Highest & lowest judgment interest rates by state (2026)

Interest on a money judgment ranges from low single digits to 12% a year depending on the state. Here are the extremes for 2026 — both after judgment and before it — based on machine-usable current observations. States with unverified values or multiple rates by claim type, judgment size, or debtor type are excluded because ranking a historical or partial branch number would be misleading.

What the rankings tell you

• Fixed vs. market-linked. The highest rates (12%) are almost all fixed by statute and haven't moved in years; the lowest tend to be market-linked formulas that rise and fall with Treasury yields or the prime rate. A low-ranked state today can climb as rates rise.
• Prejudgment is a different number. Many states set a different rate for the period before judgment — and often a separate rate again for tort/personal-injury claims. See the prejudgment index for the claim-type rules.
• Simple vs. compound matters more than the headline. Most states apply simple interest; a few compound annually, which over several years can outweigh a higher simple rate. Each state page notes which applies.

See the full state-by-state comparison, run the calculators, or read how each rate is sourced in the methodology. Reference data as of October 8, 2026 — not legal advice; confirm the controlling rate for your judgment date against the statute.