20 vs. 30 Year Mortgage
Compare a 20-year and a 30-year mortgage to weigh a higher payment against long-term interest savings.
A worked example
Running this tool on current national benchmarks (Federal Reserve / Freddie Mac via FRED (St. Louis Fed)) — swap in your own numbers to see how the result moves.
- Loan amount
- $300,000
- 20-year rate
- 6.30%
- 30-year rate
- 6.60%
for $285.56 more per month
- 20-year payment$2,201.54
- 20-year total interest$228,369
- 30-year payment$1,915.98
How the interest saved with the 20-year changes with loan amount
Holding the other inputs at the example above, here is how the result moves as loan amount changes.
| Loan amount | Interest saved with the 20-year | 20-year payment |
|---|---|---|
| $150,000 | $80,691 | $1,100.77 |
| $225,000 | $121,037 | $1,651.15 |
| $300,000 | $161,383 | $2,201.54 |
| $450,000 | $242,074 | $3,302.30 |
| $600,000 | $322,766 | $4,403.07 |
Source: Freddie Mac PMMS via FRED. Annual averages; latest weekly reading shown.
Common questions
Is this calculator free, and do I need to sign up?
Yes and no — it is completely free and asks for no account or personal details. Every calculation happens in your browser, so nothing you type is stored or sent to us.
How accurate are the results?
The math is exact for the inputs you give it, but the defaults are national benchmarks — your real rate, fees, taxes, and insurance will differ. Treat the result as a close estimate to refine with a real quote.