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Finance

How to Calculate the Rate of Return on a Bond

Patrick Harwood
· · Updated Feb 11, 2026 · 2 min read
When bonds are issued, they are assigned a par value and a interest-rate" class="auto-link" target="_blank" rel="noopener">stated interest rate. However, bonds are traded like stocks, which means that the price you pay to buy a bond may not equal the par value.

Regardless of the price you pay, the interest payment remains fixed based on the par value on the stated interest rate. To accurately calculate your return, you need to calculate the rate of return based on your purchase price.

 

Steps To Calculate The Rate Of Return On A Bond

Rate of Return on a Bond

 

1. Check The Price You Paid For The Bond

 

2. Consult Your Bond's Financial İnformation To Determine The Par Value And The Stated İnterest Rate

 

3. Multiply The Par Value By The Stated İnterest Rate To Find How Much You Will Be Paid İn İnterest

For example, if the par value of the bond is $250 and the stated interest rate equals 7.2 percent, you would get $18.

 

4. Divide The Result From Step 3 By The Price You Paid For The Bond

For example, if you paid $230 for the bond, you would divide $18 by $250 and get 0.072.

 

5. Multiply The Result From Step 4 By 100 To Convert From A Decimal To A Percentage For The Rate Of Return On The Bond

Continuing the example, you would multiply 100 by 0.072 to find the rate of return to be 7.2 percent.

 

You Might Also Like :: How to Compute the Yield on Semiannual-Paying Corporate Bonds

 

How to Calculate the Rate of Return on a Bond

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Written by

Patrick Harwood

Patrick Harwood has been a professional writer and editor since 2004, specializing in articles about spectator sports, personal finance and law. He has contributed to family of magazines and websites.

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