This down payment calculator turns a home price and a down payment percent into the cash target you need at purchase. Enter price and percent to get down = price × pct ÷ 100. Use amount already saved to judge the remaining gap on your own timeline.
Buyers use it when comparing conventional, FHA, or other programs that ask for different percents. For full payment estimates after you know the loan size, continue with the mortgage calculator.
How the formula works
Down payment equals home price times the down payment percent divided by 100. A higher percent raises cash due and lowers the financed balance. A lower percent does the opposite.
Worked example
Home price $400,000, down payment 20 percent. Down payment needed = 400,000 × 0.20 = $80,000. With $30,000 already saved, about $50,000 remains to reach that target.
| Input | Value |
|---|---|
| Home price | $400,000 |
| Down payment % | 20% |
| Down payment needed | $80,000 |
| Already saved (example) | $30,000 |
How to use the fields
- Home price should match the offer or listing target you are modeling.
- Down payment % is the share of price you plan to bring as cash equity.
- Amount already saved is optional planning context for your savings gap.
Choosing a percent
Twenty percent often avoids private mortgage insurance on conventional loans, but it is not the only path. Some buyers prefer a smaller percent to keep more cash for repairs and reserves. Run 5, 10, and 20 percent on the same price so you see cash and loan size side by side.
Cash at closing versus down payment
Down payment is only part of cash to close. Appraisal, title, prepaid taxes, and lender fees can add thousands. Keep a separate closing cost buffer so the percent target does not consume every dollar you have.
Common mistakes
- Using take home pay goals instead of the price based percent
- Forgetting that earnest money usually counts toward the same cash pile
- Ignoring reserves lenders require after closing
- Mixing gift funds into the plan without checking program rules
Planning checklist
- Confirm the purchase price you are modeling.
- Pick the percent your loan program allows and that you can fund.
- Subtract committed gifts only after lender approval paths are clear.
- Estimate loan size as price minus down payment before fees.
- Recheck if the seller changes price or credits.
Saving toward the target
Divide the remaining gap by months until you expect to shop. That monthly savings pace keeps the goal concrete. If the pace is unrealistic, lower the price target or raise the timeline before you tour homes outside your cash range.
Keep emergency savings separate from down payment money when you can. Using every reserve dollar for the percent target can leave you fragile after keys are in hand.
Loan size next step
Once the down payment number is fixed, the financed amount is roughly price minus that cash. Payment then depends on rate and term. Use a mortgage payment tool with that principal so housing cost fits income before you write an offer.
Program differences that change the percent
Conventional loans, FHA loans, and VA loans do not share one down payment rule. A percent that works on one program can be too low or unnecessary on another. Re run this calculator whenever the program changes, even if the home price stays fixed.
Some sellers expect proof of funds that covers down payment plus closing costs. Keep bank statements ready for the full cash stack, not only the percent result from this page.
Earnest money and timing
Earnest money usually counts toward the same cash pile as the down payment, but it leaves your account earlier. Track contract deadlines so you are not short when the remainder is due at closing.
If an appraisal comes in low, the price based percent may still be calculated on contract price while the lender sizes the loan on appraised value. Ask your loan officer how a shortfall would be handled before you stretch the last dollar of savings.
Building the cash without draining reserves
Automate transfers into a labeled down payment account. Review the remaining gap each month and adjust the transfer if income changes. A clear label reduces the chance those dollars get spent as ordinary cash.
If family gift funds will close the gap, start lender paperwork early. Gift letters and sourcing rules can take longer than the simple percent math suggests.
Limitations
Results ignore closing costs, PMI premiums, and lender overlays. Exact cash to close comes from your Loan Estimate. For payment math on the remaining balance, use the mortgage calculator linked above or a generic loan calculator.