APR Calculator — See Your Real APR with Fees
General APR Calculator
Understand how fees and payment frequency impact the real cost of borrowing. Enter your loan details or try one of the ready-made examples to see an APR breakdown that is easy to compare.
Quick start with sample data
Selecting a scenario will populate the calculator. You can tweak any value afterwards.
Loan basics
Total amount you plan to borrow before any fees are added.
Annual interest rate quoted by the lender (before fees).
Fees & frequency
How often interest is compounded on your loan balance.
How frequently you make repayments.
Fees added to the loan balance (financed over time).
Fees you pay at closing (not financed).
Real APR
Payment amount
Total repaid
Principal, interest and fees combined.
Interest cost
How much you pay above the borrowed amount.
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Loan amount
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Loaned fees
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Upfront fees
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Total payments
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Periodic payment
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Total Interest
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All Payments And Fees
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Table of Content
Get the annual percentage rate (APR) for any fixed-rate loan and understand the true cost of borrowing. This calculator includes interest, upfront fees, and rolled-in charges. This means your APR shows the real price, not just the advertised rate.
Why this tool wins
- Fast, accurate results for people who want to calculate APR with fees.
- Clear explanations for comparing APR vs. interest rate.
- Built-in two-offer comparison for mortgage, auto, or personal loan.
How to use
- Enter basics: loan amount, term (months or years), and the quoted interest rate.
- Add fees: split upfront fees (paid at closing) and rolled-in fees (financed into the loan).
- Calculate & compare: see APR, monthly payment, and total cost, then add a second quote to compare side-by-side.
- Mortgage tip: After you calculate, use the PMI removal calculator. This tool helps you estimate when PMI will drop, usually at around 80% LTV. It also shows how extra principal payments can speed up that date. Finally, it shows your payment after removing PMI.
Pro tip: APR is a nominal annual rate derived from the monthly internal rate of return (IRR). We also show the effective yearly rate so you can see compounding effects.
What’s included in APR
Often counted toward APR (varies by product/jurisdiction):
- Origination, underwriting, and processing fees
- Discount points on mortgages
- Certain lender-mandated credit charges
Commonly not included:
- Late fees and prepayment penalties
- Escrow items (property taxes, homeowners' insurance)
- Optional add-ons (warranties, service plans)
Understand your result, what moves the APR.
- Upfront fees reduce your day-0 cash → APR usually rises.
- Rolled-in fees increase what you repay → APR nudges up.
- Shorter terms spread fees over fewer months → APR often goes up.
- Longer terms can lower APR, but total interest increases.
APR vs. interest rate vs. effective annual rate
- Interest rate: the advertised rate used to compute payments; excludes fees.
- APR (nominal): a standardised rate that includes eligible finance charges and their timing.
- Effective annual rate: shows compounding: (1 + monthly rate)^12 − 1. It’s useful for insight; loan disclosures typically use APR.
Mortgage APR points, PMI, and closing costs
- Use the APR calculator mortgage mode to capture real-world costs.
- Enter discount points and closing fees as upfront or rolled-in
- Optionally include PMI in total-cost planning (even if disclosures treat it differently)
- Compare refinance options by entering your current quote vs. a new offer.
Auto & personal loans, quick decisions with clarity
For auto and personal loans, origination/documentation fees heavily influence APR, especially on short terms. Use the comparison panel to test:
- Dealer financing vs. bank/credit union
- Different fee mixes or terms (24 vs. 48 months)
- The impact of rolling fees on the loan
Worked example (why fees push APR above the rate)
Scenario A (with fees)
- Borrow $20,000 at 7.5% for 36 months.
- Fees: $200 upfront + $200 rolled-in
- Payment based on $20,200 ≈ $628.35/month
- Cash received on day 0: $19,800
- Monthly IRR ≈ 0.738% → APR (nominal) ≈ 8.86%; Effective ≈ 9.23%
Scenario B (no fees)
Same terms with $0 fees → APR = 7.5
Takeaway: Even modest fees can push APR above the interest rate, especially on short terms.
Compare two offers
Add a second quote to compare APR, monthly payment, and total cost instantly. Ideal for:
- Refinancing (old vs. new lender)
- Mortgage shop-offs (different points/PMI)
- Auto dealership vs. bank financing
Who this calculator is for
- Shoppers want a true APR calculator that includes fees
- Homebuyers comparing mortgage APR with points/PMI
- Car buyers deciding between dealer and bank financing
- Anyone can compare two loan offers quickly and confidently
Related tools
Reverse Mortgage Calculator: Model principal/interest plus taxes and insurance; test extra payments and term changes.
Auto Loan Calculator with Extra Payment: Compare dealer and bank financing. Experiment with various durations such as 24, 36, 48, or 60 months, and review the overall expense.
Credit card payoff calculator extra payment: Plan faster payoff, estimate interest savings, and set a target payoff date.
Auto Refinance Calculator: See how long points and closing costs take to pay back after refinancing.
API Documentation Coming Soon
Documentation for this tool is being prepared. Please check back later or visit our full API documentation.
