2026 New Jersey judgment & prejudgment interest rates
Current 2026 snapshot: New Jersey post-judgment interest is 4.5% / 6.5% per year; the recorded prejudgment reference is 4.5% / 6.5% per year.
Everything New Jersey charges in interest on a money judgment or an overdue debt, in one place — the rate after judgment and the rate before it, each recorded with a cited source and linked to its full page with observations, scope, and known carve-outs.
| Metric | Rate or rule | Effective | Authority | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Post-judgment interest | 4.5% / 6.5% | January 1, 2026 | N.J. Court Rule R. 4:42-11 | Published reference |
| Prejudgment interest | 4.5% / 6.5% | January 1, 2026 | N.J. Ct. R. 4:42-11(b) | Same rate as post-judgment |
Post-judgment interest
New Jersey's post-judgment interest rate is 4.5% / 6.5% per year. For calendar year 2026, New Jersey Rule 4:42-11 sets simple interest at 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—and the annual schedule can change while a judgment remains unpaid. Contracts, court orders, public entities, and specialized statutes can require different treatment.
→ Full New Jersey post-judgment page — N.J. Court Rule R. 4:42-11, effective-date history, scope, and official source.
Prejudgment interest
New Jersey's prejudgment interest rate is 4.5% / 6.5% per year (same rate as post-judgment). 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.
→ Full New Jersey prejudgment page — N.J. Ct. R. 4:42-11(b), when it applies, accrual, compounding, and carve-outs.
Frequently asked
What is the post-judgment interest rate in New Jersey?
As of January 1, 2026, the New Jersey post-judgment interest rate is 4.5% / 6.5% per year. New Jersey’s two-tier judgment rate, set yearly by the courts.
What is the prejudgment interest rate in New Jersey?
New Jersey's prejudgment interest rate is 4.5% / 6.5% per year (same rate as post-judgment). Rule 4:42-11(b) generally directs simple prejudgment interest in tort actions, but future economic losses, exceptional-case suspension, contract claims, equitable claims, and specialized law require separate treatment.
Is New Jersey judgment interest simple or compound, and when does it start?
Rule 4:42-11 specifies simple interest. The general rule includes judgments, awards, orders, taxed costs, and attorney fees, subject to contract, equitable, public-entity, and specialized statutory treatment. Partial-payment and exact day-count mechanics remain outside the calculator. Postjudgment interest presumptively begins when the judgment is entered. The applicable schedule changes by calendar year rather than locking permanently at entry, but another law, enforceable contract treatment, equitable ruling, or court order can alter the result.
Cite this page
StatuteRates. “New Jersey Judgment & Prejudgment Interest Rates.” StatuteRates.com. Accessed today. https://statuterates.com/states/new-jersey/ Each rate includes a cited source and recorded effective date; confirm the controlling authority before use.
Compare every state on the state interest-rate index and the prejudgment interest index, or enter a confirmed rate in the judgment interest and per-diem calculator. Reference data only — not legal advice.