30-Year Fixed Mortgage Rate
Are rates high, low, or somewhere in between? Here's the full picture.
A year ago, you would have gotten 6.59%. Today it's 6.29%. Five years ago, the going rate was 3.20%, and today's 6.29% is close to the 6.68% long-term average.
Current Rate
6.29%
Mar 12 '26
All-Time High
18.22%
Sep 11 '81
All-Time Low
2.78%
Dec 30 '20
vs Year Ago
-0.30%
Last updated March 13, 2026
About This Data
The 30-year fixed rate is the benchmark most homebuyers look at. It's the single biggest factor in what your monthly payment will be, how much house you can afford, and whether refinancing makes sense for you.
This chart pulls daily rate data from trusted industry sources. The historical record goes back to 1971, when Freddie Mac started its Primary Mortgage Market Survey.
Rates peaked above 18% in October 1981 when the Federal Reserve was fighting double-digit inflation. They hit record lows below 3% in late 2020 when the Fed held rates near zero during the pandemic. If you're shopping today, your rate lands somewhere in between, shaped by inflation expectations, Fed policy, and the 10-year Treasury yield.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the historical average 30-year mortgage rate?
Since 1971, the 30-year fixed rate has averaged around 7.7%. That number is skewed by the sky-high rates of the early 1980s, though. If you look at just the past 20 years, the average is closer to 5%.
What was the highest mortgage rate in history?
The 30-year fixed rate peaked above 18% in October 1981. The Federal Reserve was aggressively raising rates to get double-digit inflation under control, and mortgage rates got caught in the crossfire.
What was the lowest mortgage rate ever recorded?
Rates hit a record low near 2.8% in late 2020, when the Fed held rates near zero and bought mortgage-backed securities to prop up the economy during the pandemic. If you locked in a rate around then, you got a historically great deal.
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