Balloon Payment Calculator
Enter the loan amount, rate, amortization period and when the balloon is due. You get the monthly payment, the lump sum you will owe at the end, total interest and a year-by-year balance schedule.
The term the payment is calculated on.
Decimals allowed, e.g. 2.5 = 30 months.
How to use the Balloon Payment Calculator
- Enter the loan amount and annual interest rate.
- Choose amortizing or interest-only payments.
- Enter the amortization period used to calculate the payment (e.g. 30 years).
- Enter when the balloon is due (e.g. after 7 years).
- Read the balloon payment, monthly payment and the schedule.
The balloon payment formula
A balloon loan has payments calculated as if the loan ran for a long amortization period, but the remaining balance is due in one lump sum much earlier. The regular payment is:
P = L × r ÷ (1 − (1 + r)−na)
and the balloon is the balance still owed after nb payments:
Balloon = L(1 + r)nb − P × ((1 + r)nb − 1) ÷ r
L is the loan amount, r the monthly rate (annual rate ÷ 12), na the amortization period in months and nb the months until the balloon. For an interest-only loan the payment is L × r and the balloon is the full principal.
Example: $250,000 at 7%, amortized over 30 years with a 7-year balloon: payment $1,663.26 a month and a balloon of $227,868.54 after 84 payments.
Balloon size per $100,000 borrowed at 7%
| Amortization | Balloon after | Monthly payment | Balloon | % of loan left |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 years | 5 years | $665.30 | $94,131.59 | 94.1% |
| 30 years | 7 years | $665.30 | $91,147.41 | 91.1% |
| 30 years | 10 years | $665.30 | $85,812.38 | 85.8% |
| 25 years | 10 years | $706.78 | $78,633.40 | 78.6% |
| 15 years | 5 years | $898.83 | $77,412.80 | 77.4% |
Most borrowers plan to sell or refinance before the balloon is due. If rates rise or the property loses value, refinancing can be harder, so have a backup plan for the lump sum.
Frequently asked questions
What is a balloon payment?
It is a large lump sum due at the end of a loan whose regular payments did not fully repay it. For example, a 30/7 balloon mortgage has payments based on 30 years, but the remaining balance must be paid after 7 years.
How do you calculate a balloon payment?
Work out the regular payment over the amortization period, then find the balance remaining after the balloon term: Balloon = L(1 + r)^n − P × ((1 + r)^n − 1) ÷ r, with r the monthly rate and n the number of payments made. For $250,000 at 7% on a 30-year schedule, the balloon after 7 years is about $227,900.
Is the balloon in addition to the last monthly payment?
In this calculator, yes: you make all regular payments through the balloon month, and the balloon is the balance still owed after that. Some lenders combine the final payment and the balloon into one figure.
Why choose a balloon loan?
Balloon loans give lower payments than a loan that fully repays over the same short term. They are common for commercial real estate, some auto and business loans, and for borrowers who expect to sell or refinance before the balloon date.
What are the risks of a balloon loan?
If you cannot sell or refinance when the balloon comes due, for example because rates have risen, your income dropped or the property value fell, you may struggle to pay the lump sum and could face default.
How does an interest-only balloon work?
You pay only interest each month, so the balance never falls, and the full original principal is due at the end. Payments are lowest, but the balloon is largest.
Is my data private?
Yes. The calculator runs entirely in your browser.