Home borrowing estimates

Mortgage calculator for US home loan planning

Estimate home loan payments with principal, interest, taxes, insurance, HOA assumptions, and amortization schedules before you compare lender offers.

Quick answer: A mortgage calculator is an educational financial planning tool that applies standard annuity amortization algorithms to calculate periodic payments, total interest expenses, and loan payoff dates. Adjust the principal amount, interest rate (APR), and loan term in the interactive calculator to simulate repayment scenarios instantly in your browser. All calculations run privately on your device with zero sign-up required.

Try the Loan Calculator

Instant results. All calculations happen in your browser. No data sent.

$
%
months
$
Monthly Payment
$0
Total Interest
$0
Total Repayment
$0
Principal 0% Interest 0%
Payoff Time
—
Interest Saved with Extras
$0
Amortization Preview (first 6 payments) View full schedule ↓
Month Payment Principal Interest Balance

Side-by-Side Comparison

Scenario A (current)
Monthly:
Total Interest:
Total Paid:
Scenario B
Monthly:
Total Interest:
Total Paid:
★★★★★
4.8 ★
App Store rating

Why serious borrowers download the app

Free iPhone planning app. Calculations stay on your device.

Primary search

mortgage calculator

Loan Calculator helps US borrowers estimate payments, understand interest, and compare repayment choices before talking to a lender.

Calculator features

Plan the payment and the long-term cost

Estimate monthly mortgage and home loan payments

Include property tax, insurance, HOA, and mortgage insurance assumptions

Review amortization and interest over the loan term

Model FHA and other US home borrowing scenarios

iPhone 17 Pro Mockup
Loan Calculator calculator list on iPhone
iPhone 17 Pro Mockup
Loan Calculator instant payment calculation screen
iPhone 17 Pro Mockup
Loan Calculator total cost analysis screen

Common uses

Plan before you borrow

How to Calculate Your Monthly Loan Payment

15-Year vs. 30-Year Repayment Benchmark

See how loan term selection and extra principal payments alter your total interest costs.

Loan Scenario ($300,000 at 6.5% APR) Monthly Payment Total Interest Paid Total Repaid Payoff Period
30-Year Fixed (Standard Term) $1,896 / mo $382,633 $682,633 30 Years (360 mo)
15-Year Fixed (Accelerated Equity) $2,613 / mo $170,389 $470,389 15 Years (180 mo)
30-Year Fixed + $200/mo Extra Principal $2,096 / mo $288,410 $588,410 23.8 Years (Save $94,223)

Aggregated and anonymized from app usage. Not financial advice. See our methodology.

4.8 ★ App Store rating
Hundreds of thousands Planning sessions
Private On-device by default
Free Core tools, no sign-up

App Store feedback themes

What users commonly mention in reviews

These are recurring themes paraphrased from public App Store reviews — not individual quotes. Read verified reviews directly on the App Store.

4.8
★★★★★
App Store rating
App Store Google Play

Free · No sign-up

Detailed amortization schedules

Reviewers often mention that full month-by-month breakdowns help them understand principal vs. interest before talking to a lender.

Accurate payment estimates

A common theme is that results align closely with lender quotes when the same loan amount, APR, and term are entered.

Privacy and on-device calculations

Many reviewers value that core calculations stay on the device without requiring an account for basic use.

Side-by-side loan comparisons

Users frequently highlight comparing two loan scenarios to see which offer has the lower true cost over time.

Extra payment modeling

Reviewers often note that modeling extra payments early shows meaningful interest savings and shorter payoff timelines.

Simple, fast interface

A recurring comment is that the app is straightforward to use without unnecessary steps or clutter.

FAQ

mortgage calculator questions

Does the mortgage calculator include taxes and insurance?

Yes. You can plan with property tax, home insurance, HOA, and mortgage insurance assumptions where relevant.

Can I use this as a home loan calculator?

Yes. The app supports home loan and mortgage payment planning for common US borrower scenarios.

Is a VA loan calculator included?

The app can help estimate VA-style payment scenarios, but eligibility, funding fees, and final loan terms must be confirmed with official VA and lender sources.

How much house can I afford?

To determine how much house you can afford, use a mortgage affordability calculator that factors your annual income, monthly debts, down payment, interest rate, and loan term. Most lenders follow the 28/36 rule — your monthly mortgage payment should not exceed 28% of your gross monthly income, and total debt payments should stay under 36%. A mortgage calculator helps you find the right home price range before you start house hunting.

What are mortgage rates today?

Mortgage rates change daily based on economic conditions, inflation, and Federal Reserve policy. Current mortgage rates vary by loan type — conventional, FHA, VA, and jumbo loans all carry different rates. Use a mortgage calculator to estimate your monthly payment with today's rate, then lock your rate with a lender when you find the right home.

