Money & Finance

How to Use the Loan Calculator

Enter the amount you want to borrow, the annual interest rate, and the loan term in years — the calculator instantly shows your monthly payment, total interest, and total amount to repay, using the same amortization math a lender uses to set your payment.

The Loan Calculator is built for quick comparisons — here's how to read the three figures it produces.

Entering your loan details

Type in the loan amount and interest rate, then use the term slider to set the repayment period in years — as covered in the total-cost guide, the term slider is the input most worth experimenting with, since it has the largest effect on total interest.

Reading monthly payment vs. total interest

The monthly payment tells you the immediate affordability; total interest tells you the true long-run cost — as covered in the longer-term guide, comparing both figures together, not the payment alone, is what reveals whether a lower payment is actually a better deal.

Frequently asked questions

Can I use this for a loan I already have to check my lender's numbers?

Yes — entering your existing loan's original amount, rate, and term should reproduce your actual payment closely, since both use the same standard amortization formula, useful for spotting an error or an unexpected fee baked into your real payment.

Does the calculator account for origination fees or other loan costs?

No — it calculates pure principal-and-interest amortization; any origination fee, application fee, or add-on the lender charges separately would increase your actual total cost beyond what's shown here.