| Series EE | Series I | |
|---|---|---|
| Rate for bonds bought May–Oct 2026 | 2.40%, fixed for at least 20 years | 4.26% for the first 6 months |
| How the rate works | Fixed rate; Treasury guarantees the bond doubles in value at 20 years | Fixed rate plus an inflation rate reset every May and November; never below zero |
| Earns interest for | 30 years | 30 years |
| Earliest you can cash | 12 months | 12 months |
| Cash before 5 years | Lose the last 3 months of interest | Lose the last 3 months of interest |
| Yearly purchase limit | $10,000 electronic per Social Security number | $10,000 electronic per Social Security number |
| Taxes | Federal yes; state and local no | Federal yes; state and local no |
| Paper bonds | Paper EE bonds were sold until 2011 | Paper I bonds were sold until 2011 (and with tax refunds until 2024) |
Which earns more?
It depends on inflation and on how long you hold. An EE bond held for 20 years is guaranteed to double, which works out to about 3.5% a year. An I bond's rate moves with inflation, so it does better when inflation is high and worse when it falls. Neither should be cashed before 5 years if you can avoid it.
Older EE bonds work differently
EE bonds issued before May 2005 may earn a variable rate, and paper EE bonds were sold at half their face value. To see what an older bond is worth, use the calculator or EE values by year.
I bond rates
Treasury sets new I bond rates every May 1 and November 1. See all I bond values by year.
Source: TreasuryDirect, Comparing EE and I bonds. Rates shown are for bonds bought May 1 – October 31, 2026.
Common questions
Do EE bonds really double?
Treasury guarantees that an EE bond you buy now is worth double its purchase price at 20 years.
Can I lose money on I bonds?
The composite rate can't fall below zero, so the value doesn't go down. Cashing before 5 years costs the last 3 months of interest.