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Loan Payoff Calculator

See the payoff date, the total interest, and how much extra payments save.

How the payoff is calculated

Each month, interest is charged on the remaining balance (balance × yearly rate ÷ 12); the rest of your payment reduces the balance. The calculator walks month by month until the balance reaches zero. The payoff accelerates near the end: as the balance shrinks, less of each payment is eaten by interest.

A worked example

A $5,000 balance at 6% with a $200 monthly payment is gone in 27 months and costs $354.69 in interest. Add $100 extra per month and it is paid off in 18 months with $233.93 in interest, which is 9 months sooner and $120.76 cheaper.

Are extra payments worth it?

Every extra dollar goes straight to principal, permanently reducing the base on which future interest is charged. The earlier in the loan you pay extra, the bigger the effect. Family loans rarely carry prepayment penalties, but if you are the borrower, tell the lender so both sides’ records stay in sync.

Frequently asked questions

Why does the calculator say my loan never pays off?

If the monthly payment is less than or equal to one month’s interest on the balance, the balance never falls. The warning shows the interest-only threshold; anything above it will eventually clear the loan.

Can I pay off a family loan early?

Almost always, yes. Family loans rarely carry prepayment penalties. Agree on it with the other side and record the extra payments, so the remaining balance is beyond dispute. A tracker both sides can see keeps those records in one place.

Do extra payments lower my monthly payment or shorten the loan?

In this calculator they shorten the loan while the payment stays the same, which saves the most interest. Some lenders instead recalculate a lower payment over the same term; that helps monthly cash flow but saves less.

Is the payoff date exact?

It assumes payments arrive on schedule and the rate stays fixed. In practice a payment gets skipped or an extra one comes in, and the date shifts. Our tracker recalculates the payoff date after every recorded payment.

Keep this loan on track

Family Loan Tracker turns these numbers into a loan you can follow: a payment schedule, a running balance, reminders before each due date, and a history both sides can see.