HP 10bII Financial Calculator

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this calculator in action

The HP 10BII business calculator has an algebraic entry system and a logical and intuitive keyboard layout with easy-to-read labels. The LCD screen features up to 12 characters on one line of text. Small and sturdy, this calculator is easy to slip into your backpack or briefcase and bring to class or your workplace.

HP offers a one-year warranty on the 10BII.

What's in the Box
Calculator, user's manual, installed batteries, and carrying case

Product Description
The HP 10BII Financial Calculator performs adroit number crunching stunts, in every arena from the high wire of business to the halls of higher learning to the home check-balancing act. Over 100 time saving, easily accessed business functions cover virtually any situation calling for calculation. Quickly calculate loan payments, interest rates, amortization, discounted cash flow analysis, interest rate conversions, standard deviation, percent, % change, mark-up as a percent of cost price, margin as % of price, and forecasting based on linear regression--to name only a few! Uses 2 CR2032 batteries (included) Size - 5.6L x 3.07W x 0.53D

I have used (and own) many of the available financial calculators on the market. I "recommend" the HP-10B to my university finance students, both graduate and undergraduate.

The HP 10B-II is a directly positioned competitor to the TI-BA-II+, but HP's entry is superior. The keys feel more solid, the machine itself "seems" better made. Having worn out more than one of each, my experience has been that the HP has more staying power. And, the TI-BA-II+ often requires more keystrokes to accomplish the same tasks (i.e., NPV calculations). ...

The HP 10BII has a well written manual, including examples on using the function. HP has the manual available on-line on their website for the inevitable time that the user needs it and has lost the original.

While there are cheaper financial calculators, it seems that this particular level is the minimum I would recommend to professionals or students. Less expensive versions, while saving a few dollars, miss important features. As a general rule of thumb, if the calculator can perform the "IRR" function, as this can, it will be able to handle pretty much any calculation into which the finance student, professonal, or banker will run. Lesser machines do not have this function.

Ironically, even larger fancier calculators, such as the venerable HP-12C, are in my estimation inferior as well. The 12C uses RPN logic which, while saving even more keystrokes, is simply foreign to most students. More importantly, some functions, such as the Time Value of Money functions, on the 12C require interpretation. On the 12C, for example, solving for the number of periods in an annuity, the value gets rounded UP to the next integer.

Strongly recommended as the best value in inexpensive financial calculators.


HP 10BII may dethrone the HP12C   July 26, 2001
James R. Moon (St. Petersburg, FL USA)
80 out of 83 found this review helpful

The workhorse "real world" financial calculator is the HP12C. For more sophistication the HP17BII is hard to beat. However since HP didn't discontinue the HP12C, it stands to reason that consumers want the features of the simpler HP12C. The new HP10BII may well surpass the HP12C. It is powerful, easy to use and relatively inexpensive. It has a great look and feel. Many consumers will prefer the traditional algebraic entry that the HP10BII offers (it is NOT an RPN machine). Although I am an RPN fan, it is not a popular calculator option and HP appears to be making fewer new RPN models. The display is easy to read, the calculator feels good to hold and the key arrangement completes a great package. The manual is very well done with a lot of "real world" financial examples.


Adequate, even good, but certainly not the best ever.   October 22, 2002
29 out of 30 found this review helpful

To be certain, this is a good calculator, and it is a decent value at this price, but not even HP would say it's the best ever.

I'd much rather be purchasing the HP 17BII - with it's expanded functions, but this will certainly do 95% or more of the financial functions I need it to do. The 17BII has some added features which admittedly are not requirements (Date, Time, Appointment) but I do strongly prefer the menu options on the 17BII and the programming function.

To address a couple concerns mentioned here:

1. Yes, the calculator will round .275 to .28 -- if you have it set to display only two digits right of the decimal. That's what it should do. You can, however, easily set the display to three digits or whatever degree of significant digits you wish.

2. I have checked interest rate calculations and all I ahve done work out fine. Perhaps the problem mentioned here has been addressed.

The 12C is a better, more capable calculator. But the 12C also requires one to learn RPN. Many people prefer not to use RPN. On the 10BII you can set it to work with "standard" data entry or RPN -- your choice.

The 19BII is also a better calculator, but it's large with a fold-out keypad (it opens like a book, standard looking calculator on the right, alphabetical keys on the left). It was also more expensive - close to $150 many years ago when I got one. Again, this is far more than people really need, which is probably why you can't find it on the HP website any longer.

Unfortunately, I can't find the 17BII on the HP website either. It appears that both the HP 17BII and the 19BII have been discontinued. I really found the 17BII to be the best in function and price combination.

As for quality, I think the reviews here are right. My old HPs are still going strong, but one 17BII I bought a year ago seemed light and less sturdy. Sure enough, it died recently, which is why I conducted a search for a replacement. (There are some refurbished ones availableso, but even that great calculator isn't worth that price.

So I've reluctantly purchased the 10BII. It feels light and cheap, but we'll see how it holds up. It uses two wafer-thin 1025 batteries v. three button batteries of the 17BII, so I'll change more frequently.

In summary, this is a strong, capable calculator, and probably one of your best bets at this point. It will almost certainly perform what you need it to do. Read the very user friendly instruction guide if in doubt. However, there are better options out there that can do even more if you're willing to learn a more complicated system (12C) or are fortunate enough to find the 17BII and pay the higher price.

Good luck.


A compromise only   May 25, 2002
Christina Borsum (San Francisco, CA USA)
16 out of 17 found this review helpful

This calculator is now the most popular among Undergraduate Business Programs. And it is somewhat sufficient to solve textbook problems in introduction to accounting and finance. Functions can be easily explained to those classes. However, once you get into the real finance and investments your professor will want you to purchase the HP 12C instead. That one will be able to solve the more advanced and complex problems and all that more accurately. Once you move on to grad school there is no other option but the HP 12C - or an equivalent calculator by another manufacturer. And you will need that more advanced one at work, too - for all entry level analyst positions in finance and accounting. Unless you have already decided that the pre-requisites in finance and accounting will be the only time when you need a financial calculator, there is really no use to get accustomed to the HP 10B. You might as well purchase the more advanced calculator immediately (and save some money) although it is a little more difficult to use.


Poor execution of a good idea.   December 23, 2004
Barthbill (lowse ahnhaylayse)
15 out of 20 found this review helpful

Typical Chinese clumsiness and low quality. The on off button is too easily bumped to on, and the little sack they call a case is so tight it activates the on button.

I cannot carry it in my pocket or briefcase without turning it on and depleting the batteries, so it sits in or on my desk. I leave it out, and no one will even steal it. Both of the two I have had were intermittant. The first one had the display die, but it was replaced under warranty. Wish they had given me a TI BA II+ instead. Wish I had bought one instead.

What a tragedy that a fine company like HP used to be is now peddling such junk.