VA Loan Calculator

VA Loan Calculator

Estimate your monthly payment, VA funding fee, and full amortization schedule — no PMI, no email, no phone calls.

5.0% of home price
VA loan usage

🔒 100% private — your numbers stay in your browser. Nothing is uploaded, no email or phone number required.

Estimates only. Actual VA loan terms depend on your lender, credit profile, and county loan limits — this is not a loan offer or a substitute for advice from a VA-approved lender.

How the VA loan calculator works

  1. Enter your loan details. Home price, down payment, rate, and term.
  2. We apply the official 2026 VA funding fee schedule based on your loan purpose, down payment, and first/subsequent use — with no PMI added, ever.
  3. Get your full breakdown. Monthly payment, funding fee, and a month-by-month amortization schedule with a balance chart.

Why a VA loan is different from a conventional loan

VA loans are a home loan benefit earned by eligible veterans, active-duty service members, and some surviving spouses, backed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Unlike conventional loans, VA loans allow 0% down payment for qualified borrowers and never require private mortgage insurance (PMI) — regardless of how much you put down. Instead of PMI, VA loans charge a one-time VA funding fee, which can be paid upfront or rolled into the loan balance.

The funding fee rate depends on three things: your loan purpose (purchase, cash-out refinance, or IRRRL streamline refinance), how much you put down, and whether this is your first time using your VA loan benefit. Veterans receiving VA disability compensation, Purple Heart recipients, and certain surviving spouses are fully exempt from the fee. This calculator applies the current 2026 rate schedule automatically based on what you enter.

Your VA loan amortization schedule

After you calculate, open Show full amortization schedule to see every month of your loan: the payment, how much goes to principal and to interest, and the balance left. The chart shows the same thing at a glance.

Take a $350,000 home bought with nothing down at 6.5% for 30 years, with the 2.15% funding fee financed. The loan is $357,525 and the payment is about $2,260 a month. In the first month about $1,937 of that is interest and only $323 pays down the loan. After 5 years you still owe about $334,700, and after 10 years about $303,100. Principal only overtakes interest in year 20, and over the full 30 years you pay about $456,000 in interest.

That is why extra payments early in the loan, or a shorter term, save so much: every dollar of principal you pay off early stops collecting interest for the rest of the loan.

Frequently asked questions

Do VA loans require private mortgage insurance (PMI)?

No. VA loans never require PMI, regardless of your down payment — even at 0% down. That's one of the biggest savings VA loans offer over conventional loans, which typically charge PMI until you reach 20% equity.

What is the VA funding fee in 2026?

For a purchase loan, the funding fee ranges from 1.25% to 2.15% on first use, and 1.25% to 3.30% on subsequent use, depending on your down payment. Cash-out refinances are 2.15% (first use) or 3.30% (subsequent use). IRRRL (VA Streamline Refinance) is a flat 0.50%.

Am I exempt from the VA funding fee?

Yes, if you receive VA disability compensation, are a Purple Heart recipient currently serving, or are an eligible surviving spouse. Exempt borrowers pay a 0% funding fee. Check the exemption box in the calculator to see your savings.

Can I roll the VA funding fee into my loan?

Yes, most borrowers finance the funding fee into the total loan amount instead of paying it upfront at closing. This calculator lets you toggle that on or off to compare both scenarios.

How much down payment do I need for a VA loan?

VA loans allow 0% down for eligible borrowers. However, putting down at least 5% or 10% lowers your funding fee rate, which can offset the extra cash needed at closing over the life of the loan.

Can I use my VA loan benefit more than once?

Yes. VA loan benefits can be reused, but the funding fee is higher on subsequent use (except when your down payment is 10% or more, where the rate is the same either way).

What's the difference between a VA purchase loan and an IRRRL?

A purchase loan buys a home. An IRRRL (Interest Rate Reduction Refinance Loan), also called a VA Streamline Refinance, only refinances an existing VA loan to a lower rate, with a much lower 0.50% funding fee and typically no appraisal or income verification.

Is this calculator accurate enough to use for my loan application?

This tool gives a close estimate using the official 2026 VA funding fee schedule and standard amortization math, but your lender's final numbers may vary slightly based on your county's loan limits, credit profile, and closing costs. Use it to compare scenarios, not as a binding quote.

More tools

VA Loan Affordability Calculator — how much house can you afford?

VA Funding Fee Calculator — see your fee and how a down payment changes it.

VA Loan vs. Conventional Loan — see how they compare side by side.

VA IRRRL Calculator — streamline refinance savings and the 36-month test.

VA vs FHA Loan Calculator — compare payments, funding fee vs MIP and total cost.

VA vs Conventional Loan Calculator — compare payments, the funding fee vs PMI and total cost.

VA Entitlement Calculator — remaining entitlement and the largest $0 down loan.

VA Closing Cost Calculator — estimate fees, prepaids and your cash to close.

VA Residual Income Calculator — check the VA residual income test for your family.

VA Loan DTI Calculator — your debt-to-income ratio against the 41% benchmark.

VA Loan Guides — eligibility, closing costs, limits, IRRRL, FHA and more.

VA loan guides