Down Payment Calculator

What is a down payment calculator?

A down payment calculator turns a purchase price and a percentage into the two numbers that actually matter when you buy a home: the cash you pay upfront and the loan amount you still need to borrow. Type a price and a percent, and it shows both instantly.

The down payment is the part of the price you cover with your own money instead of financing. The rest becomes your mortgage. This tool answers the everyday question “how much down payment do I need?” without spreadsheets, and lets you compare a 5%, 10%, or 20% scenario in seconds.

How does the down payment calculation work?

The math is direct and uses just two formulas:

down = price × percent ÷ 100

loan = price − down

where:

• price = the home or purchase price, in dollars
• percent = your down payment percentage (for example, 20 for 20%)
• down = the upfront cash you pay
• loan = the amount you finance with a mortgage

So the percent is entered as a whole number, not a decimal: 20 means 20%, which the formula divides by 100. Everything is in the same currency, and the loan amount is simply whatever the down payment does not cover. This is exactly the method the calculator above uses.

On a conventional US mortgage, a 20% down payment is the threshold that typically lets you avoid private mortgage insurance (PMI) — an extra monthly charge lenders add when you put less down.

Examples

Example 1 — $350,000 home at 20%

• down = 350,000 × 20 ÷ 100 = $70,000
• loan = 350,000 − 70,000 = $280,000

At 20% down, you hit the conventional PMI-avoidance threshold and finance $280,000.

Example 2 — $350,000 home at 10%

• down = 350,000 × 10 ÷ 100 = $35,000
• loan = 350,000 − 35,000 = $315,000

Halving the percent halves the cash upfront (from $70,000 to $35,000) but adds $35,000 to the loan you carry — and at under 20%, PMI usually applies.

Example 3 — $350,000 home at 5%

• down = 350,000 × 5 ÷ 100 = $17,500
• loan = 350,000 − 17,500 = $332,500

A 5% down payment is the smallest of the three: just $17,500 upfront, but the largest loan at $332,500.

Down payment reference table

This table uses the same down = price × percent ÷ 100 method on a $350,000 price so you can see how each percentage compares at a glance.

Down payment percent	Down payment ($350,000 price)	Loan amount	Avoids PMI?
3%	$10,500	$339,500	No
5%	$17,500	$332,500	No
10%	$35,000	$315,000	No
15%	$52,500	$297,500	No
20%	$70,000	$280,000	Yes
25%	$87,500	$262,500	Yes

Every loan figure is simply price − down, and the PMI column reflects the typical 20% conventional threshold.

Common uses

• Budgeting for a home purchase — see how much cash you need to save before making an offer.
• Comparing scenarios — check how 5% versus 20% changes both your upfront cash and your loan size.
• Setting a savings target — work backward from a target percent to the dollar amount you need on hand.
• Beyond housing — the same price × percent logic applies to car down payments or any large purchase with a deposit.

Tips and common mistakes

• Enter the percent as a whole number. Type 20 for 20%, not 0.20. The formula divides by 100 for you.
• Remember closing costs. The down payment is not the only upfront cash; closing costs, taxes, and fees are separate and not included here.
• Do not assume 20% is required. It is the PMI-avoidance threshold, not a minimum. Many loans accept far less down.
• Watch the loan side, too. A smaller down payment means a bigger loan, more interest over time, and possibly PMI — the cheaper-upfront option can cost more overall.
• Keep the currency consistent. Price and down payment should be in the same units; the calculator does not convert between currencies.

Limitations and notes

This calculator computes only the down payment and the resulting loan amount from your price and percent. It does not calculate your monthly mortgage payment, interest, PMI cost, property taxes, insurance, or closing costs, and it does not check whether a lender will approve a given down payment. The 20% PMI note applies to conventional US mortgages; other loan types and countries have different rules.

The tool runs entirely in your browser, so nothing you type is uploaded or stored. Figures are estimates for planning and education only and are not financial advice — confirm exact amounts and PMI rules with your lender.

Disclaimer: This tool provides estimates for general information and education only. It is not financial advice. Your lender’s required down payment, PMI rules, and total upfront cost may differ. Confirm figures with the lender before making any decision.

Once you know your loan amount, estimate the monthly cost with the mortgage payment calculator, plan your upfront savings with the savings goal calculator, or see how your deposit could grow with the compound interest calculator. Explore more tools in Finance.