ETFs for Bogleheads

🇺🇸 Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) have become increasingly popular due to their low barrier to entry. Major brokerages such as Fidelity, Schwab and Vanguard offer access to all ETFs without fees or investment minimums, resulting in a wide variety of choices for investors. This article provides a comparison of core index ETFs for use in Boglehead-style investing.

When choosing between ETFs, the expense ratio (ER) is an important consideration. This page offers a condensed menu of low-expense-ratio ETFs that are commonly used as core holdings in the construction of passive — or "lazy" — portfolios. In each category, up to 3 low-cost, liquid ETFs have been selected for comparison from several fund companies.

By size

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! style="min-width:10em" | Category ! style="min-width:5em" |Ticker ! ETF name ! style="min-width:5em" | ER ! Index tracked ! style="min-width:5em" | No. of holdings ! rowspan="3" style="font-weight:normal" | Large-Cap
 * VOO || Vanguard S&P 500 ETF || 0.03% || S&P 500 || ~ 500
 * SCHX || Schwab U.S. Large-Cap ETF || 0.03% || Dow Jones US Large-Cap || ~ 800
 * ILCB || iShares Morningstar U.S. Equity ETF || 0.03% || Morningstar US Large-Mid Cap || ~ 800
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 * ILCB || iShares Morningstar U.S. Equity ETF || 0.03% || Morningstar US Large-Mid Cap || ~ 800
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! rowspan="1" style="font-weight:normal" | Extended Market
 * VXF || Vanguard Extended Market ETF || 0.06% || S&P Completion || ~ 3500
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! rowspan="3" style="font-weight:normal" | Mid-Cap
 * VO || Vanguard Mid-Cap ETF || 0.04% || CRSP US Mid Cap || ~ 400
 * SCHM || Schwab U.S. Mid-Cap ETF || 0.04%|| Dow Jones US Mid-Cap || ~ 500
 * IMCB || iShares Morningstar Mid-Cap ETF || 0.04% || Morningstar US Mid Cap || ~ 600
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 * IMCB || iShares Morningstar Mid-Cap ETF || 0.04% || Morningstar US Mid Cap || ~ 600
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! rowspan="3" style="font-weight:normal" | Small-Cap
 * SCHA || Schwab U.S. Small-Cap ETF || 0.04% || Dow Jones US Small-Cap || ~ 1900
 * ISCB || iShares Morningstar Small-Cap ETF || 0.04% || Morningstar US Small Cap || ~ 2000
 * VB || Vanguard Small-Cap ETF || 0.05% || CRSP US Small Cap || ~ 1500
 * }
 * VB || Vanguard Small-Cap ETF || 0.05% || CRSP US Small Cap || ~ 1500
 * }

By style

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! style="min-width:10em" | Category ! style="min-width:5em" |Ticker ! ETF name ! style="min-width:5em" | ER ! Index tracked ! style="min-width:5em" | No. of holdings ! rowspan="3" style="font-weight:normal" | Large-Cap Growth
 * VUG || Vanguard Growth ETF || 0.04% || CRSP US Large Cap Growth || ~ 300
 * IUSG || iShares Core S&P U.S. Growth ETF || 0.04% || S&P 900 Growth || ~ 500
 * SCHG || Schwab U.S. Large-Cap Growth ETF || 0.04% || Dow Jones US Large-Cap Growth || ~ 200
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 * SCHG || Schwab U.S. Large-Cap Growth ETF || 0.04% || Dow Jones US Large-Cap Growth || ~ 200
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! rowspan="3" style="font-weight:normal" | Large-Cap Value ! rowspan="3" style="font-weight:normal" | Small-Cap Growth ! rowspan="3" style="font-weight:normal" | Small-Cap Value
 * VTV || Vanguard Value ETF || 0.04% || CRSP US Large Cap Value || ~ 300
 * IUSV || iShares Core S&P U.S. Value ETF || 0.04% || S&P 900 Value || ~ 700
 * SCHV || Schwab U.S. Large-Cap Value ETF || 0.04% || Dow Jones US Large-Cap Value || ~ 500
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 * SCHV || Schwab U.S. Large-Cap Value ETF || 0.04% || Dow Jones US Large-Cap Value || ~ 500
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 * ISCG || iShares Morningstar Small-Cap Growth ETF || 0.06% || Morningstar US Small Cap Broad Growth || ~ 1300
 * VBK || Vanguard Small-Cap Growth ETF || 0.07% || CRSP US Small Cap Growth || ~ 700
 * SLYG || SPDR S&P 600 Small Cap Growth ETF || 0.15% || S&P Small Cap 600 Growth || ~ 300
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 * SLYG || SPDR S&P 600 Small Cap Growth ETF || 0.15% || S&P Small Cap 600 Growth || ~ 300
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 * ISCV || iShares Morningstar Small-Cap Value ETF || 0.06% || Morningstar US Small Cap Broad Value || ~ 1300
 * VBR || Vanguard Small-Cap Value ETF || 0.07% || CRSP US Small Cap Value || ~ 900
 * SLYV || SPDR S&P 600 Small Cap Value ETF || 0.15% || S&P Small Cap 600 Value || ~ 500
 * }
 * SLYV || SPDR S&P 600 Small Cap Value ETF || 0.15% || S&P Small Cap 600 Value || ~ 500
 * }
 * }

