Best Bond ETFs (2026)
Which bond fund to hold as portfolio ballast or for income — 64 funds ranked on cost, yield, return, risk and ETFValuer's overall grade.
Every figure on this page is recalculated from market data each day, so the ranking reflects current conditions rather than whenever this page was written. Educational content — not financial advice.
Top Picks Right Now
- scores 61.0 on the overall model (grade C)
- cheapest in the group at 0.03%
Ranked by ETFValuer's overall score. Recalculated every day from live market data — these positions change as the underlying numbers move.
At a Glance
Each superlative is measured within this group of 64 funds, not across the whole market.
All 64 Funds Ranked
| Fund | Category | Cost | Yield | 1Y | 3Y | Volatility | Max DD | Sharpe | AUM | Score | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 USHYiShares Broad USD High Yield Corporate Bond ETF | US Bonds - Corporate | 0.08% | 7.16% | +1.6% | +28.3% | 3.7% | -4.7% | -0.91 | $26.0B | 61.0 | C |
| 2 VTIPVanguard Short-Term Inflation-Protected Securities Index Fund ETF Shares | US Bonds - TIPS | 0.03% | 4.81% | +2.0% | +15.7% | 1.6% | -1.4% | -1.84 | $73.0B | 60.6 | C |
| 3 SGOViShares 0-3 Month Treasury Bond ETF | US Bonds - Government | 0.09% | 3.64% | +3.8% | +14.1% | 0.2% | -0.0% | -6.94 | $112.3B | 60.5 | C |
| 4 VCSHVanguard Short-Term Corporate Bond Index Fund ETF Shares | US Bonds - Corporate | 0.03% | 4.54% | +1.3% | +17.6% | 2.1% | -1.6% | -1.78 | $50.9B | 59.9 | C |
| 5 SPHYState Street SPDR Portfolio High Yield Bond ETF | US Bonds - Corporate | 0.05% | 7.42% | +1.6% | +28.1% | 3.7% | -4.8% | -0.91 | $11.7B | 59.9 | C |
| 6 AGGiShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF | US Bonds - Broad | 0.03% | 4.13% | -1.3% | +16.6% | 4.1% | -4.8% | -1.55 | $135.7B | 59.6 | C |
| 7 BNDVanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund ETF Shares | US Bonds - Broad | 0.03% | 4.13% | -1.3% | +16.4% | 4.0% | -4.7% | -1.58 | $389.1B | 59.5 | C |
| 8 BNDXVanguard Total International Bond Index Fund ETF Shares | International Bonds | 0.07% | 4.65% | -1.0% | +13.5% | 3.7% | -3.2% | -1.60 | $121.6B | 59.3 | C |
| 9 MBBiShares MBS ETF | Mortgage-Backed | 0.04% | 4.46% | -0.8% | +19.4% | 4.9% | -5.4% | -1.18 | $36.2B | 59.3 | C |
| 10 VCITVanguard Intermediate-Term Corporate Bond Index Fund ETF Shares | US Bonds - Corporate | 0.03% | 5.03% | -1.8% | +22.1% | 4.5% | -4.9% | -1.52 | $68.6B | 58.9 | C |
| 11 IUSBiShares Core Universal USD Bond ETF | US Bonds - Broad | 0.06% | 4.34% | -1.0% | +17.8% | 3.9% | -4.4% | -1.57 | $48.1B | 58.8 | C |
| 12 BILState Street SPDR Bloomberg 1-3 Month T-Bill ETF | US Bonds - Government | 0.14% | 3.66% | +3.7% | +13.8% | 0.2% | -0.0% | -6.50 | $49.8B | 58.8 | C |
| 13 IGSBiShares 1-5 Year Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF | US Bonds - Corporate | 0.04% | 4.67% | +1.4% | +17.9% | 2.1% | -1.6% | -1.74 | $23.4B | 58.7 | C |
| 14 VMBSVanguard Mortgage-Backed Securities Index Fund ETF Shares | Mortgage-Backed | 0.03% | 4.35% | -0.5% | +20.1% | 4.7% | -5.1% | -1.17 | $17.1B | 58.6 | C |
