2026 Pennsylvania judgment & prejudgment interest rates
Current 2026 snapshot: Pennsylvania post-judgment interest is 6% per year; the recorded prejudgment reference is 6% per year.
Everything Pennsylvania 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 | 6% | July 9, 2026 | 42 Pa.C.S. §8101 / 41 P.S. §202 | Fixed by statute |
| Prejudgment interest | 6% | July 9, 2026 | 41 P.S. §202 (6% contract); 231 Pa. Code Rule 238 (tort delay damages, prime+1%) | Fixed by statute |
Post-judgment interest
Pennsylvania's post-judgment interest rate is 6% per year. Pennsylvania judgments carry interest at the state’s legal rate of 6% per year — 42 Pa.C.S. §8101 sets judgment interest at "the lawful rate," which 41 P.S. §202 fixes at 6%. It’s simple interest and has been 6% for decades. A judgment on a loan or contract can carry a higher lawful contract rate where the documents set one.
→ Full Pennsylvania post-judgment page — 42 Pa.C.S. §8101 / 41 P.S. §202, effective-date history, scope, and official source.
Prejudgment interest
Pennsylvania's prejudgment interest rate is 6% per year (fixed by statute). Pennsylvania prejudgment interest is 6% per year, as simple interest under 41 P.S. Sec. 202. Highly claim-type dependent.
→ Full Pennsylvania prejudgment page — 41 P.S. §202 (6% contract); 231 Pa. Code Rule 238 (tort delay damages, prime+1%), when it applies, accrual, compounding, and carve-outs.
Frequently asked
What is the post-judgment interest rate in Pennsylvania?
As of July 9, 2026, the Pennsylvania post-judgment interest rate is 6% per year. Pennsylvania’s flat 6% legal judgment rate.
What is the prejudgment interest rate in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania's prejudgment interest rate is 6% per year (fixed by statute). Highly claim-type dependent.
Is Pennsylvania judgment interest simple or compound, and when does it start?
The general statutory reference is treated as simple interest. StatuteRates keeps a general Pennsylvania calculator disabled until every day-count, payment-allocation, contract-rate, and judgment-type branch is verified. Section 8101 runs interest from the date of the verdict or award, or from the date of the judgment if it is not entered on a verdict or award, until satisfaction.
Cite this page
StatuteRates. “Pennsylvania Judgment & Prejudgment Interest Rates.” StatuteRates.com. Accessed today. https://statuterates.com/states/pennsylvania/ 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.