By size

 * {| class="wikitable" style="background:none; border:none; text-align:center"

! style="min-width:12em" | Category ! style="min-width:5em" |Ticker ! ETF name ! style="min-width:5em" | ER ! Index tracked ! style="min-width:5em" | No. of holdings ! rowspan="1" style="font-weight:normal" | International Large-Cap
 * VEU || Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US ETF || 0.08% || FTSE All-World ex-US || ~ 3500
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! rowspan="1" style="font-weight:normal" | International Small-Cap
 * VSS || Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US Small-Cap ETF || 0.11% || FTSE All-World ex-US Small Cap || ~ 4100
 * }

By style

 * {| class="wikitable" style="background:none; border:none; text-align:center"

! style="min-width:12em" | Category ! style="min-width:5em" |Ticker ! ETF name ! style="min-width:5em" | ER ! Index tracked ! style="min-width:5em" | No. of holdings ! rowspan="3" style="font-weight:normal" | Developed Markets
 * SPDW || SPDR Portfolio Developed World ex-US ETF || 0.04% || S&P Developed Ex-U.S. BMI || ~ 2300
 * VEA || Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF || 0.05% || FTSE Developed All Cap ex US || ~ 4000
 * IDEV || iShares Core MSCI International Developed Markets ETF || 0.05% || MSCI World ex USA IMI || ~ 2200
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 * IDEV || iShares Core MSCI International Developed Markets ETF || 0.05% || MSCI World ex USA IMI || ~ 2200
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! rowspan="3" style="font-weight:normal" | Emerging Markets
 * VWO || Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF || 0.10% || FTSE Emerging Markets All Cap China A Inclusion || ~ 5200
 * SPEM || SPDR Portfolio Emerging Markets ETF || 0.11% || S&P Emerging Markets BMI || ~ 2600
 * IEMG || iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF || 0.11% || MSCI Emerging Markets IMI || ~ 2600
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 * IEMG || iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF || 0.11% || MSCI Emerging Markets IMI || ~ 2600
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! rowspan="1" style="font-weight:normal" | Developed Large-Cap
 * SCHF || Schwab International Equity ETF || 0.06% || FTSE Developed ex US || ~ 1500
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! rowspan="1" style="font-weight:normal" | Developed Small-Cap
 * SCHC || Schwab International Small-Cap Equity ETF || 0.11% || FTSE Developed Small Cap ex U.S. Liquid || ~ 2300
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! rowspan="1" style="font-weight:normal" | Emerging Large-Cap
 * SCHE || Schwab Emerging Markets Equity ETF || 0.11% || FTSE Emerging || ~ 1600
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! rowspan="1" style="font-weight:normal" | Emerging Small-Cap
 * }
 * }

