Loan Calculator

What is a Loan Calculator?

A loan calculator tells you what a loan will actually cost you each month. You enter the amount you're borrowing, the interest rate, and how long you want to take. In return, you get your monthly payment, the total interest you'll hand over, and a month-by-month breakdown of where your money goes.

The maths doesn't change whether you're looking at a mortgage, a car loan, a personal loan, or a student loan. Every fixed-rate loan uses the same formula. What changes is the numbers you plug in and the currency you're working with. That's why this tool supports 20+ currencies — the principle is universal.

Most people are surprised by how much interest adds up. On a 5-year personal loan at 8.5%, you can easily pay 20% or more above what you borrowed. Seeing that number upfront changes how you think about term length and extra payments. That's the whole point.

Everything happens in your browser. Your figures don't get uploaded anywhere, and you don't need an account to use it.

How to calculate loan payments — step by step

It takes a few seconds once you know what you're entering:

1. Pick your currency. There are 20+ to choose from — USD, EUR, GBP, INR, JPY, AUD, CAD and others. INR is selected by default.
2. Enter the loan amount. This is what you're borrowing before any interest. Say 25,000.
3. Enter the annual interest rate. Whatever your lender quoted you, like 8.5%.
4. Enter the term. Choose years or months depending on how your lender talks about it.
5. Hit Calculate Loan. You'll get the monthly figure, total interest, total cost and the full schedule straight away.

The loan payment formula

Banks use one formula for this. It looks intimidating written out, but it's not complicated once you break it down:

M = P × r × (1 + r)^n / ((1 + r)^n − 1)

Where:

• M is the monthly payment.
• P is the principal — the amount you borrowed.
• r is the monthly interest rate. Take the annual rate, divide by 12, then divide by 100.
• n is the number of monthly payments. A 5-year loan is 60 payments.

Say you borrow $25,000 at 8.5% for 5 years:

• Monthly rate = 8.5 ÷ 12 ÷ 100 = 0.007083
• Number of payments = 5 × 12 = 60
• M = 25,000 × 0.007083 × (1.007083)^60 / ((1.007083)^60 − 1)
• M ≈ $512.90 per month
• Total paid = $512.90 × 60 = $30,774
• Total interest = $30,774 − $25,000 = $5,774

That last number catches most people off guard. Over 5 years, you pay more than 20% above what you borrowed. This calculator uses the reducing balance method, which is what banks actually use.

Here's the same loan in INR just to show how the numbers shift with a different currency: borrow ₹10,00,000 at 7.5% for 20 years and your monthly payment comes to about ₹8,055. Total interest paid: roughly ₹9,33,200. The proportions change, but the principle is identical.

Reading your results

The calculator gives you five numbers. Here's what they mean in practice:

One thing worth knowing: at the start, most of your payment is interest. On that $25,000 loan, month one sends $177.08 to interest and only $335.80 to the principal. By the end it flips. That's how amortization works, and the schedule shows it happening month by month.

Why does this matter? Because if you're thinking about prepaying, you need to know where you are in the curve. Prepaying early in the loan saves far more interest than prepaying later, simply because the outstanding balance is higher and more interest is accruing on it.

What is an amortization schedule?

An amortization schedule is a table of every single payment you'll make. Each row shows the month number, what you still owe at the start, how much of that payment went to principal, how much went to interest, and what's left afterwards.

Here's the first few months for a $25,000 loan at 8.5% over 5 years:

Month | Opening Balance | Principal | Interest | Closing Balance
------+-----------------+-----------+----------+----------------
  1   |      25,000.00  |     335.80|    177.08|      24,664.20
  2   |      24,664.20  |     338.18|    174.70|      24,326.02
  3   |      24,326.02  |     340.58|    172.31|      23,985.44
  4   |      23,985.44  |     342.99|    169.90|      23,642.45
  5   |      23,642.45  |     345.42|    167.47|      23,297.03

Notice how the interest column shrinks while the principal column grows. That shift is the whole point of amortization. Early on you're mostly paying interest; later on you're mostly paying back the loan itself.

This schedule becomes incredibly useful if you're planning to prepay. You can see exactly how much principal is left at any point, and how much interest you'd save by paying off a chunk early. You can copy the full schedule or download it as a text file from the results panel.

Loan types and typical rates

Rates vary a lot by country and lender, but here's roughly what you'll see:

These are just starting points. What you're actually offered depends on your credit history, income, the lender and the market. Run each offer through the calculator side by side — it's the fastest way to see which one is really cheaper.

And remember: the rate isn't the only cost. Processing fees, insurance requirements and prepayment penalties can all change the total you pay. Always ask for the full picture before signing.

