SimplyToolz SimplyToolz

Refinance Calculator

Calculate your break-even point and see if refinancing saves you money

100% private — runs in your browser · No watermark · No sign-up · Free

The numbers below are an example. Replace them with yours — the result updates as you type, no button to press.

1 Current Loan

How many years the loan was taken for originally — not how many are left. It is on the first page of your contract. Together with the years remaining it gives your current balance.

How long is left to pay. The balance still owed follows from it.

2 New Loan

3 Refinance Closing Costs

Leave these at zero if they do not apply.

Everything the new loan costs up front: valuation, a new policy, notary, bank fee, registration. Add them into one figure. This is what decides whether refinancing pays for itself — the break-even line says in how many months.

Monthly Difference: $0.00
Current Payment (P&I):$0.00
New Payment (P&I):$0.00
Remaining Interest (Current):$0.00
Total Interest (New):$0.00
Total Interest Saved:$0.00
Balance still owed$0.00

The result is an estimate from the numbers you entered. It is not financial, investment or tax advice and not an offer of credit — the actual terms are set by your bank. Check important decisions with a qualified specialist. Full disclaimer

How to Use

Current Loan

Enter your Current Loan Balance, Interest Rate, and remaining term.

New Loan

Enter the New Interest Rate and New Term.

Refinance Closing Costs

Enter any Refinancing Costs.

Read the verdict, then the schedule

Click Calculate to see monthly savings and break-even timeline.

Refinancing makes sense if you can lower your rate by at least 1% and plan to stay long enough to recoup costs.

Optimization Guide & Technical Info

When should you refinance your mortgage?

Refinancing means replacing your current mortgage with a new one. People usually refinance to lower their interest rate, shrink their monthly payment, or change the loan term (e.g., switching from a 30-year to a 15-year mortgage to pay off the house faster).

Refinancing isn't free. You have to pay closing costs, which typically range from 2% to 5% of the loan amount. The \"break-even point\" is how many months it takes for your monthly savings to cover the upfront closing costs. If your break-even point is 36 months, but you plan to sell the house in 24 months, refinancing will actually lose you money. This calculator figures out that exact break-even timeline for you.

Key Features

  • Compare current vs new mortgage side by side
  • Calculate monthly payment savings
  • Show total interest savings over the life of the loan
  • Break-even analysis — how many months until savings exceed closing costs
  • Include closing costs and fees in the calculation
  • Visualize cumulative savings over time

For Specific Situations

Mortgage

the usual case. The rate has to fall by enough to cover the costs — and the break-even line says by when.

Car or consumer loan

the term is short, so closing costs weigh far more here than on a mortgage.

Merging several loans

add up what you owe and put it in as one balance; the new payment replaces all of them.

Stretching the term

the payment falls and the interest grows. Both numbers are on screen — decide with them, not with one of them.


How does refinancing work?

Refinancing is the replacement of a current loan with a new one with more favorable terms (usually a lower rate). The calculator compares both options and shows the financial result.

The key metric is the break-even point: how many months will it take for the monthly savings to cover the cost of refinancing. If you plan to stay in your home longer than that, refinancing is beneficial.

The calculator takes into account all costs: real estate appraisal, applying for a new loan, insurance and other fees. This gives a realistic picture of the benefits.

Confidentiality

Calculations are performed in the browser. Financial data does not leave the device.


Tips and best practices

  • The general rule: refinance when you can reduce your rate by at least 0.5-0.75% and plan to stay in the home past the break-even point
  • Do not restart a 30-year term if you have been paying for 10+ years — the remaining interest savings may not justify resetting the clock
  • Compare the total interest paid over the remaining life of both loans, not just monthly payments
  • Shop multiple lenders — rates and closing costs can vary by $5,000-10,000 between lenders
  • Consider a no-closing-cost refinance if you might move within 3-5 years — the slightly higher rate avoids upfront costs
  • Time your refinance when your credit score is highest and debt-to-income ratio is lowest for the best rates

Formulas and Algorithms

Balance still owed B = P · (1 + i)k − M · ((1 + i)k − 1) / i

What is left after k payments: P — the original amount, i — the monthly rate, M — the payment.

Annuity payment M = P · i / (1 − (1 + i)−n)

The same payment every month, for the old loan and the new one alike.

Interest still to pay I = Σ Bj · i, j = k … n

Summed month by month from the real schedule, not from payment × months: the last payment is almost always smaller.

Break-even T = C / (Mold − Mnew)

How many months the closing costs C take to pay for themselves out of the monthly saving.


Typical use cases

Rate reduction

Refinance when rates drop 0.5-1% or more below your current rate

Term change

Switch from 30-year to 15-year to pay off faster and save on total interest

Cash-out refinance

Access home equity for renovations, debt consolidation, or investments

ARM to fixed

Switch from an adjustable rate to a fixed rate for payment stability

Financial planning

assessing total savings over the entire period

Debt consolidation

Roll high-interest debt into a lower mortgage rate


Frequently Asked Questions

Q: When is it profitable to refinance?

A: When the new rate is at least 0.5-1% lower than the current rate, you plan to stay in the home longer than the break-even point and refinancing costs are reasonable.

Q: What are the costs of refinancing?

A: Typical expenses: real estate valuation, insurance, bank commission, notary fees. This is usually 1-3% of the new loan amount.

Q: Is it possible to refinance early?

A: Yes, in most cases you can refinance at any time. However, check to see if there are any penalties for early repayment of your current loan.

Similar tools

Try the Mortgage Calculator for basic calculations, the Early Repayment Calculator for planning extra payments, and the Loan Calculator for personal loans.