Government

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! style="min-width:10em" |Category ! style="min-width:5em" |Ticker ! ETF name ! style="min-width:5em" | ER ! Index tracked ! Duration ! rowspan="3" style="font-weight:normal" | Short-Term Treasury
 * VGSH || Vanguard Short-Term Treasury ETF || 0.05% || rowspan=3 | Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Treasury 1-3 Year Bond || rowspan=3 | 2 yr
 * SCHO || Schwab Short-Term U.S. Treasury ETF || 0.05%
 * SPTS || SPDR Portfolio Short Term Treasury ETF || 0.06%
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 * SPTS || SPDR Portfolio Short Term Treasury ETF || 0.06%
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! rowspan="3" style="font-weight:normal" | Intermediate Treasury
 * VGIT || Vanguard Intermediate-Term Treasury ETF || 0.05% || rowspan=2 | Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Treasury 3-10 Year Bond || rowspan=2 | 5 yr
 * SCHR || Schwab Intermediate-Term U.S. Treasury ETF || 0.05%
 * GOVT || iShares U.S. Treasury Bond ETF || 0.05% || ICE U.S. Treasury Core Bond || 7 yr
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 * GOVT || iShares U.S. Treasury Bond ETF || 0.05% || ICE U.S. Treasury Core Bond || 7 yr
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! rowspan="3" style="font-weight:normal" | Long-Term Treasury
 * VGLT || Vanguard Long-Term Treasury ETF || 0.05% || rowspan=3 | Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Long Treasury Bond || rowspan=2 | 18 yr
 * SCHQ || Schwab Long-Term U.S. Treasury ETF || 0.05%
 * SPTL || SPDR Portfolio Long Term Treasury ETF || 0.06% || 19 yr
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 * SPTL || SPDR Portfolio Long Term Treasury ETF || 0.06% || 19 yr
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! rowspan="3" style="font-weight:normal" | Extended Duration Treasury
 * EDV || Vanguard Extended Duration Treasury ETF || 0.07% || Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Treasury STRIPS 20-30 Year || 25 yr
 * GOVZ || iShares 25+ Year Treasury STRIPS Bond ETF || 0.07% || rowspan=2 | ICE BofA Long US Treasury Principal STRIPS || rowspan=2 | 27 yr
 * ZROZ || PIMCO 25+ Year Zero Coupon U.S. Treasury Index ETF || 0.15%
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 * ZROZ || PIMCO 25+ Year Zero Coupon U.S. Treasury Index ETF || 0.15%
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! rowspan="3" style="font-weight:normal" | Short-Term TIPS
 * VTIP || Vanguard Short-Term Inflation-Protected Securities ETF || 0.05% || rowspan=2 | Bloomberg Barclays US Treasury TIPS (0-5 Y) || rowspan=2 | 3 yr
 * STIP || iShares 0-5 Year TIPS Bond || 0.05%
 * PBTP || Invesco PureBeta 0-5 Yr US TIPS ETF || 0.07% || ICE BofA ML 0-5 Year US Inflation-Linked Treasury || 2 yr
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 * PBTP || Invesco PureBeta 0-5 Yr US TIPS ETF || 0.07% || ICE BofA ML 0-5 Year US Inflation-Linked Treasury || 2 yr
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! rowspan="3" style="font-weight:normal" | Intermediate TIPS
 * SCHP || Schwab U.S. TIPS ETF ||0.05% || Bloomberg Barclays US Treasury Inflation Protected Notes || 7 yr
 * SPIP || SPDR Portfolio TIPS ETF || 0.12% || Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Government Inflation-Linked Bond || 8 yr
 * TIP || iShares TIPS Bond ETF || 0.19% || Bloomberg Barclays US Treasury Inflation Protected Notes || 7 yr
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 * TIP || iShares TIPS Bond ETF || 0.19% || Bloomberg Barclays US Treasury Inflation Protected Notes || 7 yr
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! rowspan=1 style="font-weight:normal" | Long-Term TIPS
 * LTPZ || PIMCO 15+ Year U.S. TIPS Index ETF || 0.20% || ICE BofA ML 15+ Year US Inflation-Linked Treasury || 21 yr
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 * }
 * }

Investment-grade

 * {| class="wikitable" style="background:none; border:none; text-align:center"

! style="min-width:9em" |Category ! style="min-width:5em" |Ticker ! ETF name ! style="min-width:5em" | ER ! Index tracked ! Duration ! rowspan="2" style="font-weight:normal" | Short-Term Aggregate
 * BSV || Vanguard Short-Term Bond ETF || 0.05% || Bloomberg Barclays U.S. 1-5 Year Government/Credit Float Adjusted || rowspan=2 | 3 yr
 * ISTB || iShares Core 1-5 Year USD Bond ETF || 0.06% || Bloomberg Barclays US Universal 1-5 Year
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! rowspan="2" style="font-weight:normal" | Intermediate Aggregate
 * BIV || Vanguard Intermediate-Term Bond ETF || 0.05%|| Bloomberg Barclays U.S. 5-10 Year Government/Credit Float Adjusted || 7 yr
 * IMTB || iShares Core 5-10 Year USD Bond ETF || 0.06% || Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Universal 5-10 Year || 6 yr
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! rowspan="2" style="font-weight:normal" | Long-Term Aggregate
 * BLV || Vanguard Long-Term Bond ETF || 0.05% || Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Long Government/Credit Float Adjusted || rowspan=2 | 16 yr
 * ILTB || iShares Core 10+ Year USD Bond ETF || 0.06% || Bloomberg Barclays US Universal 10+ Year
 * }
 * }