Down Payment Calculator
The down payment on a home or car as an amount and a percentage of the price, the loan left to borrow, and the monthly saving that gets you there by a target date.
Result…
How it's calculated
Down payment = price × percent (or the amount you enter) Loan left = price − down payment Months = whole months from the start to the target date Gap = down payment − saved × (1 + i)^months, i = yearly return ÷ 12 Monthly saving = gap × i ÷ ((1 + i)^months − 1), or gap ÷ months at 0%
Works out a down payment as an amount and as a share of the purchase price, and what is left to borrow. It then counts the whole months to your target date and finds the level monthly saving that, with what you have already saved and any return you enter, reaches the down payment on time. Deposits are made at the end of each month, and the return is a yearly rate compounded monthly.
Your numbers, step by step
About the Down Payment calculator
This down payment calculator turns a purchase price into a down payment, as an amount and as a percentage, and shows the loan left to borrow. It then plans how to get there: enter what you have saved, the date you start and your target date, and it counts the whole months between them and finds the level amount to save each month. If your savings earn a return, enter the yearly rate and it is compounded monthly, so less has to come from you; leave it at 0 for a plain cash plan. It works for a home, a car or anything else bought with a loan. How much down payment a lender asks for, and what happens when it is small, differs by country, lender and loan type, so the calculator leaves the percentage to you and shows every step with your own numbers.
How to use it
- Enter the “Purchase price”.
- Under “Down payment as”, choose “Percent” or “Amount” and enter the “Down payment”.
- Enter what you have “Saved so far”.
- Set “Start saving on” and the “Target date” when you want the money ready.
- Optionally enter a “Return on savings”, then read the loan left and the monthly saving needed.
Worked example
Take a 300,000 home with a 10% down payment, which is 30,000 and leaves 270,000 to borrow. With 8,000 already saved, 22,000 is still to find. From 1 November 2026 to a target of 1 November 2028 is 24 months. With savings earning 4% a year, compounded monthly, saving 855.35 at the end of each month reaches 30,000 on time, and interest adds 1,471.64 of it.
Updated
Questions people ask
How do I calculate a down payment?
Multiply the price by the percentage you plan to put down: 10% of 300,000 is 30,000. The rest, 270,000 here, is what you would borrow.
How much do I need to save each month for a down payment?
With no return, take what you have saved from the target and divide by the months left. With a return, the calculator uses the sinking-fund formula, gap × i ÷ ((1 + i)^months − 1), so each deposit can be a little smaller.
What down payment percentage do lenders ask for?
It depends on the country, the lender, the loan and the property, and a small down payment can bring extra costs such as mortgage insurance. Ask lenders where you live, then enter their figure; the loan-to-value calculator shows the ratio they look at.
What is a common mistake when saving for a down payment?
Saving only the down payment and forgetting the other costs of buying, such as fees, taxes and moving. The closing cost calculator adds those up from your own quote.
Is the return on savings guaranteed?
No. The calculator assumes one steady rate with no tax on the interest, and real rates change. For money you need on a fixed date, check the account terms, and speak to a qualified adviser if you are unsure where to keep it.