Loan Calculator know the whole cost
The monthly payment is the easy part. The interest over the term, and what a small extra payment does to it, is what this page is for.
- check_circleAny amount, rate and term
- check_circleExtra monthly payment, calculated to the last payment
- check_circleFirst twelve rows of the schedule
The Loan Calculator works out the monthly payment, the total interest and the full repayment schedule of a loan, and shows how much an extra payment each month shortens the term. For 10,000 at 6% over five years the monthly payment is about 193.33.
The same loan, different rates
A sample of 15,000 over five years. Two percentage points look harmless in an advert and cost real money in the schedule.
| Rate | Monthly payment | Interest over 5 years | Total repaid |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.9% | $282 | $1,934 | $16,934 |
| 6.9% | $296 | $2,770 | $17,770 |
| 8.9% | $310 | $3,627 | $18,627 |
| 10.9% | $325 | $4,505 | $19,505 |
| 12.9% | $340 | $5,403 | $20,403 |
Three ways to pay less interest
Pay a little extra
Extra money goes straight to the principal. Even $50 a month can cut a year off a five-year loan.
Shorten the term
A shorter term raises the payment but drops the rate and the total interest. Compare both before signing.
Refinance later
If rates fall or your credit improves, ask what the remaining balance would cost at the new rate — including fees.
How is the monthly payment calculated?expand_more
Does an extra payment really help?expand_more
Why does the first year pay so little principal?expand_more
What is amortisation?expand_more
Are fees included?expand_more
How To Read a Loan Before You Sign It
A loan is a price for time. The only three things that matter are how much you borrow, what the time costs, and how long you take.
Ask for the APR in writing
The interest rate is the rent on the money. The APR adds the fees, so it is the number you can compare between two offers. If a lender will not put the APR in writing, that is an answer too.
Find out what early repayment costs
Some contracts charge a penalty for paying early, or make you pay the interest you would have paid anyway. Ask specifically about prepayment, and get it confirmed in the contract.
Do not borrow into a monthly budget you have not tested
Take the payment the calculator shows you and live with it for a month before signing: move that amount into savings and see whether the rest of the month still works.
The cheapest debt first
When you have several loans, paying the highest rate first saves the most money. The smallest balance first costs a little more but finishes faster, which is why some people stay with it — the motivation is part of the maths. For a house, use the mortgage calculator, which also accounts for tax and insurance.
Keep calculating
fact_checkQuick facts
- A 6% annual rate over five years is 0.5% per month, and the payment comes from the amortisation formula, which divides the rate by twelve before it is applied.
- An extra payment each month goes to the principal, so it shortens the term more than it lowers the monthly payment.
- The SI defines the kilo as exactly 1000 and the centi as exactly one hundredth, which is why conversions are exact, not approximate.menu_bookBIPM
- Since 2019 the kilogram is defined by a fixed value of the Planck constant, not by a metal cylinder in Paris.menu_bookBIPM
helpQuestions people ask
How is a loan payment calculated?expand_more
Does paying extra each month save money?expand_more
What is the difference between APR and the interest rate?expand_more
hubWhat this page is about
- SI unitsopen_in_new
The International System of Units maintained by the BIPM, with the metre, kilogram, second and their prefixes defined exactly.
library_booksOfficial sources cited on this page
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