What is Bond Price?
Bond Price is the present value of all future cash flows (periodic coupon payments plus the return of par value at maturity) discounted at the current market yield. Bond prices and yields move inversely: when interest rates rise, bond prices fall (and vice versa). This inverse relationship is the fundamental dynamic of fixed income investing. Premium bonds (price > par) have coupon rates above prevailing yields; discount bonds (price < par) have coupon rates below prevailing yields. The degree of price sensitivity to yield changes is captured by duration: longer-maturity and lower-coupon bonds have higher duration and greater price sensitivity.
Formula
Price = Σ [C / (1+r)^t] + F / (1+r)^n
C = periodic coupon = Face × Rate / Periods per year
r = yield per period = YTM / Periods per year
F = face value (par)
n = total number of periods
Calculator
How to Use
- 1Enter face value: Typically $1,000 for US corporate and government bonds.
- 2Enter coupon rate and frequency: Annual coupon rate (e.g. 5%) and whether coupons are semi-annual (most common in US) or annual.
- 3Enter yield (YTM): The current market yield for this bond or a comparable bond.
- 4Enter years to maturity: The number of years until the bond returns par value at redemption.
Worked Example
Example: US Treasury-like bond
Face
$1,000
Coupon
4%
YTM
5%
Years
10
With a 4% coupon and 5% market yield, this bond trades at a discount. Price ≈ $922.78. The coupon is below the prevailing rate, so investors require a lower purchase price to earn a competitive yield. Each semi-annual coupon = $20. PV of 20 coupons + PV of $1,000 par at 2.5% per period = $922.78.