Formula
Monthly payment = P × r(1+r)^n ÷ ((1+r)^n − 1), where P is principal, r is the monthly interest rate and n is the number of monthly payments. If the interest rate is 0%, payment = P ÷ n.
Money
Estimate the monthly payment, total repayment and interest cost for a fixed-rate amortising loan.
Calculator
Monthly payment = P × r(1+r)^n ÷ ((1+r)^n − 1), where P is principal, r is the monthly interest rate and n is the number of monthly payments. If the interest rate is 0%, payment = P ÷ n.
This is the method behind the answer, so the result can be checked rather than simply trusted.What-if check
Same loan amount, with the rate or term moved around the current inputs. This helps separate a real borrowing decision from a single monthly-payment quote.
| Scenario | Monthly payment | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 5.50% annual rate | 1,419.47 | -160.70/mo |
| 6.50% annual rate | 1,580.17 | Current rate |
| 7.50% annual rate | 1,748.04 | +167.87/mo |
| Term | Monthly payment | Total interest |
|---|---|---|
| 23 years | 1,747.66 | 232,354.62 |
| 30 years | 1,580.17 | 318,861.22 |
| 38 years | 1,480.21 | 424,974.44 |
Visual proof
The blue segment is the amount borrowed. The gold segment is scheduled interest over the entered fixed-rate term, before taxes, insurance and fees.
Result: 1580.17 / month. Assumption: The loan uses a fixed annual interest rate converted to a monthly rate.
Monthly payment = P × r(1+r)^n ÷ ((1+r)^n − 1), where P is principal, r is the monthly interest rate and n is the number of monthly payments. If the interest rate is 0%, payment = P ÷ n.
For a 250,000 loan at 6.5% over 30 years, the monthly rate is 0.065 ÷ 12 and the term is 360 payments. Substituting those values gives a scheduled payment of about 1,580.17 per month, with total scheduled repayment of about 568,861.22.
A quoted repayment is not the full cost of borrowing. Mortgage, vehicle and business loans may include fees, insurance, taxes, redraw rules, offset accounts, compounding conventions or variable rates. Compare the annual percentage rate or locally required comparison rate when available.
The calculator is currency-neutral and uses a monthly amortisation schedule. Enter the interest rate as an annual percentage, such as 6.5 for 6.5%.
Methodology & Accuracy
CalculationTime pages are built around visible arithmetic: the formula, assumptions, worked example and practical limitations are shown so the result can be checked rather than simply trusted.
Monthly payment = P × r(1+r)^n ÷ ((1+r)^n − 1), where P is principal, r is the monthly interest rate and n is the number of monthly payments. If the interest rate is 0%, payment = P ÷ n.
The calculator is currency-neutral and uses a monthly amortisation schedule. Enter the interest rate as an annual percentage, such as 6.5 for 6.5%.
Where a calculator follows a named legal, trade or industry standard, that standard is cited visibly. Otherwise the page uses transparent general arithmetic and states its limits.A quoted repayment is not the full cost of borrowing. Mortgage, vehicle and business loans may include fees, insurance, taxes, redraw rules, offset accounts, compounding conventions or variable rates. Compare the annual percentage rate or locally required comparison rate when available.
For a fixed-rate amortising loan, the calculator converts the annual interest rate to a monthly rate, counts the number of monthly payments, then applies the standard payment formula.
No. The result estimates principal and interest only. Property taxes, insurance, fees and other charges need to be added separately.
When the interest rate is zero, the calculator divides the principal by the number of monthly payments.
Yes, if the lender applies the extra amount to principal and does not charge a penalty. The calculator shows a payoff estimate for that simple case.
Loan payment calculators turn a lending offer into a monthly cash-flow question. They are useful because the same principal can feel very different once interest rate, repayment term and compounding are included.
In an amortising loan, each payment covers interest for the period and reduces some principal. Early payments usually contain more interest; later payments usually reduce more principal because the outstanding balance is lower.
Consumer finance regulators often distinguish the basic interest rate from broader cost disclosures. The payment formula is useful for arithmetic, but fees and required charges can make two loans with similar monthly payments very different in total cost.
Extra principal payments reduce the balance sooner. When there is no prepayment penalty, that can shorten the payoff time and lower total interest, especially on long terms where interest has many months to accumulate.