Rex says
Money math without the spreadsheet headache. Plug in your numbers and I'll show you exactly where the dollars land.
Try a scenario
Click to load — tweak from there.Inputs
Result
Down payment needed
$70,000
Resulting loan amount
$280,000
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One click, a permanent link with your numbers baked in.
How to use this
- 1Enter home price ($).
- 2Enter down payment target.
- 3Read your down payment needed on the right — it updates as you type.
- 4Hit Share to keep the scenario or send it to someone.
About this calculator
Down payment requirements vary by loan type and your goal — conventional loans typically require 20% to avoid private mortgage insurance, FHA loans allow as little as 3.5%, and this calculator computes your dollar down payment target and resulting loan amount for any percentage you choose.
Worked example
Using the values the calculator loads with:
Inputs
- Home price: 350000 $
- Down payment target: 20% (avoids PMI)
Results
- Down payment needed: $70,000
- Resulting loan amount: $280,000
What each field means
Inputs
- Home price ($)
- The home price used in the calculation, measured in $. Starts at 350000 $ so you have a working example on load.
- Down payment target
- Pick the option that matches your situation — the maths changes per option. Choices: 3.5% (FHA minimum), 5%, 10%, 20% (avoids PMI).
Results
- Down payment needed
- Returned as a money amount in US dollars and shown as the headline result. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
- Resulting loan amount
- Returned as a money amount in US dollars. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
FAQ
How much down payment do I need?
For a $350,000 home at the standard 20% target, you need $70,000 down, leaving a $280,000 loan and avoiding private mortgage insurance (PMI) entirely.
Do I have to put 20% down?
No — conventional loans allow as little as 3-5% down and FHA loans allow 3.5%, but anything under 20% on a conventional loan usually triggers PMI, an added monthly cost until you reach 20% equity.
How much does 5% vs 20% down change my loan?
On a $350,000 home, 5% down is $17,500 (leaving a $332,500 loan) versus 20% down at $70,000 (leaving $280,000) — a $52,500 difference in loan size that also raises your monthly payment and total interest.
Does a bigger down payment always make sense?
Not always — if your investment returns elsewhere exceed your mortgage rate, keeping cash invested instead of maxing your down payment can be the better financial move, though it does mean carrying PMI or a larger loan.
Accuracy and limitations
- Results are estimates before tax, fees, and inflation unless an input explicitly covers them.
- Rates are treated as fixed for the whole period — variable-rate products will drift from this projection.
- This is educational maths, not financial advice. Check anything contractual with the lender or your accountant.
Related tools
Cite this calculator
Writing about this topic? Grab a citation — every link helps keep these tools free.
RevenueLab. (2026). How Much Down Payment Do I Need?. Retrieved from https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/how-much-down-payment-do-i-need
<p>Source: <a href="https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/how-much-down-payment-do-i-need" target="_blank" rel="noopener">How Much Down Payment Do I Need? — RevenueLab</a> (2026).</p>
Source: [How Much Down Payment Do I Need? — RevenueLab](https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/how-much-down-payment-do-i-need) (2026).