Personal loan calculator
Our personal loan calculator will help you work out how much your monthly payments will be and what a loan could cost overall, so you can make sure it’s affordable.
See loans available to you
- Find loans without harming your credit score
- Understand chance of approval before applying
See loans available to you
- Find loans without harming your credit score
- Understand chance of approval before applying
How does the loan repayment calculator work?
The personal loan calculator works out either how much you’ll have to pay each month or how much you can borrow, based on different variables. These include:
- Amount borrowed
- Interest rate
- Length of the loan
- Monthly payments.
If you change any of the variables, the loan repayment calculator will work it out all over again with the new figures.
How to use the loan calculator
To see how much your monthly repayments will be:
-
Enter the amount you want to borrow and for how long on the ‘what are my repayments?’ tab – you can either fill in the box or use the slider.
-
Select how many years you want to pay back over.
-
The average APR is shown but this can be adjusted accordingly, based on whether you have a good or bad credit rating. If you know you have a poor credit score, you’re more likely to be offered a higher APR.
-
Check the result – you’ll be able to see how much your monthly repayments will be and how much you’ll pay overall in interest.
To see how much you can afford to borrow:
-
Enter the amount you can afford to repay every month on the ‘what can I borrow?’ tab.
-
Choose the number of years you want to pay back over.
-
If you know the representative APR of a loan you’re interested in, enter it. The average APR is shown but this can be adjusted accordingly, based on whether you have a good or bad credit rating.
-
Check the result – you’ll be able to see how much you can afford to borrow with an indication of what you’d pay in interest.
Think carefully about whether you can afford to pay back a loan regularly and on time before you take one out.
What is APR?The annual percentage rate – or APR – is the total cost of borrowing money over the course of a year. It’s shown as a percentage of the amount borrowed and includes the cost of interest and any fees that are automatically added to the loan, such as arrangement fees. Knowing the APR can help you compare the total cost of taking out a personal loan or credit card. Lenders must tell you about the representative or typical APR when they advertise a loan. Where the term ‘representative APR’ is used, this advertised rate must be offered to at least 51% of successful applicants. |
What should I look for when comparing loans?
When looking for a personal loan, it’s important to compare your options to make sure you’re not paying more than you need to. Here are some key considerations when comparing loans:
Loan term
The length of time you have to pay back the loan is an important consideration. A longer loan term will usually mean your monthly repayments are lower as they’re spread out over a longer period. But the loan will cost more overall because you’ll pay interest for longer. What’s most important is that you choose a loan term that allows you to comfortably pay back what you owe as quickly as you can without getting into financial difficulty.
Interest rate
Ideally you want a loan with the lowest interest rate you can get. But to understand the true cost of borrowing, it’s best to focus on the APR rather than just the interest rate alone. The APR not only includes the interest you’ll pay but also accounts for other fees and costs associated with the loan. Lenders must tell you the APR before you sign up to a credit agreement.
Fees
Some loans may charge an arrangement or set-up fee, which could add to the cost of borrowing. Also check whether there’s a penalty for paying back the loan early or making overpayments.
Struggling to find a loan you’re eligible for? Read our guide to find out what you can do to improve your credit score.
What type of loans are available?
Here are some different types of loan available:
Secured loans are guaranteed against an asset you own, like your house or car. You could lose the asset if you don’t keep up repayments.
Unsecured personal loans are based on factors like your credit rating and income, and you don’t need to put up an asset as security.
Car loans can be secured or unsecured loans. They cover car finance offered by a dealership.
Guarantor loans are guaranteed by a relative or friend who promises to pay back the loan if you can’t.
Bad credit loans are aimed at borrowers who have a poor credit history and typically have higher interest rates.
Debt consolidation loans allow you to combine multiple debts into one loan and one monthly payment.
Compare the Market Limited acts as a credit broker, not a lender. To apply, you must be a UK resident and aged 18 or over. Credit is subject to status and eligibility.
How can I reduce the cost of a loan?
- Repay early — you can pay a loan off early to save on interest, although lenders may charge you an early repayment fee. Check your loan agreement to see if you’ll be charged.
- Make extra payments (overpaying) — overpay on your loan and you could reduce your interest payments. By law you can overpay up to £8,000 extra per year without being charged a fee.
- Avoid fees — you can look for loans that don’t come with charges. When you compare loans through us, you’ll be able to see the key features of each deal, including whether any fees and charges apply.
View our other calculators
Mortgage calculator
Use our mortgage calculator to work out how much you can borrow to buy your first or next home.
Remortgage calculator
Use our remortgage calculator to find out how much you can save if you make the right switch.
Equity release calculator
If you’re over 55 and a UK homeowner, use our calculator to find out how much equity you can release from your home.
Car finance calculator
Work out how much you can borrow to pay for your new set of wheels, based on what you can afford each month.