About the VA Funding Fee Calculator
The VA funding fee is a one-time charge on most VA-backed home loans that helps fund the program in place of mortgage insurance. Its size depends on the type of loan, whether you have used your VA entitlement before, and — for purchase and construction loans — how much you put down. This calculator applies the current VA rate chart (effective April 7, 2023) to your loan and shows the fee in dollars.
It covers purchase and construction loans, cash-out refinances, Interest Rate Reduction Refinance Loans (IRRRLs), manufactured home loans, assumptions, Native American Direct Loans and vendee loans. Most borrowers roll the fee into the loan, so the calculator also shows the new loan amount and how much financing the fee adds to the monthly payment and to total interest.
Many veterans pay no fee at all. You are exempt if you receive, or are eligible for, VA compensation for a service-connected disability, are a surviving spouse receiving Dependency and Indemnity Compensation, have a proposed or memorandum disability rating before closing, or are an active-duty service member who received the Purple Heart. Your Certificate of Eligibility shows your exemption status.
With the default inputs, the va funding fee is $8,600.00. Change any value above to recalculate instantly.
How to use the va funding fee calculator
- 1Choose the VA loan type.
- 2For purchase or cash-out loans, say whether this is your first use of the benefit.
- 3Enter the price and down payment, or the loan amount for other loan types.
- 4Switch on the exemption if your Certificate of Eligibility shows you are exempt.
- 5Read the fee, the total loan and the monthly cost of financing it.
Formula and method
For purchase and construction loans the rate depends on the down payment as a share of the price: under 5% down it is 2.15% for first use and 3.3% after first use; 5% or more is 1.5%; 10% or more is 1.25% for everyone. Cash-out refinances are 2.15% (first use) or 3.3% (after first use). IRRRLs and assumptions are 0.5%, manufactured home loans 1%, Native American Direct Loans 1.25% (purchase) or 0.5% (refinance), and vendee loans 2.25%.
The fee is charged on the base loan amount. If you roll it in, the total loan is base loan + fee, and the extra monthly cost is the amortized payment on the fee alone at your rate and term. Exempt borrowers pay 0%.
- Base loan
- Purchase price − down payment, or the refinance/assumption loan amount
- Fee rate
- Percentage from the VA funding fee chart
Worked examples
First-time VA buyer, $400k home, $0 down
With no down payment and first use, the fee is 2.15% of $400,000 = $8,600. Rolling it in makes the loan $408,600; at 6.25% over 30 years the fee adds about $52.95 a month and roughly $10,463 of interest.
Second VA purchase, $350k with $0 down
After first use, a purchase with less than 5% down carries the top 3.3% rate: 3.3% × $350,000 = $11,550.
$500k purchase with 10% down
A $50,000 down payment is 10% of the price, so the fee drops to 1.25% of the $450,000 loan, or $5,625 — whether or not you have used the benefit before.
IRRRL on a $300k balance
Interest Rate Reduction Refinance Loans carry a flat 0.5% fee: 0.5% × $300,000 = $1,500.
Exempt veteran with a disability rating
A veteran receiving VA disability compensation pays no funding fee, so the loan stays at $400,000.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the VA funding fee?+
For a first-use purchase with less than 5% down it is 2.15% of the loan; after first use it is 3.3%. Putting 5% down cuts it to 1.5%, and 10% down to 1.25%. IRRRLs are 0.5%, and cash-out refinances are 2.15% or 3.3%.
Who is exempt from the VA funding fee?+
Veterans receiving or eligible for VA disability compensation, surviving spouses receiving Dependency and Indemnity Compensation, borrowers with a proposed or memorandum rating before closing, and active-duty members who received a Purple Heart are exempt.
Can the VA funding fee be financed?+
Yes. Most borrowers add it to the loan amount, so it does not need to be paid in cash at closing. You then pay interest on it over the life of the loan, which this calculator estimates.
Can I get a VA funding fee refund?+
If you paid the fee and are later awarded disability compensation effective before your closing date, you may be entitled to a refund. Contact your VA regional loan center to request one.
Does the seller pay the VA funding fee?+
The seller can pay it as part of seller concessions, which VA limits to 4% of the home’s reasonable value (normal closing costs do not count toward the limit). Otherwise the borrower pays it in cash or finances it.
Results are estimates for educational purposes and are not financial advice. Rates, fees and terms vary — confirm with your lender or a licensed advisor before making decisions.