Loan Calculator

Calculate monthly loan payments, total interest, and view a full amortization schedule. Supports any loan type. 100% client-side, no uploads.

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A loan calculator computes your monthly payment using the amortization formula: M = P × [r(1+r)^n] / [(1+r)^n − 1], where P is the loan amount, r is the monthly interest rate, and n is the total number of payments. It also shows the total interest paid and a month-by-month breakdown of principal vs. interest.

Calculate your loan without uploading your financial data

Monthly payment, total interest, and full amortization schedule. Right in your browser. No uploads, no sign-up, no limits.

100% private
Live calculation
Free forever

How to use

  1. 1

    Enter Loan Amount

    Input the total amount you want to borrow. You can also select your preferred currency.

  2. 2

    Set Interest Rate

    Enter the annual interest rate (APR) quoted by your lender. The rate updates the calculation instantly.

  3. 3

    Choose Loan Term

    Enter the loan term in years. Common terms are 3, 5, or 7 years for personal loans, and 15 or 30 years for mortgages.

  4. 4

    Review Results

    View your monthly payment, total interest, total repayment, and expand the amortization schedule for a month-by-month breakdown.

Why Use This Loan Calculator?

Accurate loan calculations with privacy-first design.

Live Calculation

Results update the moment you type. Adjust any input and see the impact on your monthly payment instantly.

Full Amortization Schedule

View a month-by-month breakdown of every payment, showing exactly how much goes to principal vs. interest.

Visual Breakdown

See the ratio of principal to interest at a glance with a visual bar chart.

100% Private

All calculations happen in your browser. Your loan amount and financial details never leave your device.

Multi-Currency Support

Calculate loans in USD, EUR, GBP, JPY, CNY, and 7 other currencies.

Free with No Limits

No registration, no API key, no daily quotas. Free for personal and commercial use, forever.

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Understanding Loan Calculations

How loan payments work

When you take out a loan, you agree to repay the borrowed amount (principal) plus interest over a set period. Each monthly payment is divided into two parts: a principal portion that reduces your loan balance, and an interest portion that compensates the lender for lending you the money. The split between principal and interest changes over time — early payments are mostly interest, while later payments are mostly principal.

This changing split is due to how interest is calculated. Each month, interest is charged on the remaining loan balance. Since the balance is highest at the beginning of the loan, the interest portion is largest in the first payment. As you pay down the balance, the interest portion shrinks and the principal portion grows, even though the total monthly payment stays the same.

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The amortization formula

The monthly payment for a fixed-rate loan is calculated using the amortization formula: M = P × [r(1+r)^n] / [(1+r)^n − 1], where M is the monthly payment, P is the principal (loan amount), r is the monthly interest rate, and n is the total number of payments. This formula ensures that the loan is fully repaid at the end of the term.

A special case occurs when the interest rate is zero — the monthly payment is simply the loan amount divided by the number of payments. While zero-interest loans are rare, some auto dealers and retailers offer promotional 0% APR financing. Our calculator handles this case correctly.

Understanding the total cost of borrowing

The total cost of a loan includes both the principal and all interest paid over the life of the loan. For example, a $30,000 loan at 10% APR for 5 years has a monthly payment of $637.41, resulting in a total repayment of $38,245 and total interest of $8,245. The longer the term, the more interest you pay — the same loan over 7 years would cost $11,395 in interest, despite a lower monthly payment of $527.

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Common Use Cases

Real-world scenarios where a loan calculator saves time and money.

Auto Loans

Compare auto loan offers from different lenders to find the best rate and term for your budget.

Personal Loans

Calculate monthly payments for debt consolidation, home improvement, or major purchases.

Student Loans

Estimate monthly payments and total interest for student loan repayment plans.

Business Loans

Evaluate business loan costs and compare financing options for your company.

How does this compare to other loan calculators?

A side-by-side comparison of popular loan calculation tools.

FeatureNeatForgeCalculator.netBankrate
Privacy (no upload)100% localServer-sideServer-side
PriceFree unlimitedFree with adsFree with ads
Amortization scheduleFull
Live calculationNo buttonButton clickButton click
Multi-currency12 currenciesUSD onlyUSD only
Visual breakdown
Works offlineAfter page load

Most online loan calculators process your financial data on their server. Our tool does everything locally — your loan amount and income details never leave your browser.

