Calcarena

Personal Loan Calculator

Need a loan for home improvement, debt consolidation, or emergencies? Calculate your exact monthly payment and total interest in seconds. See what you can afford before applying.

Key Benefits:

  • Instant monthly payment calculations
  • Compare different loan amounts and terms
  • See total interest over loan lifetime
  • Works for $1,000 to $250,000 loans
  • 100% free and no personal data collected

Calculate Your Loan

At a Glance

What It Calculates

Monthly payment, total interest, and total cost of a personal loan based on amount, rate, and term.

Common Uses

Debt consolidation, home improvements, emergency expenses, weddings, education. Works for USA, India, UK, Canada.

Loan Range

$1,000 to $250,000. Terms: 1-20 years. Rates: 3-30% APR depending on credit and lender.

How Personal Loans Work

The Concept

A personal loan is money you borrow from a lender with the promise to repay in fixed monthly installments over a set period. Unlike credit cards, personal loans have fixed rates and fixed terms, making them predictable and easier to budget.

The Monthly Payment Formula

M = P × [r(1+r)^n] / [(1+r)^n - 1]

Where:

M = Monthly payment

P = Principal (loan amount)

r = Monthly interest rate (annual ÷ 12 ÷ 100)

n = Total number of payments (months)

Example Calculation

Borrow: $50,000 at 8.5% APR for 60 months

Monthly payment: $1,011 | Total interest: $10,656 | Total paid: $60,656

Global Usage Notes

  • USA: Average personal loan: $10k-$50k. Rates: 5-36% based on credit. Terms: 2-7 years common.
  • India: Called "Personal Loan" or "Unsecured Loan." Rates: 10-18% APR. Banks & NBFCs offer. Terms: 3-7 years typical.
  • UK: Similar to USA. Called "Personal Loan." Rates: 3-20% depending on credit. FCA regulated.
  • Canada: Common from banks and online lenders. Rates: 5-21%. Fixed or variable options.

Replicate in Excel / Google Sheets

Column Layout

Column Header Example
ALoan Amount50000
BInterest Rate (%)8.5
CTerm (Months)60
DMonthly Payment=PMT(B2/12/100, C2, -A2)
ETotal Paid=D2*C2
FTotal Interest=E2-A2

Excel Formula

Monthly Payment (using PMT function):

=PMT(B2/12/100, C2, -A2)

This is the fastest way. B2=rate, C2=months, A2=principal (negative)

Setup in 5 Steps

  1. Create headers in row 1: Loan Amount, Interest Rate (%), Term (Months), Monthly Payment, Total Paid, Total Interest.
  2. Enter your loan amount (A2), rate (B2), and term in months (C2).
  3. In D2, enter: =PMT(B2/12/100, C2, -A2)
  4. In E2, enter: =D2*C2
  5. In F2, enter: =E2-A2
📊

Download Excel Template

Pre-built spreadsheet with formulas to calculate personal loan payments instantly.

Includes multiple scenarios and amortization schedule templates.

Embed This Calculator on Your Website

Copy & Paste This Code:

Who Should Embed It:

Visualise Your Amortization

See how your loan balance decreases with each payment and how much interest you're paying over time.

Chart explanation: The area chart shows principal (blue) decreasing and cumulative interest (red) increasing over the loan term.

Python Implementation

def calculate_personal_loan(principal, annual_rate, months):
    """
    Calculate personal loan monthly payment and total interest.

    Args:
        principal: Loan amount ($)
        annual_rate: Annual interest rate (%)
        months: Loan term in months

    Returns:
        dict with monthly_payment, total_interest, total_paid
    """
    monthly_rate = annual_rate / 12 / 100

    # PMT formula
    if monthly_rate == 0:
        monthly_payment = principal / months
    else:
        monthly_payment = principal * (monthly_rate * (1 + monthly_rate)**months) / \
                          ((1 + monthly_rate)**months - 1)

    total_paid = monthly_payment * months
    total_interest = total_paid - principal

    return {
        'monthly_payment': round(monthly_payment, 2),
        'total_interest': round(total_interest, 2),
        'total_paid': round(total_paid, 2)
    }

def amortization_schedule(principal, annual_rate, months):
    """
    Generate full amortization schedule.
    Returns list of [month, payment, principal, interest, balance]
    """
    monthly_rate = annual_rate / 12 / 100
    loan = calculate_personal_loan(principal, annual_rate, months)
    monthly_payment = loan['monthly_payment']

    schedule = []
    balance = principal

    for month in range(1, months + 1):
        interest_payment = balance * monthly_rate
        principal_payment = monthly_payment - interest_payment
        balance -= principal_payment

        schedule.append({
            'month': month,
            'payment': round(monthly_payment, 2),
            'principal': round(principal_payment, 2),
            'interest': round(interest_payment, 2),
            'balance': round(max(balance, 0), 2)
        })

    return schedule

# Usage
result = calculate_personal_loan(50000, 8.5, 60)
print(f"Monthly Payment: ${result['monthly_payment']}")
print(f"Total Interest: ${result['total_interest']}")

How to Use the Calculator (Step-by-Step)

1

Enter Your Loan Amount

How much do you need to borrow? From $1,000 to $250,000. Use the slider or type a number.

2

Select Your Interest Rate

Ask your lender for the APR (Annual Percentage Rate). Good credit: 5-10%. Fair credit: 10-18%. Poor credit: 18-30%.

3

Choose Your Loan Term

How long to repay? 12-84 months common. Shorter term = higher monthly payment but less interest. Longer term = lower payment but more interest.

4

Select Your Loan Purpose

This helps context but doesn't affect the calculation. Used for lender insights.

5

Click "Calculate"

Instantly see your monthly payment, total interest, and total amount you'll pay back.

6

Compare & Apply

Try different amounts and terms to find what you can afford. Once you're ready, apply with lenders (LendingClub, Prosper, Upgrade, etc.).

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between APR and interest rate?

The interest rate is just the percentage rate. APR (Annual Percentage Rate) includes fees and other charges, so it's usually higher. Use APR when comparing loans—it's more accurate.

Is a personal loan better than a credit card?

Personal loans have fixed rates (5-30%) and fixed terms, so you know exactly when you'll pay it off. Credit cards have higher rates (15-25%+) and only require minimum payments, making it easy to carry debt longer. Personal loans are better for paying off a large amount quickly.

How does my credit score affect the loan rate?

Excellent (750+): 5-8% | Good (700-749): 8-12% | Fair (650-699): 12-18% | Poor (below 650): 18-30%+. Higher credit score = lower interest rate = significant savings.

Can I pay off my loan early?

Most personal loans allow early repayment with no penalty. Check with your lender. Paying off early saves interest but requires discipline to actually do it.

Are personal loan rates different in USA vs. India?

USA: Rates 5-36% depending on credit. Average: 10-12%. India: Rates 10-18%. Average: 13-15%. Banks and NBFCs in India charge more because of higher risk perception.

What happens if I miss a payment?

Your credit score drops significantly (30-100+ point hit). Late fees apply (usually $15-50). After 30 days late: reported to credit bureaus. After 120 days: default status. Can lead to collections and legal action.

Is this calculator a substitute for professional advice?

No. This calculator is educational. Actual rates vary by lender, credit score, and factors this calculator can't account for. Always speak with lenders and financial advisors before borrowing.

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References & Sources

About This Calculator

Created by

Ekta

Dedicated to helping people understand loans and make informed borrowing decisions.

Reviewed by

Pawan

Reviewed for accuracy and clarity.