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Extra Mortgage Payment Calculator

See exactly what adding a little to each mortgage payment does to your payoff date and lifetime interest.

Interest saved$75,157

Understanding this calculator

Extra principal payments are the rare financial move with a guaranteed, knowable return: every dollar of principal you prepay stops accruing interest at your mortgage rate, tax-free, for the rest of the loan. At 6–7% rates the effect is dramatic — modest monthly extras routinely erase years of payments.

The comparison worth running before you commit: could those dollars do more elsewhere? High-interest debt always wins; an unfunded emergency cushion usually wins; and investing is a judgment call about return versus certainty. This calculator gives you the mortgage side of that ledger precisely.

Assumptions and methodology

  • Simulates your balance monthly at the current rate and payment; extra amounts apply directly to principal.
  • One-time payments apply immediately; interest saved is the difference in lifetime interest between the two schedules.
  • Assumes a fixed rate and no recast; the required monthly payment stays the same until payoff.

Last reviewed August 30, 2026. Year-specific figures show their tax or data year in the tool; data is reviewed when the IRS, SSA, and CMS publish annual updates.

Common questions

Is there a best time of month to send extras?

Sooner is mathematically better since interest accrues on the balance, but the difference within a month is small. Consistency matters far more than timing.

Should I tell my servicer anything?

Yes — mark extras as 'apply to principal.' Some servicers otherwise hold them toward the next payment, which earns you nothing.