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Home Equity Loan Calculator
Our calculator estimates the maximum amount you’re likely to qualify for, along with your monthly payments.
Some or all of the mortgage lenders featured on our site are advertising partners of NerdWallet, but this does not influence our evaluations, lender star ratings or the order in which lenders are listed on the page. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners.
Holden Lewis Senior Writer/Spokesperson | Mortgages, homebuying
Holden Lewis is a mortgage reporter and spokesperson who joined NerdWallet in 2017. He previously wrote for Bankrate, where he wrote about mortgages and real estate during the housing boom and bust. He has written articles about mortgages since 2001, and enjoys explaining complex topics to regular people who don't buy houses every day. Holden has been president of the National Association of Real Estate Editors and has won numerous writing awards. He splits his time between Jupiter, Florida, and Fort Worth, where he is renovating the house where he spent his high school years so he can move back and be a Texan again.
Michelle Blackford spent 30 years working in the mortgage and banking industries, starting her career as a part-time bank teller and working her way up to becoming a mortgage loan processor and underwriter. She has worked with conventional and government-backed mortgages. Michelle currently works in quality assurance for Innovation Refunds, a company that provides tax assistance to small businesses.
At NerdWallet, our content goes through a rigorous editorial review process. We have such confidence in our accurate and useful content that we let outside experts inspect our work.
Alice Holbrook Assigning Editor | Homebuying, savings and banking products
Alice Holbrook is a former editor of homebuying content at NerdWallet. She has covered personal finance topics for almost a decade and previously worked on NerdWallet's banking and insurance teams, as well as doing a stint on the copy desk. She is based in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula incorporates coverage options, customer experience, customizability, cost and more.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula incorporates coverage options, customer experience, customizability, cost and more.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula incorporates coverage options, customer experience, customizability, cost and more.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula incorporates coverage options, customer experience, customizability, cost and more.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula incorporates coverage options, customer experience, customizability, cost and more.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula incorporates coverage options, customer experience, customizability, cost and more.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula incorporates coverage options, customer experience, customizability, cost and more.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula incorporates coverage options, customer experience, customizability, cost and more.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula incorporates coverage options, customer experience, customizability, cost and more.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula incorporates coverage options, customer experience, customizability, cost and more.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula incorporates coverage options, customer experience, customizability, cost and more.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula incorporates coverage options, customer experience, customizability, cost and more.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula incorporates coverage options, customer experience, customizability, cost and more.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula incorporates coverage options, customer experience, customizability, cost and more.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula incorporates coverage options, customer experience, customizability, cost and more.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula incorporates coverage options, customer experience, customizability, cost and more.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula incorporates coverage options, customer experience, customizability, cost and more.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula incorporates coverage options, customer experience, customizability, cost and more.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula incorporates coverage options, customer experience, customizability, cost and more.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula incorporates coverage options, customer experience, customizability, cost and more.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula incorporates coverage options, customer experience, customizability, cost and more.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula incorporates coverage options, customer experience, customizability, cost and more.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula incorporates coverage options, customer experience, customizability, cost and more.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula incorporates coverage options, customer experience, customizability, cost and more.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula incorporates coverage options, customer experience, customizability, cost and more.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula incorporates coverage options, customer experience, customizability, cost and more.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula incorporates coverage options, customer experience, customizability, cost and more.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula incorporates coverage options, customer experience, customizability, cost and more.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula incorporates coverage options, customer experience, customizability, cost and more.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula incorporates coverage options, customer experience, customizability, cost and more.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula incorporates coverage options, customer experience, customizability, cost and more.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula incorporates coverage options, customer experience, customizability, cost and more.
Home equity refers to the amount of your house you’ve “paid off.” Every time you make a mortgage payment or the value of your home rises, your equity increases. As you build equity, you may be able to borrow against it. With a home equity loan, you receive the money in one lump sum.
A home equity loan lets you borrow from the equity that you’ve built in your home through mortgage payments and appreciation. You receive the money all at once with a fixed interest rate, making it a solid choice if you know exactly how much you’ll need to borrow. For example, you might choose a home equity loan if you’re replacing your roof or putting in new carpet.
To determine how much you may be able to borrow with a home equity loan, divide your mortgage’s outstanding balance by your current home value. This is your loan-to-value ratio, or LTV. You can find the remaining balance on your loan on your most recent mortgage statement. Your most recent home appraisal can give you an idea of its current value.
Depending on your financial history, lenders generally want to see an LTV of 80% or less, which means you have at least 20% equity in your home. In most cases, you can borrow up to 80% of your home’s value in total.
An example: Let’s say your home is worth $200,000 and you still owe $100,000. If you divide 100,000 by 200,000, you get 0.50, which means you have a 50% loan-to-value ratio and 50% equity. Lenders that allow a combined loan-to-value ratio of 80% may let you borrow $60,000 more. That would bring the amount you owe to $160,000, which is 80% of the $200,000 home value.
A home equity loan and home equity line of credit, or HELOC, are ways to cash in on your home’s equity, but they work differently.
HELOCs are similar to credit cards. You can borrow what you need as you need it, up to a certain limit. HELOCs often have adjustable or variable interest rates, meaning your monthly payment can change — but you pay interest only on the amount you draw.
Because you can draw on the line as necessary, HELOCs can be a better option if you don’t know exactly how much you need. For instance, you may be taking on a series of projects or renovations, and having a HELOC would allow you to finance the work in stages. By taking out only what you need as you need it, you can ensure that you aren’t borrowing — and paying interest on — more than you require.
If you like the fixed interest rate of a home equity loan but prefer a flexible balance, you can explore lenders that offer HELOCs with a fixed-rate option.
Choosing between a home equity loan or HELOC often comes down to your preferences: when you’d like to receive the money and whether you’re comfortable with a variable rate.
How to get a home equity loan
You’ll generally be eligible for a home equity loan or HELOC if:
You have at least 20% equity in your home, as determined by an appraisal.
Your credit history shows that you pay your bills on time.
If you meet these requirements and know how much you need to borrow, you’re ready to start reaching out to lenders. If the lender that financed your primary mortgage offers home equity loans, that can be a good place to start your search; however, we recommend that you compare offers from a few lenders to get the best available rate and terms. For our recommendations, check out NerdWallet’s roundup of the best home equity loan lenders.
Just because you meet the requirements for a home equity loan or HELOC doesn’t mean it’s a wise choice. Borrowing against your home’s equity is always risky because the lender can foreclose on your home if you fail to make payments. Financial experts recommend tapping home equity only when it helps add value to your home, such as for repairs or remodeling or, in extreme cases, for help in a financial emergency.
Before choosing between a home equity loan or HELOC, be sure you understand the total cost versus benefit for you, including interest rates, fees, monthly payments and potential tax deductions.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula incorporates coverage options, customer experience, customizability, cost and more.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula incorporates coverage options, customer experience, customizability, cost and more.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula incorporates coverage options, customer experience, customizability, cost and more.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula incorporates coverage options, customer experience, customizability, cost and more.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula incorporates coverage options, customer experience, customizability, cost and more.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula incorporates coverage options, customer experience, customizability, cost and more.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula incorporates coverage options, customer experience, customizability, cost and more.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula incorporates coverage options, customer experience, customizability, cost and more.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula incorporates coverage options, customer experience, customizability, cost and more.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula incorporates coverage options, customer experience, customizability, cost and more.