Mortgage Calculator

What this calculator does

The Mortgage Calculator estimates the monthly payment on a fixed-rate home loan. Enter how much you plan to borrow, the annual interest rate, and how many years you will take to repay, and it returns the principal-and-interest payment you would make every month for the life of the loan.

A mortgage is usually the biggest loan a household takes on, so small changes in the rate or term can mean thousands of dollars over the years. Use the calculator to see how much home you can afford, compare 15-year and 30-year loans, check what a lower rate would save, or plan before speaking with a lender.

How to use the Mortgage Calculator

  1. Enter the loan amount. This is the home price minus your down payment. For example, a 250,000 home with a 50,000 down payment means a 200,000 loan.
  2. Enter the annual interest rate. Use the yearly rate your lender quotes, for example 5.
  3. Enter the loan term in years. Common terms are 15, 20, and 30 years.
  4. Click "Calculate". The estimated monthly payment appears below the button.
  5. Compare scenarios. Change the rate, term, or amount to see how each one affects your payment.

Formula

The calculator uses the standard amortization formula for fixed-rate mortgages:

M = P × r / (1 − (1 + r)^(−n))

This is mathematically the same as the EMI formula. Each payment first covers the interest on the remaining balance, and the rest pays down the principal.

Example

Say you take out a 200,000 mortgage at 5% annual interest for 30 years.

Over 30 years you pay about 386,511.57, so about 186,511.57 of that is interest. With a 15-year term at the same rate, the payment rises to about 1,581.59, but total interest falls to about 84,685.71, a saving of more than 100,000.

Frequently asked questions

Does the result include property taxes and insurance?

No. The result covers principal and interest only. Property taxes, homeowners insurance, mortgage insurance (PMI), and HOA fees are often added to the monthly bill, so budget for them separately.

Should I choose a 15-year or 30-year mortgage?

A 30-year loan has a lower monthly payment, which can make it easier to afford. A 15-year loan costs more each month but builds equity faster and saves a large amount of interest. Compare both with the calculator.

What loan amount should I enter?

Enter the amount you will borrow: the purchase price minus your down payment. If you add closing costs to the loan, include them as well.

How much does a lower interest rate save?

Even small rate changes add up. On a 200,000, 30-year loan, going from 5% to 4.5% lowers the payment by about 60 a month, which is more than 21,000 over the life of the loan.

Does this work for adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs)?

Only for the fixed introductory period. After the rate adjusts, recalculate using the new rate, the remaining balance, and the remaining term.

What happens if I make extra payments?

Extra payments go straight to the principal. That shortens the loan and reduces the total interest you pay. Check whether your lender charges a prepayment penalty.

Is this the same as my lender's quote?

It is a reliable estimate of principal and interest. Your official quote may differ slightly because of rounding, fees, points, and escrow items.