Vanguard bond funds allow investors to diversify their portfolios without breaking the bank, with expense ratios as low as 0.03%, or $3 in fees annually for a $10,000 investment.

Discover 7 top Vanguard bond funds for 2024, offering easy access, transparent metrics, and monthly income for a balanced investment portfolio.

Vanguard's Total Bond Market ETF (BND) stands out with a low 0.03% expense ratio, offering broad exposure to diverse U.S. bonds and an average yield-to-maturity of 5%.

Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF

The ETF currently has a 7.2-year duration, a 5.3% yield to maturity, and an expense ratio of 0.07%.

Vanguard Total International Bond ETF

VGLT, with a 15.2-year duration and 4.7% yield, is an ideal choice for hedging against recessions and benefiting from rate cuts.

Vanguard Long-Term Treasury ETF

Vanguard Short-Term Corporate Bond ETF

VCSH offers a balance of higher 5.5% yield with low interest rate risk, ideal for income-focused investors, in a compact 2.6-year duration package.

VWAHX has a $3,000 minimum investment requirement and an expense ratio of 0.17%.

Vanguard High-Yield Tax-Exempt Fund Investor Share

Vanguard Core-Plus Bond Fund Investor Share

VCPIX excels with a dual strategy, blending stable U.S. investment-grade bonds and up to 35% high-yield bonds for diverse, enhanced returns.

Vanguard Core-Plus Bond ETF

With an expense ratio of 0.2% and an investment minimum of $3,000, VPLS is far more accessible and cheap than VCPIX, which has an expense ratio of 0.3% and starts at around $77 per share.