VA Entitlement Calculator
Find your remaining VA entitlement, the biggest loan you can get with $0 down, and the down payment you would need for the home you want. Uses 2026 county loan limits. Free, private, no signup.
Next: see what the funding fee adds in the funding fee calculator (choose subsequent use if this is not your first VA loan), then check the monthly payment in the VA loan payment calculator →
🔒 100% private — your numbers stay in your browser. Nothing is uploaded, no email or phone number required.
Based on the VA guaranty rules and the 2026 FHFA conforming loan limits, last checked October 2026. Estimates only: your lender calculates the final figure from your Certificate of Eligibility.
How VA entitlement works
Entitlement is the part of the loan the VA promises to repay your lender if you default. Lenders want that guaranty, plus any down payment, to cover 25% of the loan. That rule is behind every number this calculator shows.
- Full entitlement: since January 1, 2020 there is no VA loan limit. For any loan above $144,000 the VA guarantees 25% of the loan amount, so you can buy with $0 down up to whatever your lender approves.
- Remaining (partial) entitlement: if a VA loan is still open, part of your entitlement is tied to it. The county loan limit then sets the ceiling: your maximum entitlement is 25% of that limit, minus what is already in use.
How to calculate remaining entitlement, step by step
Example: you bought your first home for $300,000 with a VA loan and kept it as a rental after a PCS move. You now want a $600,000 home in a county with the standard 2026 limit of $832,750.
| Step | Amount |
|---|---|
| 1. Maximum entitlement in the county (25% × $832,750) | $208,187.50 |
| 2. Entitlement in use on the first loan (25% × $300,000) | −$75,000 |
| 3. Remaining entitlement | $133,187.50 |
| 4. Largest loan with $0 down (remaining × 4) | $532,750 |
| 5. 25% of the $600,000 price | $150,000 |
| 6. Down payment typically needed (step 5 − step 3) | $16,812.50 |
That is about 2.8% down, compared with $120,000 for 20% down on a conventional loan. Because it is under 5%, a second-use buyer pays the 3.30% funding fee unless they are exempt or raise the down payment to 5% ($30,000), which cuts the rate to 1.50%.
On smaller loans the entitlement in use is not always 25%: for loans of $144,000 or less the VA guaranty follows a different scale (up to $36,000). The calculator applies that scale, but the figure on your Certificate of Eligibility is the one lenders use, so type it in if you have it.
How to get entitlement back
- Sell the home and pay off the loan: you can ask the VA to restore your entitlement in full.
- Pay off the loan and keep the home: a one-time restoration is allowed.
- Let a qualified veteran assume the loan: your entitlement is restored only if the buyer substitutes their own. Read our VA loan assumption guide.
Restoration is requested with VA Form 26-1880. A past foreclosure or short sale on a VA loan can leave part of your entitlement unavailable until the VA's loss is repaid; see VA loans after bankruptcy or foreclosure. Sources: VA.gov loan limits, FHFA 2026 conforming loan limits.
Frequently asked questions
What is VA loan entitlement?
Entitlement is the amount the VA guarantees to your lender if the loan is not repaid. It is not the amount you can borrow. For loans above $144,000 the VA guarantees 25% of the loan amount, which is why lenders can offer VA loans with no down payment.
How do I calculate my remaining VA entitlement?
Take 25% of your county's conforming loan limit ($832,750 in most counties in 2026, so $208,187.50), then subtract the entitlement still in use on your current VA loan, which is usually 25% of that loan's original amount. The result is your remaining entitlement.
How much can I borrow with no down payment?
With full entitlement there is no VA loan limit, so your lender's approval sets the maximum. With remaining entitlement, the largest loan with $0 down is about four times your remaining entitlement.
How much down payment do I need with partial entitlement?
Lenders usually want the VA guaranty plus your down payment to cover 25% of the loan. A common way to estimate it is 25% of the price minus your remaining entitlement. For example, $150,000 (25% of a $600,000 home) minus $133,187.50 of remaining entitlement means about $16,812.50 down.
Do I have full entitlement?
You have full entitlement if you have never used your VA home loan benefit, if you sold a home bought with a VA loan and paid the loan off, or if your entitlement was restored, for example after a qualified veteran assumed your loan and substituted their entitlement. Your Certificate of Eligibility shows it.
What county loan limit applies in 2026?
The VA uses the one-unit conforming loan limits published by the FHFA. For 2026 the baseline is $832,750 in most counties and up to $1,249,125 in high-cost areas, effective for VA loans closed on or after January 1, 2026.
More tools and guides
VA Loan Payment Calculator — monthly payment and amortization schedule.
VA Loan Affordability Calculator — how much house can you afford?
VA Funding Fee Calculator — first and subsequent use rates.
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.
Using a VA Loan a Second Time — PCS moves, rentals and remaining entitlement.
VA Loan Limits and Entitlement — the rules behind this calculator.
VA vs Conventional Loan Calculator — compare payments, the funding fee vs PMI and total cost.
VA Loan DTI Calculator — your debt-to-income ratio against the 41% benchmark.
VA Loan Guides — eligibility, closing costs, IRRRL, FHA and more.