| 15 VGSHVanguard Short-Term Treasury Index Fund ETF Shares | US Bonds - Government | 0.03% | 3.77% | +1.7% | +13.0% | 1.3% | -1.0% | -2.47 | $39.5B | 58.4 | C |
| 16 STIPiShares 0-5 Year TIPS Bond ETF | US Bonds - TIPS | 0.03% | 6.06% | +2.0% | +15.7% | 1.6% | -1.4% | -1.85 | $16.3B | 58.1 | C |
| 17 USFRWisdomTree Floating Rate Treasury Fund | US Bonds - Government | 0.15% | 3.72% | +4.1% | +14.3% | 0.3% | -0.1% | -3.30 | $19.8B | 57.6 | C |
| 18 SHYGiShares 0-5 Year High Yield Corporate Bond ETF | US Bonds - Corporate | 0.30% | 7.17% | +2.4% | +25.3% | 3.1% | -4.5% | -0.83 | $7.6B | 57.6 | C |
| 19 USIGiShares Broad USD Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF | US Bonds - Corporate | 0.04% | 4.93% | -1.6% | +20.3% | 4.4% | -4.5% | -1.51 | $17.5B | 57.2 | C |
| 20 VGITVanguard Intermediate-Term Treasury Index Fund ETF Shares | US Bonds - Government | 0.03% | 3.99% | -1.4% | +13.5% | 3.5% | -4.6% | -1.84 | $47.8B | 57.1 | C |
| 21 SCHOSchwab Short-Term U.S. Treasury ETF | US Bonds - Government | 0.03% | 3.83% | +1.7% | +13.0% | 1.4% | -1.0% | -2.38 | $15.3B | 57.0 | C |
| 22 VWOBVanguard Emerging Markets Government Bond Index Fund ETF Shares | International Bonds | 0.15% | 6.10% | -0.1% | +31.4% | 5.6% | -5.2% | -0.91 | $6.6B | 57.0 | C |
| 23 IGIBiShares 5-10 Year Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF | US Bonds - Corporate | 0.04% | 5.08% | -1.7% | +22.6% | 4.5% | -4.9% | -1.51 | $18.6B | 56.8 | C |
| 24 SCHPSchwab U.S. TIPS ETF | US Bonds - TIPS | 0.03% | 5.61% | -1.0% | +14.5% | 3.5% | -3.9% | -1.70 | $16.0B | 56.6 | C |
| 25 GOVTiShares U.S. Treasury Bond ETF | US Bonds - Government | 0.05% | 3.75% | -1.4% | +12.9% | 3.7% | -4.9% | -1.73 | $41.4B | 56.3 | C |
| 26 SHYiShares 1-3 Year Treasury Bond ETF | US Bonds - Government | 0.15% | 3.62% | +1.6% | +12.6% | 1.4% | -1.0% | -2.44 | $26.3B | 56.3 | C |
| 27 EMBiShares J.P. Morgan USD Emerging Markets Bond ETF | International Bonds | 0.39% | 5.38% | +0.5% | +32.1% | 6.0% | -5.2% | -0.76 | $12.9B | 56.2 | C |
| 28 SPMBState Street SPDR Portfolio Mortgage Backed Bond ETF | Mortgage-Backed | 0.04% | 4.27% | -1.0% | +19.3% | 4.7% | -5.6% | -1.28 | $6.8B | 56.1 | C |
| 29 TFLOiShares Treasury Floating Rate Bond ETF | US Bonds - Government | 0.15% | 3.73% | +4.0% | +14.2% | 0.3% | -0.0% | -3.41 | $6.9B | 55.8 | C |
| 30 SPTSState Street SPDR Portfolio Short Term Treasury ETF | US Bonds - Government | 0.03% | 3.87% | +1.7% | +13.1% | 1.3% | -1.0% | -2.44 | $7.2B | 55.8 | C |
| 31 HYGiShares iBoxx $ High Yield Corporate Bond ETF | US Bonds - Corporate | 0.49% | 6.10% | +1.3% | +27.1% | 3.8% | -4.6% | -0.97 | $16.8B | 55.8 | C |
| 32 GBILGoldman Sachs Access Treasury 0-1 Year ETF | US Bonds - Government | 0.12% | 3.60% | +3.6% | +13.8% | 0.2% | -0.8% | -6.56 | $7.9B | 55.6 | C |
| 33 SCHZSchwab U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF | US Bonds - Broad | 0.03% | 4.30% | -1.4% | +16.5% | 4.0% | -4.9% | -1.60 | $10.5B | 55.5 | C |
| 34 JNKState Street SPDR Bloomberg High Yield Bond ETF | US Bonds - Corporate | 0.40% | 6.84% | +1.6% | +27.4% | 3.8% | -5.0% | -0.89 | $6.5B | 55.1 | C |
| 35 SPABState Street SPDR Portfolio Aggregate Bond ETF | US Bonds - Broad | 0.03% | 4.22% | -1.4% | +16.4% | 3.9% | -4.9% | -1.64 | $9.9B | 55.0 | C |
