VTBNX vs VTILX
Vanguard Total Bond Market II Index Fund Institutional Shares vs Vanguard Total International Bond II Index Fund Class Institutional
Which is better, VTBNX or VTILX?
VTBNX costs less.
VTBNX has a lower expense ratio.
MarketXLS is not an investment adviser. This comparison is generated automatically from market data and is for information only. A Best mark means the better reading on that one measure, not a recommendation to buy.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Metric | VTBNX | VTILX |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.02%Best | 0.07% |
| AUM | $207.3B | $141.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 3.80% | 4.23% |
| Holdings | 14,920 | 7,415 |
| YTD Price Return | -3.95% | -2.69% |
| 1Y Price Return | -4.74% | -4.85% |
| 3Y Price Return (annualized) | +0.00% | -0.85% |
| 5Y Price Return (annualized) | -3.89% | -3.12% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 6.3% | 6.0%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -20.8% | -15.3%Best |
| Fund Family | Vanguard (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Fixed Income | Fixed Income |
| Style | Long Term High Quality | - |
| Inception | Feb 17, 2009 | Feb 17, 2021 |
Not shown on this pair: $10,000 over 5 years, Top 10 Weight.
A price return is not the return of a fund that pays its income out. The coupon or distribution never appears in the price, so the return rows carry no winner here. VTBNX currently yields 3.80% and VTILX 4.23%.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 25, 2021 to Sep 11, 2026 (4.9 years).
VTBNX vs VTILX Performance
Vanguard Total Bond Market II Index Fund Institutional Shares (VTBNX) is a mutual fund from Vanguard (US) and Vanguard Total International Bond II Index Fund Class Institutional (VTILX) is a mutual fund from Vanguard (US). Over the past year VTBNX's price moved -4.74% and VTILX's -4.85%, before the income each one paid out.
Over three years, VTBNX compounded at +0.00% per year against -0.85% for VTILX; over five years the annualized figures are -3.89% and -3.12% respectively.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VTBNX has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 6.3% compared with 6.0% for VTILX. Lower volatility generally means a smoother ride, though it often comes with lower long-run returns.
The deepest peak-to-trough decline in our data was -20.8% for VTBNX and -15.3% for VTILX. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.82. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
VTBNX charges 0.02% per year while VTILX charges 0.07%. On a $10,000 position that is $2 vs $7 annually, a gap of $5 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, VTBNX currently yields 3.80% against 4.23% for VTILX.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 12,623 holdings in VTBNX and 1,459 in VTILX, totalling 61.9% and 7.1% of the two funds. Neither is a share of a fund we can divide by, so no overlap percentage is shown here. Within what we can see, 9 positions appear in both.
The two holdings books were reported 242 days apart, VTBNX as of Jun 30, 2026 and VTILX as of Oct 31, 2025, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
9 positions in common, counted across the 12,623 positions we hold weights for in VTBNX and 1,459 in VTILX, against full books of 14,920 and 7,415.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in VTBNX | Weight in VTILX | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| RY 5 05/02/33 GMTNRoyal Bank Of Canada 5 05/02/2033 | 0.00% | 0.02% | 0.02% |
| SEK 4.125 06/14/28Swedish Exp Cred 4.125 06/14/2028 | 0.00% | 0.01% | 0.01% |
| MUFG V5.406 04/19/34Mitsub Ufj Fin 5.406 04/19/2034 | 0.01% | 0.00% | 0.01% |
| ISRAEL 4.125 01/17/4State of Israel | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| AMT 3.55 07/15/27American Tower, 3.55% 15jul2027, USD | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| TOYOTA 3.669 07/20/2Toyota Motor Corp | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| WSTP 2.15 06/03/31Westpac Banking | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| IFC 0.75 08/27/30Intl Fin Corp | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| EIBKOR 1.25 09/21/30Exp-imp Bk Korea | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of VTBNX and VTILX you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, VTBNX or VTILX?
VTBNX has an expense ratio of 0.02% while VTILX charges 0.07%. VTBNX is the cheaper option, by $5 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which is riskier, VTBNX or VTILX?
VTBNX has been the more volatile fund at 6.3% annualized versus 6.0% for VTILX. Worst drawdown: VTBNX -20.8% vs VTILX -15.3%.
Should I hold both VTBNX and VTILX?
VTBNX and VTILX have a monthly-return correlation of 0.82, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, VTBNX or VTILX?
VTBNX yields 3.80% while VTILX yields 4.23%, so VTILX currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTILX better than VTBNX?
VTBNX has a lower expense ratio. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.