FAQ

How is the monthly loan payment calculated?
The monthly payment is calculated using the standard amortization formula: M = P × [r(1+r)^n] / [(1+r)^n − 1], where M is the monthly payment, P is the loan amount, r is the monthly interest rate (annual rate ÷ 100 ÷ 12), and n is the total number of monthly payments (loan term in years × 12). For example, a $20,000 loan at 8% APR for 5 years results in a monthly payment of about $405.53, with total interest of $4,332.
What types of loans does this calculator support?
This calculator works for any fixed-rate, fixed-term amortizing loan, including personal loans, auto loans, student loans, business loans, and home improvement loans. It does not apply to interest-only loans, variable-rate loans, or revolving credit (like credit cards). For mortgage-specific calculations with property tax, PMI, and insurance, use our Mortgage Calculator instead.
What is an amortization schedule?
An amortization schedule is a table showing each payment over the life of the loan, broken down into principal and interest portions. In the early months, most of each payment goes toward interest because the loan balance is high. As the balance decreases, more of each payment goes toward principal. For example, on a $20,000 loan at 8% for 5 years, the first payment includes $133 in interest and $272 in principal, while the last payment includes just $3 in interest and $402 in principal.
How does the interest rate affect my total payment?
The interest rate has a significant impact on both your monthly payment and the total cost of the loan. For example, on a $30,000 5-year loan: at 5%, you'd pay $566/month and $3,968 in total interest. At 10%, you'd pay $637/month and $8,244 in total interest. At 15%, you'd pay $715/month and $12,874 in total interest. Even a few percentage points can mean thousands of dollars in additional interest.
What is the difference between APR and interest rate?
The interest rate is the cost of borrowing the principal, expressed as a percentage. The APR (Annual Percentage Rate) includes the interest rate plus any fees charged by the lender, such as origination fees, processing fees, and broker fees. The APR gives you a more accurate picture of the true cost of borrowing. Always compare APRs — not just interest rates — when shopping for loans. Our calculator uses the interest rate, so if you have an APR that includes fees, enter that for a more accurate estimate.
Can I pay off my loan early?
Most loans allow early repayment, but some lenders charge a prepayment penalty — a fee for paying off the loan before the term ends. Check your loan agreement for prepayment terms. If there's no penalty, making extra payments can significantly reduce the total interest. For example, paying an extra $100/month on a $20,000 5-year loan at 8% would save you about $540 in interest and pay off the loan 7 months early. Use the amortization schedule to see how extra payments affect your timeline.
What is a good interest rate for a personal loan?
Personal loan interest rates vary widely based on your credit score, loan amount, term, and lender. As of 2025, borrowers with excellent credit (760+) can expect rates of 6-10%, while those with fair credit (640-699) may see rates of 15-20% or higher. Rates also vary by lender — credit unions often offer lower rates than banks or online lenders. Always pre-qualify with multiple lenders to compare offers without affecting your credit score.
How do I calculate the total cost of a loan?
The total cost of a loan is the monthly payment multiplied by the number of payments. For example, a $20,000 loan at 8% for 5 years has a monthly payment of $405.53 and 60 payments, giving a total cost of $24,332. The total interest is the total cost minus the loan amount: $24,332 − $20,000 = $4,332. Our calculator shows both the total repayment amount and the total interest automatically.
Is my financial data safe with this loan calculator?
Yes. All calculations happen entirely in your browser using JavaScript. Your loan amount, income, and other financial details are never uploaded to a server, never stored in a database, and never transmitted over the network. You can verify this by checking your browser's DevTools Network tab — no network requests are made when you enter values or view results.
Can I use this calculator for business loans?
Yes. This calculator works for any fixed-rate amortizing loan, including business loans, equipment financing, and SBA loans. However, some business loans have different structures (balloon payments, interest-only periods, or variable rates) that this calculator does not handle. For complex business loan structures, consult your lender or a financial advisor.

100% Client-Side & Private

All loan calculations happen entirely in your browser using JavaScript.

  • Your loan amount, income, and other financial details are never uploaded to a server, never stored in a database, never logged, and never transmitted over the network.
  • All computation is performed locally — no network requests are made when you enter values or view results.
  • This makes the tool safe for use with sensitive financial data like salary figures, loan amounts, and debt information.
  • You can verify the privacy by checking your browser's DevTools Network tab.

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