New Jersey prejudgment interest rate
United States New Jersey tort prejudgment interest under the annual court schedule.
→ All New Jersey judgment & prejudgment interest rates
Published value Same rate as post-judgment
2026 New Jersey prejudgment interest at a glance
- Current rate
- 4.5% / 6.5% per year
- Effective date
- January 1, 2026
- Controlling authority
- N.J. Ct. R. 4:42-11(b)
- Rate basis
- Published value
- Source checked
- August 21, 2026
- Recorded history
- 40 data points
For 2026 tort actions under Rule 4:42-11(b), simple prejudgment interest uses 4.5% when the resulting judgment does not exceed the Special Civil Part monetary limit at entry and 6.5% when it exceeds that limit. The current limit is $20,000. These are whole-judgment categories, not marginal brackets.
When New Jersey prejudgment interest applies
Rule 4:42-11(b) generally directs the court to include simple prejudgment interest in tort actions, including products-liability actions. It excludes recovery for future economic losses. Contract and equitable prejudgment interest arise under different judicial principles and are not represented as an automatic tort-rule entitlement.
When it starts accruing
From the date of institution of the action, OR from a date 6 months after the date the cause of action arises, whichever is LATER (R. 4:42-11(b)). Court may suspend the running in exceptional cases.
Simple or compound
Simple.
How the rate is set
The tort schedule uses the post-judgment base rate: the New Jersey Cash Management Fund’s prior fiscal-year average return, rounded to the nearest whole or half percent and subject to the rule’s floor. A judgment exceeding the applicable Special Civil Part limit receives the two-point addition as a whole-judgment category.
→ Compare with the New Jersey post-judgment interest rate (interest after judgment)
For 2026 tort actions under Rule 4:42-11(b), the relevant simple-interest schedule is 4.5% for a judgment not exceeding the Special Civil Part monetary limit at entry and 6.5% for a judgment exceeding it. The current limit is $20,000. These are whole-judgment categories, not marginal brackets. Contract and equitable prejudgment interest follow separate judicial rules, and accrual exceptions can apply. Reference only; not legal advice.
Effective-date history
| Effective date | Rate | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| January 1, 2026 | 4.5% / 6.5% | Published |
| January 1, 2025 | 5.5% / 7.5% | Published |
| January 1, 2024 | 3.5% / 5.5% | Published |
| January 1, 2023 | 0.25% / 2.25% | Published |
| January 1, 2022 | 0.25% / 2.25% | Published |
| January 1, 2021 | 1.5% / 3.5% | Published |
| January 1, 2020 | 2.5% / 4.5% | Published |
| January 1, 2019 | 1.5% / 3.5% | Published |
| January 1, 2018 | 0.5% / 2.5% | Published |
| January 1, 2017 | 0.5% / 2.5% | Published |
| January 1, 2016 | 0.25% / 2.25% | Published |
| January 1, 2015 | 0.25% / 2.25% | Published |
| January 1, 2014 | 0.25% / 2.25% | Published |
| January 1, 2013 | 0.25% / 2.25% | Published |
| January 1, 2012 | 0.5% / 2.5% | Published |
| January 1, 2011 | 0.5% / 2.5% | Published |
| January 1, 2010 | 1.5% / 3.5% | Published |
| January 1, 2009 | 4% / 6% | Published |
| January 1, 2008 | 5.5% / 7.5% | Published |
| January 1, 2007 | 4% / 6% | Published |
| January 1, 2006 | 2% / 4% | Published |
| January 1, 2005 | 1% / 3% | Published |
| January 1, 2004 | 2% / 4% | Published |
| January 1, 2003 | 3% / 5% | Published |
| January 1, 2002 | 6% / 8% | Published |
| January 1, 2001 | 5.5% / 7.5% | Published |
| January 1, 2000 | 5% / 7% | Published |
| January 1, 1999 | 5.5% / 7.5% | Published |
| January 1, 1998 | 5.5% / 7.5% | Published |
| January 1, 1997 | 5.5% / 7.5% | Published |
| September 1, 1996 | 5.5% / 7.5% | Published |
| January 1, 1996 | 5.5% | Published |
| January 1, 1995 | 3.5% | Published |
| January 1, 1994 | 3.5% | Published |
| January 1, 1993 | 5.5% | Published |
| January 1, 1992 | 7.5% | Published |
| January 1, 1991 | 8.5% | Published |
| January 1, 1990 | 8% | Published |
| January 1, 1989 | 7% | Published |
| January 1, 1988 | 6% | Published |
Source & provenance
Observation recorded August 21, 2026 (00:00 UTC) from the cited source (New Jersey Courts (official)):
https://www.njcourts.gov/sites/default/files/courts/civil/postprejudgmentrates.pdf
Cite this page
StatuteRates. “New Jersey Prejudgment Interest Rate.” StatuteRates.com. Accessed today. https://statuterates.com/rates/new-jersey-prejudgment-rate/ Rate recorded under N.J. Ct. R. 4:42-11(b), effective January 1, 2026.