Treasury Bonds vs. Treasury Notes vs. Treasury Bills: What's the Difference?

To earn money on U.S. government securities, investors have three main options: Treasury bills, Treasury notes, and Treasury bonds. While all are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government, each serves a distinct purpose in finance and investing.

Treasury bills (T-bills) are short-term investments that mature in one year or less. Treasury notes have maturities ranging from two to 10 years. Treasury bonds offer the longest commitment, taking 20 or 30 years to mature.

Each is recognized for its safety since the U.S. government has never defaulted on its debt. However, their different maturities significantly influence how they react to market conditions and how investors use them.

Key Takeaways

Treasury bonds (T-bonds), Treasury notes (T-notes), and Treasury bills (T-bills) are government-issued fixed-income securities that are very low risk.
Treasury bonds typically mature in 20 or 30 years and offer the highest coupons or interest, which are paid twice yearly.
Treasury notes mature from two to 10 years, with semiannual interest payments but usually lower yields than T-bonds.
Treasury bills have the shortest periods before maturity, from four weeks to a year.
While only Treasury bonds and Treasury notes pay twice-yearly interest, all earn the face value at maturity.
They are each auctioned at the U.S. Department of the Treasury's platform, TreasuryDirect.

Why US Treasurys Matter

Despite their reputation as conservative, not-very-exciting investments, Treasurys are a major pillar of the world's economy. Treasury bonds, Treasury notes, and Treasury bills are crucial for both the government and investors. For the federal government, they are a means of raising funds to cover public expenses and manage the national debt. For investors, they are a low-risk investment option, and they provide a safe way to earn interest and diversify investment portfolios.

But this is also the case for people, institutions, and governments the world over, meaning they don't just provide stability to U.S. investors but to markets worldwide.

The predictable interest payments of notes and bonds make them attractive for income-focused investors, while the liquidity of T-bills appeals to those who need to preserve their capital.

Treasury Bonds vs. Treasury Notes vs. Treasury Bills

Treasury securities are debt instruments issued by the U.S. government to finance its operations. While they all represent loans to the government, Treasury bonds, notes, and bills differ in several key ways.

Treasury bonds, Treasury notes, and Treasury bills have different maturity dates and pay different amounts of interest (usually, the longer the term, the more interest). However, all Treasurys are treated as having no risk of default since the U.S. government guarantees them. Essentially, if the U.S. government stops paying its debts, the economic shock would make Treasurys the least of your worries. The safety they afford means that Treasurys have a lower potential return than alternative, riskier investments like stocks or corporate bonds.

Maturity

Maturity is the primary distinguishing factor between the three types of Treasurys. Treasury bills have the shortest terms, maturing in one year or less. Treasury notes occupy the middle ground, with maturities ranging from two to 10 years. Treasury bonds have the longest maturity, at 20 or 30 years.

These varying maturities affect how each security behaves in the market. Generally, the longer the maturity, the more sensitive the security is to interest rate changes. This means Treasury bonds typically have larger price swings than T-bills when interest rates fluctuate.

How interest is paid

Another key difference lies in how these securities pay interest. T-bills are sold at a discount to their face value and don't pay periodic interest. Instead, investors receive the full face value at maturity, with the difference representing their return. Treasury notes and bonds, meanwhile, pay interest every six months and return the principal upon maturity.

Yields

Yield is another factor to consider. Typically, longer-term securities offer higher yields to compensate investors for tying up their money for extended periods. However, this isn't always the case, and the relationship between yields on different maturities (known as the yield curve) can provide valuable economic insights.

Investors use these securities differently based on their financial goals. T-bills are often used for short-term cash management or as a near-cash holding in a portfolio. Notes and bonds are more commonly used for longer-term investing, income generation, or as a hedge against stock market volatility. Below is a comparison table, which includes the current rates, regularly updated from TreasuryDirect, the U.S. Department of the Treasury's platform.

Treasury Bonds

Treasury bonds are often called long bonds because they take the most time to mature out of government-issued securities. They are offered at 20 or 30 years to maturity.

Features of Treasury bonds

Once you buy T-bonds, you get a fixed-interest payment called the coupon every six months. The coupon amount is given as a percentage of the bond's face value. For example, a bond worth $500 with a coupon rate of 5% would pay $25 in interest each year.

At maturity, you're paid the bond's face value. When you redeem bonds with a TreasuryDirect account at maturity, the proceeds are deposited automatically into the bank account on file. Compared with Treasury notes and bills, Treasury bonds usually pay the highest interest rates because investors want more money to put aside for the longer term. For the same reason, their prices, when issued, go up and down more than the others.

You can wait to redeem your T-bond until it matures or sell it in the secondary market. However, you must first wait at least 45 days. After that, you're unlikely to get the face value if you sell it before maturity, so you could see a loss between what you paid initially and what you get selling it.

Treasury bonds are sold at monthly online auctions at TreasuryDirect, the U.S. Treasury's securities platform. Sold in multiples of $100, their prices and yields are decided during the auction. T-bonds are also traded in the secondary market and can be bought from a bank or broker.

