Premium Bond Chance Calculator
Use this tool to estimate how much you might win from Premium Bonds based on your total holding and how long you plan to stay invested. Calculations are based on the latest NS&I prize fund rate.
How Premium Bonds Work
Premium Bonds are a savings product from NS&I (National Savings & Investments). Instead of earning interest, each £1 bond is entered into a monthly prize draw. Prizes range from £25 up to £1 million. While there’s no guaranteed return, there’s also no risk to your capital.
What This Calculator Does
- Estimates your average expected prize return over time based on the current prize fund rate
- Supports time periods from 1 month to 5 years
- Shows your estimated total winnings — useful for comparison with regular savings accounts
Estimate Your Odds
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the odds of winning a prize?
As of 2025, the odds of winning any prize per £1 bond per month are 1 in 21,000. That means holding more bonds increases your chances, but there’s still no guaranteed return.
How is the expected return calculated?
This tool uses the NS&I prize fund rate (currently 3.6% annually) to estimate average winnings over your selected time period. It assumes typical luck, not best-case or worst-case outcomes.
Can I lose money with Premium Bonds?
No, your capital is 100% secure. The downside is that you may not win anything, so your return could be 0% even after several years.
Is it better than a savings account?
It depends. Premium Bonds are tax-free and low-risk, but unlike savings accounts, returns are not guaranteed. If you value a steady return, a fixed-rate savings account might be more suitable.
Next Steps
Learn more about Premium Bonds and ISAs by reading our comprehensive guide: ISA vs Premium Bonds – Which Should You Choose?
Explore more tools from Know Your Pound. Try our Compound Interest Calculator to compare fixed savings, or visit the full tools section for mortgage, tax, and salary tools.