Calculate your exact monthly payment, total interest payable and full amortisation schedule. Compare six scenarios side by side to find the cheapest deal for your situation.
Adjust the sliders above and every result updates instantly. The comparison table shows 6 scenarios \u2014 lower rate, higher rate, shorter and longer term \u2014 so you can see the impact of each change on your total cost.
Green bars = cheaper than your current selection. Red bars = more expensive. Blue = your current selection.
Adjust sliders above to see the comparison.
| Scenario | Rate | Term | Monthly EMI | Total Interest | vs Current |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adjust sliders to see comparison | |||||
| Month | Payment | Principal | Interest | Balance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Enter loan details to see the schedule | ||||
EMI (Equated Monthly Instalment) is the fixed amount you pay every month to repay a loan in full by the end of the agreed term. Our calculator uses the standard amortisation formula to compute your exact payment, shows you precisely how much of the total goes to interest versus principal, and lets you compare six alternative scenarios instantly.
The calculation behind every personal loan repayment schedule uses this formula:
This formula produces a constant monthly payment throughout the loan. What changes each month is the split between interest and principal \u2014 a concept called amortisation.
In month one of a \u00a310,000 loan at 6.9% APR, your interest charge is \u00a357.50 (the full \u00a310,000 balance \u00d7 0.00575). Your principal repayment that month is only \u00a3251.13. By month 36, your interest charge has fallen to under \u00a32, and almost your entire payment goes toward the final balance. This front-loading of interest is why paying a loan off early saves so much more than you might expect.
Always evaluate loans on total repayment, not monthly EMI. A lender offering a lower monthly payment through a longer term is not offering a better deal \u2014 they are charging you more in total interest for the privilege of smaller payments. Our comparison table makes this visible instantly.
The table below shows the real cost impact of different rates and terms on a \u00a310,000 personal loan. These are the numbers behind the comparison table in the calculator above.
| APR | Term | Monthly EMI | Total Interest | Total Repayment | Extra vs Best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5% | 36 months | \u00a3293 | \u00a3548 | \u00a310,548 | \u2014 (cheapest) |
| 6.9% | 36 months | \u00a3309 | \u00a31,112 | \u00a311,112 | +\u00a3564 |
| 9.9% | 36 months | \u00a3323 | \u00a31,628 | \u00a311,628 | +\u00a31,080 |
| 6.9% | 60 months | \u00a3197 | \u00a31,835 | \u00a311,835 | +\u00a31,287 |
| 9.9% | 60 months | \u00a3213 | \u00a32,779 | \u00a312,779 | +\u00a32,231 |
| 24.9% | 36 months | \u00a3396 | \u00a34,253 | \u00a314,253 | +\u00a33,705 |
| 39.9% | 36 months | \u00a3452 | \u00a36,268 | \u00a316,268 | +\u00a35,720 |
The difference between a 3.5% loan and a 39.9% loan on \u00a310,000 over 3 years is \u00a35,720 in extra interest \u2014 more than half the original amount borrowed. This is why knowing your credit score and improving it before applying can be one of the most valuable financial actions you take.
When a lender advertises a rate, they are legally required to show the Representative APR \u2014 the rate offered to at least 51% of successful applicants. Up to 49% may receive a higher rate. The rate you actually receive depends on your credit score, income and existing debts.
APR includes the interest rate plus all mandatory fees \u2014 arrangement fees, broker fees, compulsory insurance \u2014 spread over the loan term. It is the only metric that allows a fair like-for-like comparison between different loan products. A loan with 8% interest and a \u00a3250 arrangement fee will have a higher APR than a 9% loan with no fees.
UK personal loans use reducing balance interest (shown in this calculator): interest is charged on the remaining balance each month, so it decreases over time. Some car finance and hire purchase products use a flat rate, which sounds lower but costs more. A 6% flat rate is equivalent to approximately 11% APR. Always compare APR, never flat rates.
A monthly EMI you can afford is not the same as a loan that is financially optimal. A 5-year term on a \u00a310,000 loan at 9.9% APR costs \u00a31,151 more in interest than a 3-year term, purely for the benefit of lower monthly payments. If you can afford the higher payment, the shorter term is almost always the better financial choice.
The full repayment schedule table in this calculator shows every month of your loan. Here is how to use it:
Your fixed monthly EMI. This stays the same every month for the entire loan term. The split between interest and principal changes, but the total payment does not.
How much of your payment is reducing your actual debt this month. Starts low and increases each month as the outstanding balance falls.
How much of your payment goes to the lender as profit this month. Starts high and decreases each month. In month 1 of a \u00a310,000 loan at 9.9% APR it is \u00a382.50; in month 36 it is under \u00a32.
The outstanding amount you still owe after this month's payment. Useful for understanding your position if you want to refinance or make a lump sum payment at a specific point.
EMI (Equated Monthly Instalment) is the fixed monthly payment that repays both the interest and a portion of the principal on a loan. It is calculated using the amortisation formula: P \u00d7 r \u00d7 (1+r)^n \u00f7 ((1+r)^n \u2212 1), where P is the principal, r is the monthly rate and n is the term in months. This produces a constant payment that keeps your budget predictable.
A longer term means lower monthly payments but always means more total interest paid. A \u00a310,000 loan at 9.9% over 5 years costs \u00a32,779 in total interest. The same loan over 3 years costs \u00a31,628 \u2014 a difference of \u00a31,151 simply for extending the term by 2 years. Choose the shortest term your budget can comfortably support.
An amortisation schedule is a complete month-by-month breakdown of every payment in your loan, showing how much goes to interest, how much reduces the principal and what balance remains after each payment. Our calculator generates the full schedule instantly. It is particularly useful if you are considering making a lump sum payment at a specific point in the loan.
Yes, the underlying maths is identical \u2014 both mortgages and personal loans use the standard amortisation formula. Simply enter the mortgage amount, interest rate (your initial fixed or tracker rate) and term in months (e.g. 300 months for 25 years). Note that mortgage rates change at the end of a fixed period, so recalculate with the new rate when that happens.
Missing a payment typically incurs a late payment fee (FCA-capped at \u00a315 for most regulated loans) and damages your credit score. Interest continues to accrue on the outstanding balance. If you are struggling to make payments, contact your lender before missing a payment \u2014 most UK lenders are required to offer forbearance options and payment plans under FCA rules.
Our calculator uses the exact standard amortisation formula used by all UK banks and lenders. The figures are mathematically precise for fixed-rate loans. Note that the actual amount charged may differ very slightly (by pennies) due to how different lenders handle rounding in their systems. For any loan over \u00a31,000, the difference is typically less than \u00a35 over the full term.