Pennsylvania prejudgment interest rate
United States Pennsylvania’s prejudgment interest rate — when a court awards it.
→ All Pennsylvania judgment & prejudgment interest rates
Fixed by statute Fixed by statute
2026 Pennsylvania prejudgment interest at a glance
- Current rate
- 6% per year
- Effective date
- July 9, 2026
- Controlling authority
- 41 P.S. §202 (6% contract); 231 Pa. Code Rule 238 (tort delay damages, prime+1%)
- Rate basis
- Fixed by statute
- Source checked
- July 9, 2026
- Recorded history
- 1 data point
Pennsylvania prejudgment interest is 6% per year, as simple interest under 41 P.S. Sec. 202. Highly claim-type dependent.
When Pennsylvania prejudgment interest applies
Highly claim-type dependent. CONTRACT: prejudgment interest is awarded AS OF RIGHT only when damages are liquidated/ascertainable (e.g., a sum certain / definite invoice amount due at breach) at 6% under 41 P.S. Sec. 202; for unliquidated contract damages the award of prejudgment interest is DISCRETIONARY with the trial court (Pa. courts, Restatement (Second) of Contracts Sec. 354).
When it starts accruing
CONTRACT (liquidated): from the date payment was due / the money became owed (e.g., invoice due date or date of breach). TORT (Rule 238): from a date ONE YEAR after the date original process was first served in the action, up to the date of the award, verdict, or decision.
Simple or compound
Simple (not compounded) under both regimes; Rule 238 expressly states "not compounded," and the 41 P.S. Sec. 202 legal rate is applied as simple interest.
→ Compare with the Pennsylvania post-judgment interest rate (interest after judgment)
Pennsylvania prejudgment interest is 6% simple, as of right, on contract and other liquidated claims (41 P.S. §202). In tort actions for bodily injury, death, or property damage, the operative figure is instead Pa.R.C.P. 238 'delay damages' — the prime rate (first Wall Street Journal edition each January) + 1%, simple, not compounded (231 Pa. Code Rule 238), a variable rate. Verified 2026-07-11. Not legal advice.
Current recorded observation
| Effective date | Rate | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| July 9, 2026 | 6% | Statute |
Source & provenance
Observation recorded July 9, 2026 (00:00 UTC) from the cited source (Pennsylvania — pacodeandbulletin.gov):
https://www.pacodeandbulletin.gov/secure/pacode/data/231/chapter200/s238.html
Cite this page
StatuteRates. “Pennsylvania Prejudgment Interest Rate.” StatuteRates.com. Accessed today. https://statuterates.com/rates/pennsylvania-prejudgment-rate/ Rate recorded under 41 P.S. §202 (6% contract); 231 Pa. Code Rule 238 (tort delay damages, prime+1%), effective July 9, 2026.