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PMT Function in Excel - Calculate Loan Payments & Mortgage

Calculate periodic payment for a loan based on constant payments and interest rate with the PMT function in Excel....

Quick Start

Syntax

=PMT(rate, nper, pv, [fv], [type])

Parameters

rate - Required. Interest rate per period. For monthly payments, divide annual rate by 12.

nper - Required. Total number of payment periods. Multiply years by 12 for monthly payments.

pv - Required. Present value - the loan amount. Use negative for money borrowed.

fv - Optional. Optional. Future value - balloon payment at end. Default is 0.

type - Optional. Optional. 0 = payment at end of period (default), 1 = payment at beginning.

Simplest Example

ABC
1InputValueResult
2Annual Rate6%
3Years30
4Loan Amount$200,000
5Monthly Payment:
=PMT(B2/12, B3*12, -B4)
$1,199.10

Quick Reference

Basic Mortgage Payment
=PMT(5%/12, 30*12, -200000)

$200K loan, 5% annual, 30 years

$1,073.64/month

Car Loan Payment
=PMT(6%/12, 5*12, -30000)

$30K car, 6% APR, 5 years

$579.98/month

With Cell References
=PMT(B2/12, B3*12, -B4)

Rate in B2, Years in B3, Loan in B4

Flexible loan calculator

With Balloon Payment
=PMT(4%/12, 20*12, -150000, 50000)

$150K loan, $50K balloon at end

Lower monthly payment

Real-World Examples

Home Mortgage Payment Calculator

Calculate monthly payment for a home mortgage with different down payment scenarios using the PMT function in Excel. Perfect for real estate buyers comparing loan options, mortgage brokers creating payment projections, and financial planners helping clients understand homeownership costs. The Excel PMT formula accounts for principal, interest, and loan term to provide accurate monthly payment amounts for fixed-rate mortgages. Essential for home affordability analysis and comparing 15-year versus 30-year mortgage terms.

ABC
1InputValueResult
2Home Price$350,000
3Down Payment$70,000
4Loan Amount=B2-B3$280,000
5Annual Rate6.5%
6Years30
7Monthly Payment:
=PMT(B5/12, B6*12, -B4)
$1,769.52
Pro Tip: Divide annual rate by 12 for monthly rate. Multiply years by 12 for total payments. Make loan amount negative - it represents money going out.
Compare Car Loan Terms (3yr vs 5yr vs 7yr)

Compare monthly payments and total interest costs across different loan terms to make informed car financing decisions with the Excel PMT function. Critical for auto buyers evaluating trade-offs between lower monthly payments and total interest paid. The PMT formula in Excel helps car buyers understand how loan term affects both monthly budget impact and long-term financing costs. Finance managers use this to illustrate the true cost of extended financing and help customers choose optimal loan terms for their budget and financial goals.

ABCD
1Loan TermInterest RateMonthly PaymentTotal Paid
23 Years5.5%=PMT(B2/12,3*12,-25000)$27,141
35 Years6.0%=PMT(B3/12,5*12,-25000)$28,999
47 Years6.5%=PMT(B4/12,7*12,-25000)
=PMT(B4/12,7*12,-25000)
$30,761
Pattern: Lower monthly payment = more total interest paid. The 3-year loan saves $3,619 in interest versus the 7-year loan.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

=PMT(6%, 30, -200000)Using annual rate for monthly payments

❌ The Problem:

  • Results in wildly incorrect payment amounts
  • Must divide annual rate by 12 for monthly payments
  • Must multiply years by 12 for total monthly periods

✅ Solution:

=PMT(6%/12, 30*12, -200000)

Always divide annual interest rate by 12 and multiply years by 12 when calculating monthly payments with the PMT function in Excel. The rate parameter expects the interest rate per payment period, not the annual rate.

=PMT(6%/12, 360, 200000)Forgetting negative sign on loan amount

❌ The Problem:

  • Result will be negative without the minus sign
  • Confusing to read and interpret
  • Doesn't represent cash flow direction correctly

✅ Solution:

=PMT(6%/12, 360, -200000)

Use negative loan amount (-200000) to represent money borrowed (cash outflow). The Excel PMT formula will return a positive payment amount, making the result easier to read and use in financial models.

=PMT(6%/12, 30*12, -200000)Ignoring total interest cost

❌ The Problem:

  • Only seeing monthly payment, not total cost
  • Missing the big picture of loan expense
  • Can't compare loans effectively

✅ Solution:

=(PMT(6%/12, 30*12, -200000) * 360) - 200000

Calculate total interest by multiplying monthly payment by number of periods, then subtracting the original loan amount. The PMT function in Excel only returns the periodic payment - understanding total interest cost is critical for comparing loan options and making informed borrowing decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

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