How to use this loan calculator
- Choose a currency symbol for display (no exchange-rate conversion).
- Enter the loan amount, annual interest rate, and term in years and months.
- Set the loan start date to estimate your payoff month.
- Optional: add additional payments (weekly, monthly, quarterly, half-yearly, or yearly), extra fees, or a one-time payment as a balloon at maturity or on a chosen date.
- Click Calculate — monthly payment, totals, effective annual %, and amortization tables update together.
Already know your monthly payment and want to know how long until the loan is gone? Use the Loan Payoff Calculator. For a schedule-focused view with the same extra-payment options, try the Amortization Calculator.
Loan payment formula
Fixed-rate installment loans use standard amortization: each month you pay accrued interest first, then reduce principal. The level monthly payment that retires the balance in n months is:
P = principal, r = monthly rate (annual ÷ 12), n = number of monthly payments
Worked example
A $100 loan at 12% annual interest for 1 year (12 monthly payments):
- Monthly payment ≈ $8.88
- Total repaid ≈ $106.62
- Total interest ≈ $6.62
Adding a $5 monthly extra payment shortens the term and cuts total interest — the schedule table shows exactly when the balance reaches zero.
Additional payment frequencies
Extra amounts can be entered as weekly, monthly, quarterly, half-yearly, or yearly. The calculator converts each frequency to an equivalent monthly amount applied alongside your regular payment.
Examples and use cases
Real-world use cases
- Personal loan comparison: A borrower models $15,000 at 8% for 3 years vs 5 years to see how term length changes total interest paid.
- Mortgage extra payments: A homeowner adds $150 monthly to a 30-year loan to preview years saved and interest avoided before committing.
- Auto refinance check: Someone compares their current $320 payment on a 6-year note to a refinanced rate and shorter term using the same principal.
Related tools
For long-term savings growth with compounding, try the Compound Interest Calculator. For simple interest without amortization, use the Simple Interest Calculator.