What is the interest rate today?

Today's interest rates depend on the loan type, your credit score, and broader economic factors like inflation and Fed policy. Mortgage interest rates, auto loan rates, and personal loan rates all differ. Check current mortgage rates and use a loan calculator to see how the rate affects your monthly payment before applying with a lender.

What is the current mortgage interest rate?

The current mortgage interest rate fluctuates daily. As of mid-2026, 30-year fixed mortgage rates typically range from 6% to 7.5%, while 15-year fixed rates are lower. Your personal rate depends on your credit score, down payment, loan type, and lender. Use a mortgage payment calculator to estimate your monthly payment with the latest rates.

Did interest rates go down?

Interest rates change frequently based on economic data, inflation reports, and Federal Reserve announcements. When the Fed cuts rates, mortgage rates and other loan rates often follow. Check today's current mortgage rates using a mortgage rate calculator to see if rates have dropped and what that means for your monthly mortgage payment.

How to calculate mortgage payments?

To calculate mortgage payments, enter your home price, down payment, interest rate, and loan term into a mortgage payment calculator. The calculator applies the standard amortization formula to estimate your monthly principal and interest. Add property taxes, homeowners insurance, and HOA fees for a complete picture of your total housing payment.

How to calculate interest rate?

To calculate the interest rate on a loan, divide the annual interest charged by the loan principal. For mortgage calculations, the monthly interest rate is your annual rate divided by 12. Use a mortgage interest calculator to see how different rates change your monthly payment and total interest over the life of the loan.

How expensive of a house can I afford?

How expensive of a house you can afford depends on your income, down payment, monthly debts, and current mortgage rates. A general rule is that your total monthly housing payment should be no more than 28% of your pretax income. Use a home affordability calculator to test different home prices and find your comfortable price range before making an offer.

Understanding Your mortgage calculator

Using a dedicated Mortgage Calculator (2026) – Home Loan Payment & Amortization is the first step toward financial clarity. Before you apply for a loan or commit to a new rate, it's critical to know exactly how much you'll pay every month and how much interest will accrue over time.

How Our Calculations Work

Our app processes your principal amount, interest rate (APR), and loan term to generate an exact amortization schedule. Here are the key factors:

  • Principal: The starting balance of your loan.
  • Interest Rate: A lower rate drastically reduces your total repayment amount.
  • Loan Term: A longer term means lower monthly payments but more total interest paid over time.

By simulating different scenarios—like putting down a larger down payment or making early extra payments—you can find the fastest route to becoming debt-free.

Written and reviewed by · Editorial Team ·

Grounded in real usage. The scenarios and examples shown here reflect patterns observed across many hundreds of thousands of on-device calculations performed by users of the companion iPhone app. This helps surface practical insights beyond textbook formulas.

How to Calculate Your Monthly Loan Payment

Every fixed-rate loan payment splits into two distinct components: principal (the borrowed balance) and interest (the finance charge). Loan Calculator applies the standard fixed annuity amortization formula utilized by commercial lenders, enabling instant, transparent scenario verification.

Example: A $30,000 car loan at 7.2% APR for 60 months produces a monthly payment of ~$597. Total interest paid: roughly $5,820. Extend to 72 months and the payment drops to ~$514 but total interest climbs above $7,000. The interactive calculator above shows these trade-offs instantly.

What Is an Amortization Schedule?

An amortization schedule is the month-by-month financial ledger of every debt payment across the entire loan term. Early payments consist primarily of interest charges, while later payments transfer predominantly toward principal reduction. Reviewing this schedule demonstrates why applying early extra principal payments drastically reduces total compound interest.

Our live tool and the app both generate full schedules so you can pick any month and see the exact remaining balance.

How Extra Payments Cut Interest

Accelerated debt payments directly reduce outstanding principal balance, thereby avoiding future compounding interest cycles. The Loan Calculator live engine models exact interest savings and shortened repayment timelines, demonstrating how additional monthly payments can eliminate months of debt.

Comparing Two Loan Offers Side by Side

The Loan Comparison tool allows borrowers to evaluate two distinct loan financing offers side by side under standardized assumptions. By contrasting monthly payments, total interest expenses, and payoff dates, borrowers can identify the true long-term cost differences between competing quotes.

Refinance Break-Even: Is It Worth It?

A refinance break-even calculation evaluates the exact number of months required for recurring monthly payment reductions to recoup upfront refinancing closing costs. If the break-even horizon is 18 months and the property will be retained for 5 years, refinancing offers net financial benefit.

Loan Calculator

Web gives you quick numbers. The app gives you the full professional toolkit.