Accurately estimate your monthly loan payments, total interest costs, and repayment timelines with clear payment schedules and transparent mathematical breakdowns.
Input your principal loan amount, annual interest rate, and repayment term to instantly project flat monthly installments and total borrowing costs.
Enter a loan amount, annual interest rate, and term to estimate the monthly payment and total loan cost.
Plan your borrowing and visualize repayment schedules in four straightforward steps:
Enter the total amount of money you intend to borrow or finance after subtracting any down payment.
Input the annual percentage rate (APR) charged by your bank or lending institution.
Select the duration over which you plan to pay off the loan balance (e.g., 5 years, 15 years, or 30 years).
Instantly review your estimated monthly payment, overall interest charges, and dynamic payoff schedule.
Financial institutions globally rely on the standard fixed-rate amortization formula to calculate flat periodic payments across compounding periods.
Methodology: Monthly payment = P × r / (1 − (1 + r)^−n), where P is the loan amount, r is the monthly interest rate (APR ÷ 12 ÷ 100), and n is the total number of payments. This is the standard fixed-rate amortization formula. Results are estimates and do not include lender fees, taxes, or insurance.
The total balance borrowed before interest calculations.
The annual nominal rate divided by 12 months and 100 (r=APR/1200).
The total months across the term (Years×12).
The fixed periodic installment combining principal reduction and accrued interest.
Practical examples demonstrating how different terms and interest rates impact total borrowing costs.
Financing a vehicle purchase of $25,000 at an annual interest rate of 6% over 5 years (60 months).
Given: Principal = $25,000, APR = 6% (r=0.005), Term = 60 months
Calculation:Monthly Payment (M) ≈$483.32Total Repayment = $483.32×60=$28,999.20
Answer: Total interest paid is $3,999.20 with monthly installments of $483.32.
Taking an unsecured personal loan of $10,000 at a fixed rate of 8% over 3 years (36 months).
Given: Principal = $10,000, APR = 8% (r=0.00667), Term = 36 months
Calculation:Monthly Payment (M) ≈$313.36Total Repayment = $313.36×36=$11,280.96
Answer: Total interest paid is $1,280.96 with monthly installments of $313.36.
Borrowing $200,000 for a home purchase at 6.5% interest on a 15-year term (180 months).
Given: Principal = $200,000, APR = 6.5% (r=0.00542), Term = 180 months
Calculation:Monthly Payment (M) ≈$1,742.22Total Repayment = $1,742.22×180=$313,599.60
Answer: Total interest paid is $113,599.60 with monthly installments of $1,742.22.
The same loan amount and interest rate can cost very differently depending on how long you take to pay it off. Here's how a $300,000 loan at 6.5% APR compares across three common terms.
A longer loan term lowers your monthly payment but increases the total interest you pay, since interest accrues over more periods. A shorter term raises your monthly payment but reduces total interest significantly. See the comparison table above for real numbers side by side.
Most installment loans (mortgages, auto loans, personal loans) use monthly compounding, meaning interest is calculated and added to your balance once per period. Choosing a more frequent payment schedule, like biweekly, in the calculator above doesn't change the compounding method itself, but it does mean you're paying down principal more often, which can reduce total interest slightly.
A secured loan is backed by collateral, like a house for a mortgage or a car for an auto loan. If you default, the lender can seize the asset. Because the risk to the lender is lower, secured loans typically carry lower interest rates. An unsecured loan, like most personal loans and credit cards, has no collateral backing it, so lenders charge higher rates to offset their risk.
Everything you need to know about loan amortization, interest calculations, and payoff planning.
Simple interest is calculated solely on the original principal throughout the entire term. Amortized interest, used in most mortgages, personal, and auto loans, calculates interest each month on the remaining unpaid principal balance, meaning more money goes toward principal reduction as time goes on.
Making extra payments directly reduces the remaining loan principal. Because future monthly interest is computed on a smaller balance, paying extra lowers lifetime interest charges and accelerates your debt payoff date.
The interest rate represents the direct annual cost of borrowing money. The Annual Percentage Rate (APR) reflects the broader cost, including the interest rate plus any mandatory lender origination fees, closing costs, or administrative charges.
This tool is built specifically for calculating loan payments, interest, and amortization schedules. If you need to work with percentages instead, check out CalcNova's Percentage Increase Calculator, Percentage Decrease Calculator, or Reverse Percentage Calculator , all free, fast, and built with the same instant, step-by-step approach as this loan calculator."
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Read MoreAbout the authors
CalcNova was created and is maintained collaboratively by two friends who want to make everyday calculations simpler and more accessible. We build practical online calculators and clear explanations to help people understand results and the methods behind them.
Our focus is on clear formulas, useful examples, and regularly maintaining our tools. Calculator results are intended for guidance; for important financial decisions, confirm figures with the relevant provider or a qualified professional.