Free Online Tool

Mortgage Calculator

Calculate your monthly mortgage payment, view a full amortization schedule, and compare loan options — free, instant, and private.

Instant results Amortization schedule Compare loans 100% private
Monthly Payment $0.00 Principal + Interest
Total Interest $0.00 0% of total cost
Total Payment $0.00 Principal + all interest
Payoff Date — Estimated loan end date
Calculate Your Mortgage
$
The total purchase price of the property
$ %
20% avoids Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI)
%
Current 30-year fixed average: ~6.5–7.0%
$
$
$
Required if down payment is less than 20%
$
Extra payments reduce interest and term
How Much Can You Afford?
$
$
Car loans, student loans, credit cards, etc.
$
%
%
Conventional loans typically allow 43% DTI
Refinance Calculator
$
%
%
$
Compare Loan Options

Option A

$
%
$

Option B

$
%
$
No calculations yet
Click any history entry to reuse the result.
Advertisement

Mortgage Tips & Insights

💰

Put 20% Down

A 20% down payment eliminates PMI, which can cost 0.5–1.5% of your loan annually. On a $300K loan, that's up to $4,500/year saved.

📈

Make Extra Payments

One extra mortgage payment per year on a 30-year loan can cut 4–6 years off your term and save tens of thousands in interest.

🏛️

15 vs 30-Year Term

A 15-year mortgage typically has a 0.5–0.75% lower rate and saves enormous interest — but monthly payments are ~40% higher.

🔍

Shop Multiple Lenders

Getting quotes from 3–5 lenders can save an average of $1,500 in the first year alone. Even a 0.25% rate difference on $300K saves ~$15,000 over 30 years.

🔄

Refinance Strategically

Refinancing makes sense when rates drop 0.75–1%+ below your current rate and you plan to stay in the home long enough to recoup closing costs.

📊

Keep DTI Below 43%

Lenders prefer your total debt-to-income ratio below 43%. Your housing costs alone should stay under 28% of gross monthly income.

Everything You Need to Plan Your Mortgage

⚡

Instant Calculations

Get your monthly payment, total interest, and full amortization schedule in real time as you type.

📋

Full Amortization Schedule

View every payment broken down by principal and interest, with running balance for the entire life of the loan.

📊

Loan Comparison

Compare two loan options side-by-side — different rates, terms, or amounts — to find the best deal instantly.

💵

Affordability Calculator

Enter your income and debts to find out exactly how much home you can afford based on standard DTI guidelines.

How to Use the Mortgage Calculator

1

Enter Home Price

Type the total purchase price of the property — the listed or agreed sale price before any down payment.

2

Set Down Payment

Enter as a dollar amount or percentage — both fields sync automatically. Aim for 20% to avoid PMI.

3

Choose Term & Rate

Select 15 or 30 years (or custom), then enter your annual interest rate or your lender's quoted rate.

4

Add Optional Costs

Include property tax, insurance, PMI, HOA fees, and extra payments for a complete monthly cost picture.

5

Calculate & Export

Hit Calculate to see your payment, total interest, payoff date, and full amortization schedule. Export as CSV anytime.

💡 Pro Tip: Use the Compare tab to run two scenarios side-by-side — for example, a 15-year at 6.0% vs a 30-year at 6.5% — to see the true long-term cost difference before you commit to a loan.

Advertisement

Understanding Mortgage Payments

How Is a Monthly Mortgage Payment Calculated?

Your monthly mortgage payment is calculated using the standard amortization formula: M = P × [r(1+r)^n] / [(1+r)^n − 1], where P is the principal loan amount, r is the monthly interest rate (annual rate ÷ 12 ÷ 100), and n is the total number of monthly payments (years × 12).

Principal vs. Interest: Why Early Payments Are Mostly Interest

In the early years of a mortgage, the vast majority of each payment goes toward interest rather than principal. Interest is calculated on the outstanding balance — which is highest at the start. On a $300,000 loan at 6.5% for 30 years, your first payment of ~$1,896 includes roughly $1,625 in interest and only $271 toward principal.

15-Year vs. 30-Year Mortgage: Side-by-Side Comparison

Factor15-Year Mortgage30-Year Mortgage
Typical Rate~6.0%~6.5%
Monthly Payment~$2,532~$1,896
Total Interest Paid~$155,700~$382,600
Total Cost~$455,700~$682,600
Equity Build SpeedFastSlow
Best ForLower total cost, stable incomeLower monthly payment, flexibility

What Is PMI and How Do You Avoid It?

Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI) is required when your down payment is less than 20%. PMI typically costs 0.5%–1.5% of the loan amount annually. On a $300,000 loan that's $1,500–$4,500 per year added to your payment.

How Extra Payments Dramatically Reduce Your Mortgage

💡 Pro Tips to Minimize Your Mortgage Cost

Frequently Asked Questions

Your monthly payment is calculated using the standard amortization formula: M = P[r(1+r)^n] / [(1+r)^n − 1]. P = principal, r = monthly interest rate, n = total payments. This calculator handles all the math instantly.

20% is the traditional target because it eliminates PMI. However, many loans allow as little as 3–5% down (FHA, VA, or conventional). A larger down payment means lower monthly payments and less interest over time.

A 15-year mortgage has higher monthly payments but much lower total interest and builds equity faster. A 30-year mortgage has lower monthly payments but costs significantly more in interest over the life of the loan.

On a $300K loan at 6.5%, an extra $100/month saves ~$40,000 in interest and cuts 5 years off your term. Use the Extra Monthly Payment field in the Standard mode to see your specific savings.

An amortization schedule is a complete table showing every monthly payment over the life of your loan — broken down by principal and interest, with the remaining balance after each payment. View it in the Amortization Schedule section below the calculator.

PMI (Private Mortgage Insurance) is required when your down payment is less than 20%. Avoid it by putting 20% down or by using a piggyback loan (80/10/10). Once you reach 20% equity, you can request cancellation.

Refinancing makes sense when rates drop 0.75–1% below your current rate and you plan to stay in the home long enough to recoup closing costs (typically 2–3 years). Use the Refinance mode to calculate your break-even point.

Yes! The calculator runs entirely in your browser. No data is transmitted or stored on any server. All calculations are instant and completely private.

Related Tools

Privacy & security notice

This mortgage calculator runs entirely in your web browser. No data is ever transmitted, stored, or logged by our servers. All calculations are instant and completely private.