How to use the amortization calculator
Enter the loan principal, the annual interest rate, and the loan term in years. The calculator shows your fixed monthly payment, total amount paid over the life of the loan, and total interest paid. Scroll the table to see every payment.
How amortization works
With a fixed-rate loan, every payment is the same amount. Early payments are mostly interest; later payments are mostly principal. This is because interest is calculated on the remaining balance, which shrinks with each payment.
FAQ
What is the difference between principal and interest?
Principal is the portion of your payment that reduces the loan balance. Interest is the fee charged by the lender for borrowing. Early in the loan, most of your payment is interest; toward the end, most is principal.
How is the monthly payment calculated?
The formula is 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.