Retail investors typically use T-bonds to keep part of their savings risk-free and to receive a steady income during retirement. Treasury bonds can also be used as savings for education or other major expenses. Retail and institutional investors buy Treasury bonds to diversify since they are low-risk, decrease the overall volatility of a portfolio, and provide a steady income stream.

Treasury bonds, Treasury notes, or Treasury bills sold before their maturity date could mean a loss, depending on bond prices at the time of the sale. Simply put, the face value is only guaranteed if the Treasury is held until maturity.

Treasury Notes

Treasury notes are like Treasury bonds but have shorter terms, like two, three, five, seven, and 10 years. Like T-bonds, Treasury notes are backed by the U.S. government.

Features of Treasury notes

Treasury notes pay interest every six months until they mature. Typically, Treasury notes pay less interest than T-bonds since T-notes have shorter maturities. Like T-bonds, the yield is determined at auction, and upon maturity, you get the face value of the bond.

Treasury notes are also auctioned by the U.S. Treasury and sold in $100 increments. The price of the Treasury note can change based on the auction results. It can be less than, more than, or equal to the note's face value.

You can redeem them the same way as Treasury bonds, and Treasury notes, too, can be held until maturity or sold in the secondary market before they mature.

Why Treasury notes are important

The 10-year Treasury note is the most closely watched government bond. It is used as a benchmark rate for banks to calculate mortgage rates. Typically, the 10-year Treasury note is in high demand since it's often used to lower the volatility of an investment portfolio.

During a recession and when there's market uncertainty, demand for the 10-year Treasury notes might increase significantly, leading to major changes in its prices and yields. Meanwhile, when the economy expands, investors might sell their 10-year Treasury notes to have funds for higher-yielding bonds and other investments since there's a reduced risk of loss at those times.

Since the 10-year Treasury note is very popular with institutional and retail investors, central banks, and governments, it always has steady demand. This means it has excellent liquidity should you need to sell it before maturity.

Treasury Bills

Treasury bills, or T-bills, have the shortest terms of all and are issued with maturity dates of four, eight, 13, 26, and 52 weeks.

Features of Treasury bills

Unlike Treasury bonds and notes, T-bills do not pay interest. Hence, they're call zero-coupon bonds. Instead, Treasury bills are auctioned off to investors at a discount to their face value. Your return, then, is the difference between the face value and the discounted price you initially paid.

Suppose you buy a Treasury bill with a $1,000 face value for $950. At maturity, you will be paid $1,000. The $50 difference between the $950 purchase price and the $1,000 face value is considered the interest.

Like Treasury bonds and notes, T-bills have no default risk since they're backed by the U.S. government. As a result, T-bills tend to pay less interest than corporate bonds since corporate bonds have the potential of defaulting, which leads investors to demand more interest to compensate them for the added risk of investing in them. When they mature, the process for redeeming them is the same as the others.

Cash Management Bill (CMB)

The U.S. Treasury also offers a short-term security that is like the T-bill called a cash management bill (CMB). The main difference between the two is that a CMB has a much shorter maturity date, ranging anywhere between seven days to three months. CMBs are bought in $100 increments.

Investors can have their federal tax refund deposited into their TreasuryDirect account to buy securities.

Treasury Auctions

Treasury bonds, notes, and bills are sold through U.S. Treasury auctions on the TreasuryDirect platform. The demand for them helps set the rates and yields during the auctions, which can change based on interest rate changes and other market factors.

All auctions are open to the public and can be found on the Treasury's list of upcoming auctions at TreasuryDirect. You can buy securities directly through one of these auctions or your bank or broker.

Auctions are announced several days ahead, with the amount to be auctioned and the maturity date. There are three ways bidding happens:

Competitive bids: You set the acceptable rate, yield, or discount margin. Competitive bids are limited to 35% of the offering amount.
Noncompetitive bids: Here, you agree to the rate, yield, or discount margin set during the auction. Bidders are limited to $5 million per auction with noncompetitive bids.
A single-price auction: This is when Treasury bonds, bills, and notes are sold at the highest rate, yield, or spread of the accepted competitive bids for all competitive and noncompetitive bidders.

The Treasury also auctions previously issued securities, called reopened securities. Like the originals, the reopened securities have the same maturity date and interest rates. The only difference is the issue date and the price.

How To Buy Treasury Bonds, Treasury Notes, and Treasury Bills

You can pick up Treasury bonds, notes, and bills through the U.S. Treasury at TreasuryDirect.gov or from a bank or broker. Since the last two will lead you through the process, let's prepare you to buy them yourself.

Setting up an account

You'll need to register for TreasuryDirect. Visit TreasuryDirect.gov and create your account. You'll have to choose the account type: individual, business or organizational, or estate or trust account.
Let's say it's an individual account. You'll need your Social Security number, your driver's license or state ID number, a U.S. address, an email address, and your bank account information.
Follow the prompts to complete the registration, including those for your security questions. Make sure to verify your email address at the end of the process.