| 36 SCHRSchwab Intermediate-Term U.S. Treasury ETF | US Bonds - Government | 0.03% | 4.05% | -1.5% | +13.4% | 3.5% | -4.5% | -1.82 | $13.1B | 55.0 | C |
| 37 LQDiShares iBoxx $ Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF | US Bonds - Corporate | 0.14% | 4.86% | -3.4% | +19.7% | 5.6% | -6.3% | -1.50 | $28.3B | 55.0 | C |
| 38 SPTIState Street SPDR Portfolio Intermediate Term Treasury ETF | US Bonds - Government | 0.03% | 3.97% | -1.4% | +13.5% | 3.5% | -4.5% | -1.83 | $10.4B | 54.9 | C |
| 39 SLQDiShares 0-5 Year Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF | US Bonds - Corporate | 0.06% | 4.44% | +1.9% | +16.9% | 1.6% | -1.2% | -1.91 | $2.4B | 54.9 | C |
| 40 SJNKState Street SPDR Bloomberg Short Term High Yield Bond ETF | US Bonds - Corporate | 0.40% | 7.19% | +1.7% | +24.6% | 3.2% | -4.8% | -1.05 | $4.5B | 54.5 | C |
| 41 TIPiShares TIPS Bond ETF | US Bonds - TIPS | 0.18% | 5.87% | -1.2% | +13.9% | 3.6% | -4.0% | -1.71 | $14.2B | 54.5 | C |
| 42 IEIiShares 3-7 Year Treasury Bond ETF | US Bonds - Government | 0.15% | 3.80% | -1.2% | +12.9% | 3.2% | -4.0% | -1.95 | $16.8B | 54.3 | C |
| 43 FBNDFidelity Total Bond ETF | US Bonds - Broad | 0.36% | 4.80% | -1.5% | +18.1% | 4.1% | -4.7% | -1.58 | $27.9B | 54.2 | C |
| 44 IEFiShares 7-10 Year Treasury Bond ETF | US Bonds - Government | 0.15% | 4.08% | -3.1% | +13.4% | 5.0% | -6.9% | -1.63 | $41.6B | 53.9 | C |
| 45 VCLTVanguard Long-Term Corporate Bond Index Fund ETF Shares | US Bonds - Corporate | 0.03% | 5.87% | -5.8% | +20.6% | 8.4% | -9.6% | -1.29 | $8.9B | 53.9 | C |
| 46 ANGLVanEck Fallen Angel High Yield Bond ETF | US Bonds - Corporate | 0.25% | 6.93% | -0.2% | +25.4% | 4.5% | -5.5% | -1.17 | $3.1B | 53.8 | C |
| 47 EMHYiShares J.P. Morgan EM High Yield Bond ETF | International Bonds | 0.50% | 6.83% | +3.8% | +41.2% | 5.4% | -6.0% | -0.22 | $596M | 53.7 | C |
| 48 VTCVanguard Total Corporate Bond ETF ETF Shares | US Bonds - Corporate | 0.03% | 5.15% | -1.8% | +19.9% | 4.6% | -4.8% | -1.49 | $1.6B | 53.0 | C |
| 49 FALNiShares Fallen Angels USD Bond ETF | US Bonds - Corporate | 0.25% | 6.83% | -0.1% | +27.8% | 4.7% | -5.9% | -1.10 | $1.6B | 52.9 | C |
| 50 BNDWVanguard Total World Bond ETF | US Bonds - Broad | 0.05% | 4.38% | -1.1% | +15.1% | 3.6% | -3.9% | -1.69 | $1.9B | 52.8 | C |
| 51 TDTTNorthern Trust iBoxx 3-Year Target Duration TIPS ETF | US Bonds - TIPS | 0.18% | 6.38% | +1.1% | +15.4% | 2.0% | -1.9% | -1.95 | $2.5B | 52.6 | C |
| 52 TLHiShares 10-20 Year Treasury Bond ETF | US Bonds - Government | 0.15% | 4.68% | -5.4% | +14.5% | 8.1% | -11.7% | -1.29 | $10.7B | 51.9 | C |
| 53 VGLTVanguard Long-Term Treasury Index Fund ETF Shares | US Bonds - Government | 0.03% | 4.84% | -6.5% | +12.4% | 8.8% | -13.8% | -1.30 | $14.8B | 51.7 | C |
| 54 SPTLState Street SPDR Portfolio Long Term Treasury ETF | US Bonds - Government | 0.03% | 4.42% | -6.5% | +12.4% | 8.9% | -13.8% | -1.29 | $10.7B | 51.2 | C |
| 55 GNMAiShares GNMA Bond ETF | Mortgage-Backed | 0.10% | 4.41% | -0.9% | +18.4% | 4.7% | -5.5% | -1.26 | $418M | 51.1 | C |
| 56 TLTiShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF | US Bonds - Government | 0.15% | 4.78% | -7.5% | +10.1% | 9.6% | -16.6% | -1.31 | $46.2B | 49.7 | D |
