What will your bond cost?
Most surety bonds cost 1%–3% of the bond amount. Performance and payment bonds run about 0.75%–3% of the contract, and bid bonds are usually free. Pick your bond type and amount for an instant estimate — then we'll confirm your exact rate.
Estimated first-term premium on a $500,000 contract — roughly 0.75%–3% of the contract amount. Stronger credit, financials, and bonding history land near the low end. Final rate is set at underwriting.
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What a surety bond costs at common amounts
License and permit bonds are priced at about 1%–3% of the bond amount per year, with a minimum of around $100. Performance and payment bonds are priced at about 0.75%–3% of the contract amount for the contract term. Strong credit and financials land near the low end of each range; newer or thinner accounts land near the high end.
| Bond amount | License or permit bond (per year) | Performance & payment bond (contract term) |
|---|---|---|
| $10,000 | $100 – $300 | Often a minimum premium |
| $25,000 | $250 – $750 | Often a minimum premium |
| $50,000 | $500 – $1,500 | Often a minimum premium |
| $100,000 | $1,000 – $3,000 | $750 – $3,000 |
| $250,000 | $2,500 – $7,500 | $1,875 – $7,500 |
| $500,000 | $5,000 – $15,000 | $3,750 – $15,000 |
| $1,000,000 | $10,000 – $30,000 | $7,500 – $30,000 |
Estimates, not quotes. Bid bonds are usually issued at no premium. For how contract bond pricing works, see how much performance and payment bonds cost.
Using the bond cost calculator
How much does a $100,000 surety bond cost?
It depends on the type of bond. A $100,000 license or permit bond usually costs about $1,000 to $3,000 a year for a well-qualified applicant. A $100,000 performance and payment bond usually costs about $750 to $3,000 for the contract term. Your credit, financial statements, and bonding history decide where you land in that range. Bid bonds are usually issued at no premium.
How much does a $500,000 surety bond cost?
A $500,000 performance and payment bond typically runs about $3,750 to $15,000, depending on your financials and track record. A $500,000 license or permit bond estimates at about $5,000 to $15,000 a year, though bonds that large often call for fuller underwriting than a credit check alone.
Is a surety bond the same as bond insurance?
No, although people often search for it that way. Insurance protects you. A surety bond guarantees your obligation to someone else — a project owner, a state agency, or a municipality. If the surety pays a valid claim, you are expected to repay it, which is why premiums are priced on your credit and financial strength rather than on a pool of losses.
What amount should I enter?
It depends on the bond. For performance and payment bonds, enter the contract amount — the bond is written for the full value of the contract. For a subdivision bond, enter the engineer's cost of improvements, not the value of the land or the finished homes. For a license or permit bond, enter the amount your state requires, which the calculator fills in automatically for most states once you pick one.
Why is the result a range instead of one number?
Because contract surety is priced on a sliding scale rather than a fixed rate. Performance and payment bonds run roughly 0.75% to 3% of the contract amount. Where you land inside that band depends on your credit, the strength of your financial statement, and your bonding history. Established contractors with reviewed or audited statements sit near the low end; newer accounts sit near the high end.
Why does it ask for my state on some bonds?
License and permit bond amounts are set by the state or the agency requiring the bond, not by you or by us. Picking your state lets the calculator fill in the required amount where we have it on file, so you are estimating against the right number. Contract bonds do not need a state, because the bond amount comes from the contract.
Why is the Express rate higher than regular contract surety?
Express is a flat 3% because it is priced for limited underwriting. It runs off a one-page, credit-based application with no CPA financials and no WIP schedule, so the surety is taking a position with less information. Fully underwritten contract surety starts at 0.75% precisely because you have handed over the financials that justify a lower rate. If you have the statements, the traditional route is cheaper.
Is there a minimum premium?
Yes, on smaller bonds. License and permit bonds estimate at roughly 1% to 3% of the bond amount, but carriers apply a minimum — typically around $100 — so a very small bond costs the minimum rather than the percentage. The calculator reflects that floor.
Is this the price I'll actually pay?
It is an estimate, not a quote. The calculator applies our real rate bands to the number you enter; it does not run a credit check or look at your financials, and it cannot see the things that decide where you land in the range. Your exact rate is set at underwriting. Send the form and we will confirm it, usually the same day.
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Tell us what you need and we'll confirm the exact form and requirements, then get it issued cleanly. Same-day turnaround on most bid bonds.
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