Loan calculator

What the loan calculator computes

The loan calculator works out the monthly payment of an instalment loan, the total interest and the total cost of the loan when you enter the loan amount, the term and the rate. You can also estimate how much a monthly payment would allow you to borrow, and see how a rise in Euribor would change the payment of a Euribor-linked loan. The result is indicative and does not replace the lender’s own pre-contract information.

How to use the calculator

1. Enter the loan amount and term. If you do not know the rate, use the median rate of a product category from the market report.
2. Read the monthly payment and total interest. Compare them with what you have left each month.
3. Try a longer and a shorter term: a longer term lowers the payment but raises interest costs.
4. Move on to the comparison of your chosen category (consumer loan, quick loan, flexible credit line, debt consolidation loan, car loan, mortgage) and see which lenders publish a price.
5. Ask your chosen lenders for their own pre-contract information before applying.

How the monthly payment is calculated

The calculator uses the annuity formula. The monthly rate is the annual rate divided by twelve, and the payment is the loan amount times the monthly rate divided by one minus (one plus the monthly rate) raised to minus the number of months. Each payment contains both interest and principal, and the interest share falls as the remaining principal falls.

Annuity loan

In an annuity loan the monthly payment stays the same for the whole term if the rate does not change. This is the most common model in consumer credit. In a loan with equal principal repayments the principal part is the same every month, so the payment is highest at the start and falls over time.

Euribor and margin

Banks price many loans as a reference rate (Euribor) plus a margin. The margin is the bank’s own share and often stays the same while Euribor moves. The total rate is therefore today’s Euribor plus the margin, and the payment changes when the reference rate is reset. We show the margins banks publish and compute total rates with today’s Euribor.

Annual percentage rate (APR)

The APR combines the interest and all credit costs, such as the opening fee and monthly fees, into one annual percentage. The calculator result does not include an opening fee or monthly fees, so it is usually slightly lower than the APR a lender states. The APR can only be verified from the lender’s representative example.

Example table: monthly payment at different rates

The table shows the monthly payment of a €10,000 loan at different rates and terms. The figures are computed with the annuity formula; they are illustrative calculations, not offers. The real price depends on the lender, the applicant and the contract costs.

The table shows that a rate difference matters more the longer the term is, and that lengthening the term lowers the payment less than one might expect. More reference points are in the market report.

How much can I borrow

The second calculator turns the question around: when you know how much you can pay per month, it shows the largest loan amount at a given rate and term. When you estimate, leave room for other expenses and for a rate rise. The lender assesses your ability to repay by its own criteria, and the lender must check the consumer’s information before granting credit, so the calculator result is not a promise of a loan.

Euribor sensitivity

The third calculator shows what happens to the monthly payment if the reference rate rises or falls. On a Euribor-linked loan the change passes into the payment when the rate is reset. On a large loan even a one-percentage-point rise can add hundreds of euros per month. See current Euribor values and history in the market report and follow changes in the market watch.

Choosing the term and the amount

A short term

A short term raises the monthly payment but reduces total interest. It suits you when income is stable and you want to be out of debt quickly. On small credits, however, a short term can make fixed monthly fees a large share of the cost.

A long term

A long term lowers the payment and eases the monthly budget, but more interest accrues and you commit for longer. On a long Euribor loan the effect of rate changes also compounds. A good starting point is to choose the shortest term whose payment you can surely afford even when income or the rate changes.

Payment relative to income

Besides the monthly payment, take into account other debts and regular expenses. The positive credit register collects data on all credits, so the lender sees your total debt. Make your own assessment before applying and leave room for unexpected expenses.

Using the calculator in different situations

When considering a consumer loan, enter the amount and term you want plus the category median rate and compare it with the lenders’ own figures. For a mortgage, try how the difference between a five-year and a ten-year term affects the payment, and use the sensitivity calculator to see what happens if Euribor rises. When considering consolidating several debts, compute the payment of a consolidation loan and compare it with the sum of your current payments. In business finance the calculator gives a guide to the monthly payment of a loan, but business credit lines, invoice financing and leasing are priced differently, so use the lender’s own calculation for them.

Limits of the calculator

• The calculator does not include opening fees, monthly fees or insurance that affect the real price.
• It assumes the rate stays the same during the term, which is not true of a Euribor loan.
• It does not assess whether you get a loan, and it is neither a credit decision nor an offer.
• Results are rounded to whole euros.

Compare lenders after the calculation

Once you know the amount and term you need, compare lenders: banks, finance companies and others and business loans. The full list is on the lender list, and the calculation methods are described on the methodology page. Data checked 07/10/2026.

Remember that the calculator is a tool and not advice: it does not know your income, debts or other expenses. If a loan feels large relative to your income, talk to a debt counselling expert before applying and always leave room for a rate rise and unexpected costs.