Vanguard bond ETFs
Choose from a wide variety of short-, intermediate-, and long-term bond ETFs.
What is a bond ETF?
Bond ETFs (exchange-traded funds) can help reduce investment risk. Choose one that works for your time horizon and goals.
Find income & stability with a bond ETF
Get higher potential for income
Bond ETFs (exchange-traded funds) give your portfolio the opportunity to earn income from interest payments—unlike stock ETFs, which aim for long-term growth (although some pay dividends).
Reduce your investment risk
A bond ETF could contain hundreds—sometimes thousands—of bonds, making an ETF generally less risky than owning just a handful of individual bonds.
Add stability to your portfolio
When included in a well-balanced portfolio, bond ETFs can help limit the risks associated with stock ETFs.
Get broad exposure to bond markets around the globe
You can invest in just a few ETFs to complete the bond portion of your portfolio. Each of these ETFs includes a wide variety of bonds in a single, diversified investment.
BND
Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF holds more than 10,000 domestic investment-grade bonds.
BNDX
Vanguard Total International Bond ETF holds more than 6,000 bonds from both developed and emerging non-U.S. markets.
How to evaluate different bond ETFs
How much risk are you comfortable with?
Different bonds mean different risks. Know the terms to choose what's right for you.
Maturity shows how much a bond's price moves when interest rates change. Match your bond ETF's maturity to your investment timeline. Credit quality indicates the chance a bond will default. Higher quality means lower risk to your investment.
Do you want U.S. or international bonds?
Actually, investing in a combination of U.S. and international bonds can add another level of diversification to your portfolio. Consider splitting your bond allocation into about:
- 70% U.S. bond ETFs.
- 30% international bond ETFs.
Do you specifically want to keep pace with inflation?
Inflation-protected bond ETFs invest in government bonds that are routinely adjusted for inflation.
Already have a Vanguard Brokerage Account?
Take the next step. Our bond ETFs help balance your investments and can provide regular income.