Linking your bank account

Enter your bank account information (routing number and account number), both for where the funds will come from to pay for Treasurys and where you'll be depositing when they mature.
TreasuryDirect will verify your bank accounts. This could include test deposits, which you'll need to confirm.

Purchasing Treasury bonds, Treasury notes, and Treasury bills

Once your account is set up, log in to TreasuryDirect. Go to the “BuyDirect” tab and choose which security you want to buy: Treasury bills, Treasury notes, or Treasury bonds.

Next, fill in the details: how much and the time to maturity. You'll then confirm your purchase details and payment method—you'll likely pay directly from your bank account. Once you're ready, hit submit and then you'll get a confirmation for the transaction along with its details.

What to do at maturity

You can hold your Treasury bonds, Treasury notes, or Treasury bills until they mature and let them be redeemed automatically at that time, with the deposit going right into the bank account you selected.

Also, you can reinvest the proceeds into another Treasury security. Before your Treasurys mature, go to your TreasuryDirect account. There, you can set up reinvestment instructions, making it seamless to roll over the matured security into a new one.

If you have Treasury bonds held by your bank or broker, you'll need to check with them about how to redeem your bond.

Tax Implications

The tax consequences for Treasury securities are very similar. The interest you earn from Treasury bonds, Treasury notes, and Treasury bills is taxed by the Internal Revenue Service, but they are free from state and local taxes.

If you hold Treasurys, you'll receive a 1099-INT form. For any security held at TreasuryDirect, as much as 50% of the interest earnings can be withheld to ease your tax bill. You can specify how much you want withheld online.

What Are Other Ways to Invest in Treasury Bonds, Notes, and Bills?

Investing in Treasurys isn't limited to directly buying bonds, notes, and bills through TreasuryDirect. Besides getting them through your bank or broker, another alternative is to invest in mutual funds or one of over 50 exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that focus on Treasury securities. These funds offer a convenient way to gain exposure to a diversified portfolio of Treasurys without the need to manage them yourself.

ETFs for Treasurys trade like stocks on the major exchanges, giving you far more flexibility than when holding them yourself. You can also choose the fund based on the ETF's risk and range of maturity dates. Another advantage is that these funds are overseen by professional portfolio managers who know how to navigate the complexities of the bond market. But these advantages come with fees, lowering your potential returns.

Should I Buy a Treasury Note or a CD?

If you're deciding between Treasury notes or certificates of deposit (CDs), you'll need to weigh the risks, potential returns, the potential for trading them, and tax implications. Treasury notes, backed by the U.S. government, offer a very low risk of default, making them a secure choice for risk-averse investors. CDs are also low-risk since the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., insures them up to $250,000. They also usually offer higher coupon rates than Treasury notes, particularly when interest rates are rising.

However, the interest rates on Treasury notes could be higher when there's economic uncertainty, making them even more appealing to those who prefer stability. Treasurys also have the advantage of being more liquid since you can sell them on the secondary market before they mature. CDs typically have early withdrawal penalties, which can diminish your earnings if you access the funds before they mature. They are also treated differently for tax purposes. The interest on Treasury notes is exempt from state and local taxes but not federal taxes, while the interest earned from CDs is taxable at both the state and federal levels.

Which Are Riskier: Treasury Bonds, Notes, or Bills?

Treasury bonds, notes, and bills have no default risk since the U.S. government guarantees them. Investors will receive the bond's face value if they hold it to maturity. However, if sold before maturity, your gain or loss depends on the difference between the initial price and what you sold the Treasury for.

Should I Invest in Treasury Bills, Notes, or Bonds?

Whether you invest in Treasury bonds or bills depends on your time horizon and risk tolerance. If you'll need the money sooner, a Treasury bill with a shorter maturity might be best. If you have a longer time horizon, Treasury notes with maturities of up to 10 years might be better. Typically, the longer the maturity, the higher your return on investment.

What Happens to Treasury Bonds, Notes, and Bills When Interest Rates Fall?

When the U.S. Federal Reserve lowers interest rates, it generally has a positive effect on the price of existing Treasury securities. Here's a breakdown of what typically happens:

Treasury bonds: As the longest-term securities, Treasury bonds are usually the most sensitive to interest rate changes. When rates fall, the value of existing bonds tends to rise significantly. This is because the bonds' fixed interest payments become more attractive compared with newly issued bonds with lower rates.
Treasury notes: Medium-term Treasury notes also typically increase in value when rates fall, though usually not as dramatically as long-term bonds. The 10-year Treasury note, often considered a benchmark for other interest rates, usually has notable increases.
Treasury bills: Short-term T-bills are less affected by interest rate changes because of their shorter maturities. However, they may still see a slight increase in value.

The Bottom Line

Investing in U.S. Treasury bonds, bills, and notes provides a measure of safety and convenience, given the ease of using TreasuryDirect today. Whether through direct purchases via TreasuryDirect or indirectly through ETFs and mutual funds, Treasurys are a reliable vehicle for getting interest income while diversifying and lowering the risk in your portfolio.