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The right choice depends first on when you may need the money. Treasury bills mature in weeks or up to one year, Treasury notes mature in two to 10 years and pay interest twice a year, and Treasury bonds mature in 20 or 30 years and also pay interest twice a year. Match the maturity to your cash date, then decide whether you want periodic payments and whether you could tolerate a market-price loss if you sell before maturity.
All three are U.S. Treasury marketable securities. They are backed by the full faith and credit of the United States government, but that backing does not guarantee that an early sale will return your purchase price or face value.
What the three securities are
Treasury bills
Treasury bills, commonly called T-bills, are the shortest-term marketable Treasury securities. Current TreasuryDirect terms are 4, 6, 8, 13, 17, 26, and 52 weeks. A bill does not normally send a coupon payment every six months. Instead, it is sold at face value or at a discount and pays its full face value when it matures. The difference between what you paid and the face amount is the interest.
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Treasury notes
Treasury notes cover intermediate maturities of 2, 3, 5, 7, and 10 years. The Treasury sets a fixed interest rate at auction, and the note generally pays that interest every six months. At maturity, the Treasury pays the note’s face value.
The coupon rate is the fixed rate applied to the note’s face value. It is not automatically the same as the return you earn on the price you pay in the market. A note bought above or below face value has a yield to maturity that reflects both its coupon payments and the price paid.
Treasury bonds
Treasury bonds are the longest standard marketable Treasury securities, with 20- or 30-year terms. They pay interest every six months and return face value at maturity. Their long term makes them more sensitive to changes in market interest rates when you sell before maturity than a shorter-term security would generally be.
Marketable does not mean price-stable
TreasuryDirect uses “marketable” to mean that a security can be transferred and sold before maturity. You can therefore exit a bill, note, or bond before its maturity date, usually through a broker or dealer in the secondary market. The resale price is determined by market conditions. It may be above, equal to, or below face value, so government backing should not be confused with a guarantee of a particular resale price.
At-a-glance comparison
| Feature | Treasury bills | Treasury notes | Treasury bonds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard terms | 4, 6, 8, 13, 17, 26, or 52 weeks | 2, 3, 5, 7, or 10 years | 20 or 30 years |
| How interest is delivered | Usually sold at par or a discount; the difference between the purchase price and face value is paid at maturity | Fixed rate set at auction; interest paid every six months | Interest paid every six months; market price and yield can change after issuance |
| Principal at maturity | Face value | Face value | Face value |
| Can it be sold early? | Yes, at a market price | Yes, at a market price that may be above or below par | Yes, at a market price that may be above or below par |
| Main timing question | Does a short maturity line up with when you need the cash? | Does a two- to 10-year term and semiannual income fit the goal? | Are you comfortable committing for 20 or 30 years and receiving semiannual income? |
These are product distinctions, not a ranking. A bill is not automatically “better” than a note or bond; it solves a different timing and cash-flow problem.
How pricing and interest actually work
The discount mechanism for bills
A bill’s return is built into its purchase price. TreasuryDirect illustrates the calculation with this formula:
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Price = Face value × (1 − (discount rate × time) / 360)
In the TreasuryDirect illustration, a $1,000 26-week bill at a 0.145% discount rate has a purchase price of $999.27 and pays $0.73 of interest at maturity. That is an example published to explain the pricing method, not a current yield or a recommendation.
The example also shows why comparing a bill’s quoted discount rate with a note’s coupon rate can be misleading. They use different conventions and cash-flow patterns. For a real purchase, compare the current annualized yield for securities with similar maturity dates and purchase conditions.
Coupon rate versus yield to maturity for notes and bonds
When a note or bond is issued, the Treasury sets a fixed coupon rate at auction. The security can then trade in the secondary market. If prevailing yields rise above the security’s coupon rate, buyers generally require a lower price, potentially below face value. If prevailing yields fall below the coupon rate, the security may trade above face value. When the market yield matches the coupon rate, the price is around face value.
Yield to maturity incorporates the purchase price, coupon payments, time remaining, and the face value received at maturity. It is therefore the more useful figure for comparing a note or bond bought at a premium or discount. A coupon payment does not change just because the market price changes; the market price changes the return earned by a new buyer.
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Which security fits different goals?
Cash needed within a year
Start with bills whose maturity is close to the date you expect to use the money. The available 4- to 52-week terms let you choose a relatively precise end date. If the cash date is uncertain, avoid assuming that selling early will produce face value; a bill can be sold before maturity, but its market price can differ from what you paid.
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For a known date, a maturity that arrives shortly before the need can reduce the need to sell in the market. You still need to account for settlement timing and the possibility that your schedule changes.
A goal two to 10 years away with periodic income
Notes are the natural category to examine when the goal falls within two to 10 years and you value interest payments every six months. Compare the available 2-, 3-, 5-, 7-, and 10-year maturities with the date the money may be required. A note maturing after the goal date may force an early sale; one maturing well before the goal creates a reinvestment decision.
Because the coupon is fixed, the cash amount from each scheduled interest payment is known from the face value and coupon rate. The market value between payments can still move as yields change.
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Bonds are designed for 20- or 30-year horizons. They can provide semiannual interest for a long period and return face value if held to maturity. The trade-off is commitment: a long-dated security can have a substantially different market price when interest rates move, especially if you need to sell years before maturity.
Use a bond only when the long maturity fits the goal or when you have a clear plan for handling an early sale. The fact that the Treasury will pay face value at maturity does not remove the price risk before that date.
Timing is uncertain
When you cannot identify a reliable cash date, compare two risks: selecting a maturity that may be inconvenient and selling before maturity at an uncertain price. A ladder of different maturities can spread dates, but the appropriate structure depends on your cash needs and broader finances. The securities themselves do not eliminate the need for liquidity planning.
