VA Funding Fee Calculator
See exactly how much your VA funding fee is, and how a bigger down payment can lower it. Free, private, no signup.
How your down payment changes the fee
| Down payment | Amount down | Fee rate | Funding fee |
|---|
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Rates from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, effective April 7, 2023, last checked September 2026. Estimates only; your lender's figures are the ones that count.
VA funding fee rates at a glance
| Loan type | First use | Subsequent use |
|---|---|---|
| Purchase, less than 5% down | 2.15% | 3.30% |
| Purchase, 5% or more down | 1.50% | 1.50% |
| Purchase, 10% or more down | 1.25% | 1.25% |
| Cash-out refinance | 2.15% | 3.30% |
| IRRRL (VA Streamline Refinance) | 0.50% | 0.50% |
The fee applies to the loan amount, not the purchase price. On a $350,000 home with nothing down, a first-time VA borrower pays 2.15% of $350,000, or $7,525. Put 10% down and the loan drops to $315,000 while the rate falls to 1.25%, so the fee becomes $3,937.50. Source: VA.gov.
How to calculate the VA funding fee
You can work out the fee by hand in three steps:
- Find your loan amount. Take the home price and subtract your down payment. A $350,000 home with 5% down ($17,500) gives a loan of $332,500.
- Look up your rate. Use the table above: it depends on the loan type, your down payment and whether this is your first VA loan. With 5% down, the rate is 1.50% for both first and subsequent use.
- Multiply. Loan amount × rate = funding fee. $332,500 × 1.50% = $4,987.50.
Two more examples on the same $350,000 home with nothing down: a first-time borrower pays 2.15% of $350,000, or $7,525, and a borrower using the benefit again pays 3.30%, or $11,550. On an IRRRL the rate is always 0.50% of the new loan amount, so refinancing a $280,000 balance costs $1,400.
If you finance the fee, it is added to your loan, so your balance becomes $332,500 + $4,987.50 = $337,487.50 in the first example. The calculator above does all of this for you and shows how putting 5% or 10% down changes the fee.
Am I exempt from the VA funding fee?
You do not pay the funding fee if any of these apply to you:
- You receive VA compensation for a service-connected disability.
- You are eligible for that compensation but receive retirement or active-duty pay instead.
- You are a surviving spouse receiving Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC).
- You have a proposed or memorandum disability rating before your discharge (pre-discharge claim).
- You are an active-duty service member who has received the Purple Heart.
Your Certificate of Eligibility shows your funding fee status. Tick the exemption box in the calculator to see how much you save, and read our VA funding fee exemption guide for the details.
Frequently asked questions
What is the VA funding fee?
The VA funding fee is a one-time fee charged on most VA-backed home loans. It is a percentage of the loan amount, not of the home price, and it can be paid at closing or rolled into the loan.
How is the VA funding fee calculated?
Multiply your loan amount by the fee rate. For a purchase loan the rate depends on your down payment and whether it is your first use of the VA loan benefit. For example, a $332,500 loan at the 1.50% rate costs $4,987.50.
Am I exempt from the VA funding fee?
According to the VA, you are exempt if you receive VA compensation for a service-connected disability, are eligible for that compensation but receive retirement or active-duty pay instead, are a surviving spouse receiving Dependency and Indemnity Compensation, have a pre-discharge disability rating, or are an active-duty service member who has received a Purple Heart.
Can I roll the VA funding fee into my loan?
Yes. Most borrowers finance the fee, which raises the loan balance and the monthly payment slightly. Paying it at closing keeps the loan smaller but needs more cash upfront.
How can I lower my VA funding fee?
A larger down payment lowers the rate on a purchase loan: 5% or more down drops it to 1.50%, and 10% or more drops it to 1.25%. Exempt borrowers pay nothing.
Are these the current VA funding fee rates?
These are the rates published by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs that took effect on April 7, 2023, and they were last checked against VA.gov in September 2026. Always confirm with your lender, since the VA can update the schedule.
How do you calculate the VA funding fee?
Multiply the base loan amount (price minus down payment) by the rate for your situation. For a purchase in 2026: 2.15% with less than 5% down the first time you use the benefit (3.30% after that), 1.50% with 5% to 9.99% down, and 1.25% with 10% or more. Example: a $350,000 home with nothing down is 350,000 × 2.15% = $7,525. The calculator above does it for any amount.
What is the VA funding fee for an IRRRL refinance?
0.50% of the new loan amount, whether it is your first VA loan or not. A VA cash-out refinance uses the purchase rates without a down payment: 2.15% for first use and 3.30% after that. Veterans with a service-connected disability rating are exempt from all of them.
More tools
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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.