Personal Loan Calculator

Estimate United States personal-loan payments, interest, origination-fee treatment and the effect of monthly extra payments.

How the fee is paid
Planned monthly payment
Amount financed
Cash received
Total interest
Total cost
Estimated payoff

The starting value uses the Federal Reserve May 2026 average APR for 24-month personal loans as a planning reference. Enter the contract interest rate used for scheduled payments. Amounts are in US dollars. Replace reference rates and planning inputs with the figures for your tax return, quote, contract or local jurisdiction.

Assumptions and sources: Fixed monthly amortization applies the entered contract rate. A financed fee joins the balance; a withheld fee reduces cash received. The Truth in Lending disclosure supplies the payment, finance charge, amount financed and APR comparison. Federal Reserve G.19: average finance rate (APR) for 24-month personal loans at commercial banks (2026-05).

Calculation basis

Market
United States
Last updated
Next review
When a federal rule changes or the cited reference series publishes newer data

What the calculator shows

Enter principal, annual contract interest rate, term, origination fee and optional extra payment. Choose whether the fee is financed or withheld from proceeds so the result shows both amount financed and cash received.

Calculation method

The entered contract rate drives fixed monthly amortization. A financed fee joins principal before interest is calculated; a withheld fee reduces cash received and is added to total cost. Extra payments reduce principal and the final payment is limited to the amount due.

Inputs to confirm

Use the contract rate that produces the scheduled payments. Compare the result with the Truth in Lending payment, finance charge, amount financed and APR, then match prepayment rules and fee treatment to the agreement.

Worked fee-treatment example

With $15,000 principal, no fee, 11.86% and 24 months, the payment is $705.12 and interest is $1,922.92. A financed fee would increase the balance and payment; a withheld fee would keep the modeled balance but reduce cash received.

ScenarioInterest-bearing balanceCash available
No origination fee$15,000$15,000
$750 fee financed$15,750$15,000
$750 fee withheld$15,000$14,250

Compare cash received, financed balance and disclosed APR

An origination fee can either increase the balance or reduce the cash delivered. Those two treatments can have the same headline fee but different payment and usable-proceeds results.

Financed and withheld fees change different parts of the loan

A financed fee joins principal and accrues interest. A withheld fee does not increase the amortized balance but reduces net proceeds, so the borrower receives less cash than the stated principal. Select the treatment shown in the lender disclosure.

The interest rate is not the same measure as APR

The entered contract rate produces the payment schedule. APR is designed for comparison and may include origination or other covered finance charges. This calculator displays fee effects but does not derive a regulated APR from exact dated cash flows.

Extra payments need contract confirmation

The scenario applies the same extra amount to principal every month and estimates an earlier payoff. A real agreement may specify payment allocation, due dates, late fees or prepayment conditions, so confirm the payoff quote before acting.

TreatmentBalance charged interestCash received
No feeEntered principalEntered principal
Fee financedPrincipal plus feeEntered principal
Fee withheldEntered principalPrincipal minus fee

Primary source

Federal Reserve G.19: 24-month personal-loan rates

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a financed and withheld fee?

A financed fee increases the balance. A withheld fee reduces the cash received while the stated principal remains the loan balance.

Why enter the contract interest rate?

The contract rate drives the payment schedule. The disclosed APR combines interest and covered finance charges for comparing loan costs.

Will extra payments always be accepted?

Use the contract’s prepayment terms. The calculator shows the mathematical effect when extra principal is accepted each month.

Why can cash received be lower than principal?

A withheld origination fee is deducted before disbursement even though the stated principal remains the loan balance.

Does this calculate the lender’s disclosed APR?

No. It uses the contract rate for payment and shows the fee separately; rely on the Truth in Lending disclosure for APR.

Will every extra payment shorten the loan exactly this way?

Only if the lender applies it to principal without other timing or contract differences.

Important: All figures are for educational purposes only and do not constitute financial advice. Always consult a qualified professional.