- As of Nov 4, 2026, the median bond ETF has a duration of 4.3 years across 791 funds, and 35 have a duration of ten years or more.
In plain words
Duration measures how sensitive a bond fund is to interest rates. A fund with a duration of 4 years falls roughly 4% if rates rise 1 point, and rises roughly 4% if they fall 1 point. It is a rule of thumb, not a promise.
ETFIQ computes it from each N-PORT, with a second method as a check. The median across 791 bond funds is 4.3 years: 137 under one year, 619 from one to ten and 35 ten or more. Credit quality matters too. ETFIQ also divides yield by duration for a rate cushion: how far rates can rise before a year of income is gone.
Questions
- What does a duration of 5 years mean?
About a 5% fall in price if rates rise 1 point, and the reverse if they fall.
- Is a longer duration riskier?
It is more sensitive to rates, in both directions.
- What is a rate cushion?
Yield divided by duration: how far rates can rise before the year’s income is gone.