Financial Calculators

Loan Calculator

Estimate the regular payment on a fixed-rate loan, and see how much of what you pay goes to interest. Works for personal, car, education and business loans that are repaid in equal monthly instalments.

$
% p.a.
years
$

Processing or origination fees, used for the total cost.

Monthly payment$525.05
Total interest
$6,502.79
Total of payments
$31,502.79
Total cost incl. fees
$31,502.79
Number of payments
60
  • Principal 79.4%
  • Interest 20.6%
Step-by-step working
  1. Monthly rate r = 9.5% ÷ 12 = 0.00791667
  2. Number of payments n = 5 × 12 = 60
  3. Payment = P × r × (1 + r)ⁿ ÷ ((1 + r)ⁿ − 1)
  4. = $25,000.00 × 0.00791667 × 1.605009 ÷ 0.605009 = $525.05

Assumes a fixed rate, equal monthly payments and no prepayments.

Amortisation schedule (by year)

YearPrincipal paidInterest paidBalance
Year 1$4,101.08$2,199.48$20,898.92
Year 2$4,508.10$1,792.46$16,390.83
Year 3$4,955.52$1,345.04$11,435.31
Year 4$5,447.34$853.22$5,987.97
Year 5$5,987.97$312.59$0.00

How to use the Loan Calculator

  1. Enter the amount you will borrow.
  2. Enter the annual interest rate from your offer letter.
  3. Enter the term in years (decimals are fine: 2.5 = 30 months).
  4. Press Calculate to see the payment and the year-by-year schedule.

Formula

Payment = P × r × (1 + r)ⁿ ÷ ((1 + r)ⁿ − 1)

where P is the amount borrowed, r is the monthly rate (annual rate ÷ 12 ÷ 100) and n is the number of monthly payments. Each month, interest is charged on the remaining balance and the rest of the payment reduces the balance.

Examples

  • 25,000 at 9.5% for 5 years: payment ≈ 525.05 a month, total interest ≈ 6,503.
  • Same loan over 3 years: payment ≈ 800.82, total interest ≈ 3,830. A shorter term costs more each month but less overall.

Frequently asked questions

Is the interest rate the same as APR?

Not always. APR includes some fees spread over the term. Enter the nominal rate here and add fees in the optional field to see the total cost.

How can I reduce the interest I pay?

Borrow less, choose a shorter term, or make extra payments early, when the balance and the interest charged on it are highest.