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Buying at auction or in the secondary market
TreasuryDirect says marketable Treasury securities can be bought at auction or in the secondary market. At auction, an individual can submit a noncompetitive bid through TreasuryDirect or use a broker, dealer, or financial institution. A noncompetitive bid accepts the auction’s determined yield and guarantees that you receive the security amount requested, subject to the auction’s rules and limits. A broker may also provide access to the secondary market, where price and yield are quoted for already-issued securities.
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Basic purchase process
- Define the cash date. Write down the earliest date you might need the principal, not just the date you hope to use it.
- Select the security family. Use bills for a weeks-to-one-year horizon, notes for two to 10 years, and bonds for 20 or 30 years.
- Check the exact maturity. Match the listed maturity date, not merely the product name, to your plan.
- Choose auction or secondary market. Auction buying gives you the auction result; secondary-market buying gives you a price and yield that reflect current trading conditions.
- Check the account and order limits. TreasuryDirect’s FAQ lists a $100 minimum purchase and a $10 million maximum for a noncompetitive purchase in one auction. Confirm the current limits and platform rules before submitting an order.
- Review the settlement details. Verify the amount, maturity, coupon or discount terms, expected payment dates, and where principal will be deposited at maturity.
- Save the confirmation. Keep the security identifier, purchase price, auction or trade date, maturity date, and payment schedule for your records.
Brokerage platforms can impose their own order, settlement, or account requirements. TreasuryDirect and broker interfaces also change, so follow the labels shown on the platform you are actually using.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What happens if you sell before maturity?
All three security types are transferable and marketable, but none promises that an early sale will return face value. The price reflects the remaining term, prevailing yields, the security’s coupon or discount structure, and market demand.
If market yields rise
A previously issued note or bond with a lower coupon is generally less attractive than a newly issued security offering a higher yield. Its price may fall so that a buyer’s yield becomes competitive. The same relationship can affect a bill sold before maturity, although its short remaining term usually limits the period over which the price relationship applies.
If market yields fall
A security paying a comparatively higher fixed coupon can become more valuable, allowing an early seller to receive more than face value in some circumstances. The result is not guaranteed, and transaction costs or bid-ask spreads can affect the amount received.
If you hold to maturity
The Treasury’s stated maturity payment is face value for bills, notes, and bonds, assuming the security is held to maturity. You still give up the flexibility to use that money earlier without considering the market price.
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Common mistakes to avoid
- Choosing by label instead of date. “Short term” or “long term” is less useful than the actual maturity date compared with your cash need.
- Treating a coupon as your total return. For notes and bonds, include the price paid and the face value received when assessing yield to maturity.
- Assuming marketable means guaranteed liquidity at par. You can sell, but the market sets the price.
- Using an old auction yield as today’s rate. Yields change at each auction and in the secondary market. A historical or illustrative TreasuryDirect example is not a current quote.
- Confusing Treasury marketable securities with savings bonds. They are different products with different purchase, transfer, redemption, and term rules.
- Ignoring reinvestment timing. A bill that matures before the money is needed may leave you deciding where to invest again; a note or bond that matures after the need may require an early sale.
- Assuming government backing fixes every outcome. Full faith and credit supports payment obligations, but it does not lock the resale price or protect against a loss caused by selling below your purchase price.
Treasury marketable securities versus savings bonds
Treasury bills, notes, and bonds are marketable securities that can be transferred and traded before maturity. U.S. savings bonds are a separate category. Do not use a savings-bond rule about redemption or holding periods to make a decision about a bill, note, or bond, and do not assume that a marketable Treasury security has the same transfer process as a savings bond.
Worked decision examples
Example: a known expense in six months
Suppose the money is needed in approximately six months and the priority is having principal available around that date. A 26-week bill is the first term to examine because its maturity is designed for that time frame. The decision is not based on a promise that it will produce the highest return; it is based on aligning maturity with the expense and avoiding a forced secondary-market sale.
Example: tuition in five years with income along the way
A five-year note is a logical comparison point when the goal is five years away and semiannual interest is useful. Compare its maturity date with the tuition schedule and consider whether the principal must be available before the note matures. If so, the possibility of selling at a market price belongs in the plan.
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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsExample: a 25-year income objective
A 20- or 30-year bond may fit a goal that genuinely extends for decades and values semiannual payments. The investor must be prepared for the bond’s market value to move materially during those decades. If the money could be needed earlier, a shorter maturity or a series of maturities may better match the uncertainty.
A practical selection checklist
- What is the earliest date the money could be needed?
- Can the investment remain untouched until maturity?
- Do you want cash payments every six months, or is one payment at bill maturity more convenient?
- Which exact maturity date best matches the goal?
- If timing changes, could you accept a sale price above or below face value?
- Are you comparing current yields from the same date and on a consistent basis?
- Have you checked the current purchase minimums, maximums, settlement rules, and account availability?
- Have you considered how the purchase fits with your overall liquidity needs?
Current yields, taxes, and account details
No single yield ranking remains valid for long. Auction results and secondary-market yields change, so use a dated Treasury auction result or a reliable current quote when comparing actual purchases. Do not treat the illustrative 26-week bill calculation above as a present-day rate.
Tax treatment is not covered here in enough detail to provide jurisdiction-specific advice. Rules can differ by country, state, or locality and may depend on the account and transaction. Check current official tax guidance and, when appropriate, ask a qualified tax professional before relying on a tax assumption.
The most defensible decision is therefore a matching exercise: choose the Treasury security whose maturity and payment pattern fit the goal, and only then evaluate the current price and yield and your ability to hold it through maturity.
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
