Short answer: the average annual return from bonds depends on the bond mix and time horizon, but a rough, commonly cited range is about 3%–5% per year for broad, investment-grade bond portfolios over long horizons, with shorter-term results more volatile and occasional periods of higher or lower returns. Context and caveats

• Bond returns come from two main sources: income (the yield you receive) and capital gains or losses from price changes as interest rates move. The net effect over time is driven by prevailing interest rates, credit quality, and duration of the bond portfolio.

• A pure, broad U.S. bond portfolio (e.g., aggregate bonds) has historically delivered lower average annual returns than stocks, typically in the low-to-mid single digits over long horizons, with recent years sometimes posting lower or negative results due to rising rates.

• Uses of bond investments (e.g., government vs. corporate vs. municipal, and the inclusion of high-yield or international bonds) change the expected range. For example, Treasury-only allocations may yield roughly 3%–4% on average over long spans, while corporate bonds have historically offered higher yields but with more risk.

What to consider for planning

• Time horizon: Longer horizons tend to smooth out rate cycles, but short horizons can experience meaningful fluctuations. Your expected time frame strongly influences what an “average” return means in practice.

• Risk tolerance and duration: Higher-duration (more sensitive to interest-rate movements) bonds tend to have higher potential returns but more volatility; shorter-duration bonds reduce interest-rate risk but may yield less on average.

• Bond type mix: A blend of Treasuries, investment-grade corporates, municipal bonds, and possibly some high-yield or international exposure will shift the long-run average and the volatility profile. Diversification across bond sectors is common to balance yield and risk.

If you’d like, I can tailor an estimate for a specific 10-dollar investment plan (e.g., 10 in bonds as you asked) using a defined bond mix and horizon, and show a simple expected annual return range along with potential volatility.