Treasury Bill Rates Today: 4.02% (4-Week) to 4.44% (52-Week)
U.S. Treasury bills paid between 4.02% for 4 weeks and 4.44% for 52 weeks on October 16, 2026, according to the U.S. Treasury's daily bill rates. These are investment rates, the measure to compare with a CD APY or a savings rate. A year earlier the 52-week rate was 3.56%. Interest is free of state and local income tax.
Treasury bill rates by term
| Bill | Investment rate | Discount rate | Price of a $10,000 bill | Interest at maturity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4-week | 4.02% | 3.95% | $9,969.28 | $30.72 |
| 6-week | 4.03% | 3.96% | $9,953.80 | $46.20 |
| 8-week | 4.10% | 4.02% | $9,937.47 | $62.53 |
| 13-week (3-month) | 4.18% | 4.08% | $9,896.87 | $103.13 |
| 17-week | 4.26% | 4.14% | $9,863.15 | $136.85 |
| 26-week (6-month) | 4.35% | 4.20% | $9,787.67 | $212.33 |
| 52-week (1-year) | 4.44% | 4.24% | $9,571.29 | $428.71 |
T-bills compared with savings, CDs and money market funds
| Option | Rate | As of | State income tax |
|---|---|---|---|
| 52-week Treasury bill | 4.44% | October 16, 2026 | Exempt |
| 13-week Treasury bill | 4.18% | October 16, 2026 | Exempt |
| Vanguard Treasury Money Market (VUSXX), 7-day yield | 3.80% | September 30, 2026 | Largely exempt (100% U.S. government income in 2025; met the CA/CT/NY test) |
| iShares 0-3 Month Treasury Bond ETF (SGOV), 30-day SEC yield | 3.75% | Oct 19, 2026 | Mostly exempt |
| National average, 12-month CD (FDIC) | 1.76% | October 19, 2026 | Taxable |
| National average, savings account (FDIC) | 0.38% | October 19, 2026 | Taxable |
The state-tax exemption matters more than it looks. Hypothetical example: if your state taxes income at 6%, a 52-week bill at 4.44% leaves the same after state tax as a fully taxable CD or savings account paying about 4.72% (4.44% / (1 - 0.06), our arithmetic; federal tax applies to both). In a state without an income tax, the two are equal at the same rate. Compare specific banks in our CD rates and high-yield savings guides, and funds in money market funds.
Treasury bill rates over the past year
How Treasury bills work
- Terms: the Treasury sells bills that mature in 4, 6, 8, 13, 17, 26 and 52 weeks.
- No coupon: you buy a bill below its face value and get the full face value at maturity. The difference is your interest. TreasuryDirect's example: a $1,000 26-week bill bought at a 0.145% discount rate costs $999.27 and pays $1,000.
- Buying: at auction through TreasuryDirect, $100 minimum in $100 increments, up to $10 million with a non-competitive bid (you accept the rate set at auction). Banks and brokers also sell new bills and existing ones on the secondary market.
- Auctions: weekly for 4, 6, 8, 13, 17 and 26-week bills; every four weeks for 52-week bills.
- Before maturity: you can hold a bill until it matures or sell it before then; a sale happens at the market price, which can be above or below what you paid.
- Taxes: federal income tax is due on the interest; there is no state or local income tax.
FAQ
What are Treasury bill rates today?
As of October 16, 2026, the U.S. Treasury's daily rates (investment rate, comparable to an APY) were 4-week 4.02%, 6-week 4.03%, 8-week 4.10%, 13-week 4.18%, 17-week 4.26%, 26-week 4.35%, 52-week 4.44%.
What is the minimum to buy a T-bill?
TreasuryDirect sells bills in $100 increments with a $100 minimum, up to $10 million per auction with a non-competitive bid. Brokers also sell new and existing bills.
Are T-bills taxed?
Interest is subject to federal income tax but not to state or local income tax, according to TreasuryDirect. That makes a T-bill worth more after tax than a CD or savings account at the same rate if your state has an income tax.
What is the difference between the discount rate and the investment rate?
Bills are sold below face value. The discount rate expresses that discount over a 360-day year based on the face value. The investment rate (also called the coupon-equivalent yield) is based on the price you pay and a 365-day year, so it is higher and is the figure to compare with a CD APY or a savings rate.
How often are T-bills auctioned?
Weekly for 4, 6, 8, 13, 17 and 26-week bills, and every four weeks for 52-week bills, according to TreasuryDirect.
Are T-bills better than a high-yield savings account?
It depends on access and taxes. Bills lock up money until maturity unless you sell them through a broker, while savings accounts let you withdraw anytime. In a state with an income tax, a 4.44% 52-week bill matches a fully taxable rate of about 4.72% at a 6% state rate.
Sources
- U.S. Department of the Treasury, Daily Treasury Bill Rates (rates through October 16, 2026).
- TreasuryDirect, Treasury Bills and Understanding Pricing and Interest Rates (terms, minimums, auctions, taxes, pricing formula; checked October 19, 2026).
- FDIC, National Rates and Rate Caps (October 19, 2026).
- VUSXX: Form N-MFP3 filings, SEC EDGAR. SGOV: iShares fund page.
For general information, not investment advice. Rates change daily; secondary-market rates differ slightly from auction results.