Ways to bring your loan cost down

• Put more down. A bigger down payment means a smaller principal, and a smaller principal means a smaller monthly payment. Even 5% more upfront can save you a surprising amount over the life of the loan.
• Stretch the term — carefully. A longer term lowers the monthly payment but raises the total interest. It's a trade-off, not a free lunch. Only stretch if the payment is genuinely unaffordable otherwise.
• Fix your credit score. Better credit means better rates. Half a percent off your rate sounds small until you multiply it across 60 payments.
• Pay a little extra when you can. Anything above your monthly payment goes straight at the principal, which cuts future interest. Most floating-rate loans allow this without penalty, though fixed-rate loans sometimes charge.
• Shop around. Rates, processing fees and prepayment penalties vary more than most people expect. Get quotes from at least three or four lenders before committing.
• Ask for a better deal. Particularly on home loans, there's usually room to negotiate. It costs nothing to ask.
• Consider refinancing. If rates have dropped since you took the loan, refinancing can cut your payment meaningfully. Just factor in the refinancing costs before deciding.

Longer term isn't automatically better

It's tempting to pick the longest term available because the monthly number looks comfortable. But look at what it costs you. Here's the same $25,000 at 8.5% across four terms:

The 10-year option has a monthly payment 61% lower than the 3-year option. Sounds great. But you pay more than three and a half times as much interest. Whether that's worth it depends entirely on your situation — but go in knowing the number.

A middle path often works best: pick a term you can comfortably afford, then make extra payments whenever you have surplus cash. That way you keep the monthly flexibility but still cut down the total interest significantly.

Common mistakes people make with loans

• Only looking at the monthly payment. The monthly number is important, but it's not the whole story. The total interest and total cost matter just as much — sometimes more.
• Stretching the term without a plan. A 10-year loan feels manageable until you realise you're paying for a decade. Have a plan to prepay if you choose a long term.
• Ignoring processing fees and hidden charges. These can add thousands to your loan cost. Always ask for a full breakdown of fees before signing.
• Not comparing offers. Even a 0.25% difference in rate can save you a lot over 5 years. Spend an hour comparing — it's the highest-paid hour of your financial life.
• Forgetting about insurance. Many lenders require loan insurance, which adds to your cost. Factor it into your calculations.
• Prepaying the wrong loan. If you have multiple loans, prepay the one with the highest interest rate first. That's where you'll save the most.
• Not checking the prepayment terms. Some loans have prepayment penalties. Know what they are before you commit.

Fixed vs floating interest rates: which is right for you?

A fixed rate stays the same for the entire loan term. Your payment never changes, no matter what the market does. A floating rate moves with a benchmark — usually the central bank's rate or a market index — so your payment can go up or down over time.

Fixed rates give you certainty. You know exactly what you'll pay each month, which makes budgeting easy. The downside is that you'll usually start with a slightly higher rate than a floating option, and you won't benefit if rates fall.

Floating rates often start lower, which means a smaller payment initially. But if rates rise, your payment goes up — sometimes significantly. They suit people who can absorb some uncertainty and want to take advantage of falling rates.

Which is better? It depends on your risk tolerance and the rate environment. If rates are low and expected to rise, fixed makes sense. If rates are high and expected to fall, floating could save you money. When in doubt, a split loan (part fixed, part floating) is a common compromise.

The hidden costs of a loan: processing fees and more

The interest rate is the headline number, but it's not the only thing you pay. Here are the other costs to watch for:

• Processing fee: A one-time charge, usually 0.5% to 2% of the loan amount. Some lenders waive it for certain customers.
• Documentation charges: Smaller fees for paperwork, legal checks and verification.
• Insurance: Many lenders require loan protection insurance, which can add 1% to 3% of the loan amount.
• Prepayment penalty: Some fixed-rate loans charge a fee if you pay off early. Floating-rate loans usually don't.
• Late payment fees: If you miss a payment, expect a penalty and a hit to your credit score.
• Foreclosure charges: If you pay off the entire loan early, there may be a charge — though many lenders have removed these for floating-rate loans.

Always ask for a full cost breakdown before you sign. A loan with a slightly higher interest rate but lower fees can sometimes be cheaper overall.

How to compare loan offers like a pro

1. Get at least three quotes. Don't accept the first offer. Rates and fees vary more than you'd think.
2. Compare the total cost, not just the monthly payment. Use this calculator to see the total interest and total cost for each offer.
3. Ask about all fees. Processing, documentation, insurance, prepayment — get them in writing.
4. Check the prepayment terms. If you plan to pay off early, make sure there's no penalty.
5. Consider the lender's reputation. Customer service matters if you have questions or problems later.
6. Negotiate. Once you have competing offers, use them as leverage. Lenders often match or beat rival quotes.

It sounds like a lot of work, but it's a few hours that can save you thousands over the life of a loan. The calculator makes the comparison easy — just plug in each offer and note the total cost.

Glossary of loan terms

Frequently asked questions