How extra payments shorten a mortgage
A fixed-rate mortgage is amortized so that the same payment is made every month. Interest is charged on the balance that is still outstanding, which means the lender takes its share first and only the remainder reduces what you owe. When you add extra money and have it applied to principal, the balance drops by the full extra amount. From the next month on, interest is calculated on a smaller number, so a larger share of the regular payment goes to principal as well.
That is why the effect compounds. A modest extra payment made early can remove years from the end of the loan, and every one of those removed months is a month of interest you never pay. The calculator above reports both numbers directly: time saved and interest saved.
What different extra amounts achieve
These examples use a $300,000, 30-year fixed mortgage at 6.5% and assume the extra is paid every month from the first payment:
| Extra per month | New payoff | Time saved | Interest saved |
|---|---|---|---|
| $100.00 | Sep 2052 | 4 yr | $60,994.79 |
| $200.00 | Oct 2049 | 6 yr 11 mo | $103,448.79 |
| $500.00 | Mar 2044 | 12 yr 6 mo | $179,759.08 |
Change the amounts in the calculator to match your own loan — the table above is only an illustration, not a quote.
Monthly, annual or one-time extra payments
Servicers accept extra money in several forms. A recurring monthly extra is the easiest to automate and is what this calculator models. A once-a-year lump sum — a bonus, tax refund or holiday gift — can produce a similar total saving, especially if you send it early in the year. A one-time principal curtailment is a single large payment, and its effect depends heavily on when it lands: the earlier it is made, the more interest it removes.
Whichever route you choose, confirm how your servicer applies the money. Some systems treat an extra amount as an early installment of next month’s bill, which does not reduce the balance and therefore does not save interest. Ask for the extra to be applied to principal, and verify the drop on your next statement.
Before you pay extra
- Check for a prepayment penalty. Most US mortgages do not have one, but some loans do.
- Keep an emergency fund first. Money paid into a mortgage is hard to get back quickly.
- Compare the rate. If you have higher-interest debt, paying that down usually saves more.
- Keep the regular payment. An extra payment should be in addition to the scheduled payment, not a replacement.
- Tell your servicer. Confirm in writing or in your account settings that extra funds go to principal.
Print your accelerated schedule
The Print button above produces a clean copy of the summary and the full payment schedule, with the form, chart and buttons left out. Use Download CSV to open the same rows in Excel or Google Sheets. If you want a print-first version with payment dates and no on-screen tools, use the printable amortization schedule. For the standard month-by-month table without extra payments, see the amortization schedule calculator. To see taxes, insurance, HOA and PMI alongside the loan payment, use the mortgage calculator with taxes and insurance.