I use the calculator for electronic bonds?
No. Check the actual electronic holding in TreasuryDirect instead.
Why has my bond stopped increasing in value?
It may have reached final maturity. Check that date and the result notes before assuming a technical problem.
Does a calculator result prove I can cash the bond?
No. Valuation and redemption eligibility are separate. Ownership, documentation and the bond’s status must also be resolved.
Your Next Step
Identify whether the bond is paper or electronic, use the correct Treasury tool and record the value with its date. Before redeeming, check maturity, any early penalty and tax reporting. An exact lookup is more useful than guessing from the amount printed on the bond.
This guide provides general educational information, not personalized investment, legal or tax advice.