How much down payment for a house? A calculator with local rules
This down payment calculator turns a home price into the deposit you need, the loan and loan-to-value (LTV) it leaves, the monthly payment, any mortgage insurance, and the minimum down payment the rules allow where you are buying. Type the down payment as a percentage or an amount — the other updates — and a table compares 5%, 10%, 15%, 20% and 25% side by side.
It also plans the saving: with what you have now, what you put aside each month and the interest you earn, it shows how long until you have the deposit plus the upfront costs that first-time home buyers often forget. Choose the United States, United Kingdom, India, the UAE or Australia for local rules such as PMI, FHA, RBI loan-to-value limits, UAE Central Bank caps and Australia’s 5% Deposit Scheme. Results are estimates, not financial advice.
How to use the Down Payment Calculator
- Choose your Country and the Loan or buyer type (for example FHA, or expatriate first home).
- Enter the Home price and the Down payment as a percentage or amount.
- Add the Interest rate, Loan term and, for US loans, the Mortgage insurance rate.
- Read the loan, LTV, monthly payment and minimum down payment, and check the rule note below them.
- Fill in Saved so far, Saving each month, savings interest and Other upfront costs to see how long saving will take.
Down Payment Calculator features
Percent or amount
Edit either box; changing the price keeps the one you typed last, just like the mortgage calculator.
Minimum deposit rules
Conventional 3%, FHA 3.5%, VA/USDA 0%, UK 5%, RBI 10–25%, UAE 15–40% and Australia’s 5% scheme, with a warning below the minimum.
Mortgage insurance
US PMI below 20% down and FHA’s upfront and yearly premiums are added to the payment.
Comparison table
Every common down payment with its loan, payment and insurance or total cash needed.
Savings timeline
Months to reach deposit plus costs with monthly compounding on your savings.
Minimum down payment by country (as of October 2026)
Sources: HUD FHA rules and Mortgagee Letter 2023-05; Fannie Mae on PMI (typically 0.2–2% of the loan a year); RBI housing finance LTV limits; CBUAE Circular 31/2013 as amended in March 2020; Housing Australia and Treasury on the expanded 5% Deposit Scheme (1 October 2025).
| Where / loan | Minimum down | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| US conventional | 3% (5% common) | PMI below 20%; ends at 78% LTV |
| US FHA | 3.5% (credit 580+) | 1.75% upfront + 0.55% yearly MIP for most loans |
| US VA / USDA | 0% | Funding or guarantee fee instead |
| UK | 5% | Rates priced in 5% LTV bands |
| India | 10% / 20% / 25% | RBI: loan ≤ ₹30 lakh 90%, ≤ ₹75 lakh 80%, above 75% |
| UAE first home ≤ AED 5m | 20% expat / 15% national | 30% / 25% above AED 5m; 40% / 35% second home |
| Australia | 5% with the scheme | Otherwise LMI is usual below 20% |
Worked example: 10% vs 20% down on a $400,000 house
With 10% down ($40,000) the loan is $360,000. At 6.5% over 30 years principal and interest is $2,275.44, and PMI at 0.5% adds $150, for $2,425.44 a month. Put 20% down ($80,000) and the payment drops to $2,022.62 with no PMI — $402.82 less every month.
The 10% buyer with 3% closing costs needs $52,000 in cash. Starting from $15,000 and saving $1,000 a month at 4%, that takes about 34 months. The 20% buyer needs $92,000 — several more years of saving — so a smaller deposit with PMI can make sense if prices or rents are rising.
Choosing a down payment
- A bigger down payment means a smaller loan, less interest, no mortgage insurance at 20% and often a better rate band.
- Do not empty your savings: keep an emergency fund and money for moving, repairs and furniture.
- Count the upfront costs — closing costs in the US, Stamp Duty in the UK, stamp duty and registration in India, the 4% DLD fee in Dubai. The closing cost calculator itemises them, and the mortgage calculator adds tax and insurance to the payment.
Down Payment Calculator FAQ
How much down payment do I need for a house?
It depends on the loan: 3–5% for many US conventional loans, 3.5% for FHA, 0% for VA and USDA, about 5% in the UK and Australia, 10–25% in India and 15–40% in the UAE. This down payment calculator shows the minimum for your country and loan type.
Is 20% down required?
No, but in the US putting down 20% avoids PMI, and in Australia it avoids lenders mortgage insurance. Many buyers put down less and pay the insurance.
What is the down payment for a home loan in India?
RBI limits the loan to 90% of the property value up to ₹30 lakh, 80% up to ₹75 lakh and 75% above, so the minimum down payment (margin money) is 10%, 20% or 25%, plus stamp duty and registration.
What down payment does a first-time home buyer need?
First-time buyers can often use low-deposit options: 3% conventional or 3.5% FHA loans in the US, 5% mortgages in the UK and Australia’s 5% Deposit Scheme without LMI. UAE first-home caps are 5 points higher than before 2020.
How is LTV calculated?
Loan-to-value = loan ÷ property value × 100. A 10% down payment gives 90% LTV. FHA’s upfront premium raises the actual loan slightly above the base LTV.
How long will it take to save a deposit?
Enter your savings, monthly amount and interest rate: the calculator compounds monthly and shows the months needed to reach the down payment plus upfront costs.