How to Use LoanLens

A step-by-step guide to getting the most out of the free LoanLens mortgage and loan calculator.

Part 1 — Calculate Your Repayments

1. 1
   Select your region

   LoanLens auto-detects your country and pre-loads local defaults, currency, and typical interest rates. Click any region pill at the top of the calculator to switch manually (AU, US, UK, NZ, CA, EU, SG).
2. 2
   Choose your loan type

   Select Mortgage, Personal Loan, or Car Loan from the tabs. Each pre-sets a sensible term and rate for your region — you can override any of these.
3. 3
   Set your loan amount

   Drag the Loan Amount slider or click and type a value directly. Ranges go from small personal loans up to $5M for large mortgages. The displayed currency will match your selected region.
4. 4
   Enter the interest rate

   Use your lender's quoted rate, or reference the current regional rates shown in the sidebar panel. Rates are indicative — always confirm with your lender.
5. 5
   Adjust the loan term

   Standard mortgages are typically 25–30 years; personal loans 3–7 years; car loans 3–5 years. Slide to your desired term and watch repayments update instantly.
6. 6
   Add extra repayments (optional)

   Slide the Extra Monthly Repayment slider to see how much you'd save by paying more each month. The panel will instantly show total interest saved and years cut from your loan.

Part 2 — Read the Amortisation Chart

1. 7
   Understand the bars

   Green bars = principal repaid each year. Blue bars = interest paid each year. Notice how interest dominates in the early years, then shifts. The amber line tracks your remaining loan balance over time.
2. 8
   Hover for exact figures

   Hover over any bar in the chart to see the exact principal, interest, and balance for that year in a tooltip.
3. 9
   Switch to Table view

   Click the 📋 Table button to switch from the chart to a scrollable year-by-year breakdown. You'll see opening balance, principal paid, interest paid, and closing balance for every year.
4. 10
   Export to Excel

   Click 📊 Export to download your full amortisation schedule as an Excel (.xlsx) file — useful for sharing with a financial adviser or keeping your own records.

Part 3 — Plan Your Deposit (Savings Planner)

1. 11
   Switch to the Savings Planner tab

   Click the Savings Planner tab next to the calculator to open the deposit goal planner.
2. 12
   Enter your current savings

   How much do you have saved right now toward your deposit?
3. 13
   Set monthly savings amount

   How much can you realistically save each month? LoanLens will project when your savings will hit your target.
4. 14
   Enter your target property price

   Set the property price you're aiming for and your required deposit percentage (typically 10–20%).
5. 15
   Add property price growth (optional)

   Enter an expected annual property price growth rate to see a more realistic moving target — your deposit goal grows as property prices rise.