| 57 PCYInvesco Emerging Markets Sovereign Debt ETF | International Bonds | 0.50% | 6.28% | -2.1% | +39.3% | 7.7% | -9.0% | -0.93 | $1.2B | 49.0 | C |
| 58 SCHQSchwab Long-Term U.S. Treasury ETF | US Bonds - Government | 0.03% | 4.90% | -6.5% | +12.4% | 8.8% | -13.8% | -1.31 | $908M | 47.0 | D |
| 59 IGOViShares International Treasury Bond ETF | International Bonds | 0.35% | 3.48% | -4.4% | +10.8% | 7.7% | -10.7% | -1.22 | $1.3B | 46.4 | D |
| 60 BWXState Street SPDR Bloomberg International Treasury Bond ETF | International Bonds | 0.35% | 2.45% | -4.4% | +8.2% | 7.4% | -10.2% | -1.26 | $1.3B | 46.4 | D |
| 61 IBNDState Street SPDR Bloomberg International Corporate Bond ETF | International Bonds | 0.50% | 2.96% | -5.2% | +16.3% | 7.5% | -9.2% | -1.36 | $444M | 43.8 | D |
| 62 LTPZPIMCO 15+ Year U.S. TIPS Index Exchange-Traded Fund | US Bonds - TIPS | 0.20% | 7.92% | -8.6% | +7.4% | 9.6% | -16.2% | -1.42 | $1.0B | 42.9 | D |
| 63 EDVVanguard Extended Duration Treasury Index Fund ETF Shares | US Bonds - Government | 0.05% | 5.41% | -12.7% | +5.7% | 14.6% | -27.7% | -1.21 | $4.0B | 39.4 | D |
| 64 ZROZPIMCO 25+ Year Zero Coupon U.S. Treasury Index Exchange-Traded Fund | US Bonds - Government | 0.15% | 5.25% | -13.7% | +0.9% | 16.1% | -32.5% | -1.17 | $1.9B | 35.9 | D |
Max DD is the deepest peak-to-trough fall over the measurement window. Sharpe ratio measures return per unit of volatility — higher is better. Every figure is recalculated daily.
What Makes a Good Fund Here
Bond funds differ along two axes that matter far more than fee: duration (how much they fall when rates rise) and credit quality (how much they fall when the economy weakens). A fund yielding more than its peers is nearly always taking more of one or the other.
The ETFValuer score blends trailing return, risk-adjusted return, expense ratio, maximum drawdown, fund size and volatility, each percentile-ranked against the full tracked universe, into a single 0-100 figure graded A+ to F. It is a systematic summary of past data, not a forecast — read it alongside the individual columns rather than instead of them.
Head-to-Head Comparisons
Full metric-by-metric breakdowns for the closest calls in this group.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best bond ETF?
USHY ranks highest of the 64 fixed-income funds tracked, with a score of 61.0 (C). The highest-yielding is LTPZ at 7.92% — though in fixed income, extra yield is compensation for extra duration or credit risk, not a free gain.
Are bond ETFs safe?
Safer than equities, but not risk-free. Bond funds fall when interest rates rise, and corporate or high-yield funds fall when default risk rises. Short-duration government funds are the most stable; long-duration funds can drop double digits.
How much of my portfolio should be in bonds?
That depends on your time horizon and tolerance for drawdowns rather than on any universal rule. The relevant question is how long you could wait for a recovery before needing the money.
Compare any of these funds directly
Side-by-side metrics, holdings overlap and return correlation for any pair.