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VA Funding Fee Calculator

Written by Bennett Leckrone
Bennett Leckrone

Written by
Bennett Leckrone
Writer / Reviewer / Expert

Bennett Leckrone is the editorial manager and an analyst for Lower. He specializes in making complicated mortgage topics accessible for consumers. That includes both in-depth product guides and analysis on what economic moves mean for homebuyers and refinancers. He is also a licensed loan officer in Ohio, NMLS ID 2782574. He was previously a business reporter with a focus on higher education and fintech at BestColleges. In that role, he reported on the development of fintech and AI curriculum, as well as the rapidly changing nature of finance education. He also wrote guides to help business students navigate AI and online education. He also reported on state politics at Maryland Matters, with a focus on how policy affected people and businesses. He holds a bachelor of science in journalism degree from Ohio University.
Reviewed by Jake Driscoll
Jake Driscoll

Reviewed by
Jake Driscoll
Reviewer

Jake Driscoll is an experienced loan advisor and trainer who specializes in simplifying the mortgage process for both homebuyers and loan officers. He’s an expert in all things mortgage and refinance, and currently serves as the Associate Vice President for Training and Development at Lower. In that role, he prepares aspiring loan officers for the NMLS SAFE Exam and serves as a mentor to loan officers across Lower. As an expert reviewer, Jake evaluates mortgage and personal finance content for accuracy, clarity, and real-world applicability. He specializes in ensuring information reflects how lending actually works in practice so consumers can make confident, informed decisions.
Our Editorial Standards

Updated: April 20 2026

Estimate your
VA funding fee

See how your down payment and prior VA loan use can affect the VA funding fee.

Estimated VA Funding Fee

$0

What’s driving this estimateLive from your current assumptions
Use the sliders for quick comparisons or tap the blue value pills to type exact numbers.
VA Loan History
Funding Fee Exemption
Borrowers receiving VA disability compensation and certain surviving spouses are often exempt from the VA funding fee.

VA funding fee rules are subject to change by the VA. This is a simplified estimate and does not replace lender review of eligibility, exemption status, or final fee treatment. Not a loan offer.

How this calculator works

Move the sliders to test scenarios, or tap any blue value pill to type an exact number. The headline result and supporting detail pills update live as you change inputs so you can compare options without resetting your work.

Methodology: Base VA loan = home price × (1 − down payment %). Funding fee rate depends on first-time vs. subsequent use of the VA benefit and the down payment bracket: first-time use is 2.15% (<5% down), 1.5% (5–9.99%), or 1.25% (≥10%); subsequent use is 3.3% (<5%), 1.5% (5–9.99%), or 1.25% (≥10%). Exempt borrowers pay 0%. Funding fee = base loan × fee rate. If financed, the fee is added to the base loan to get the final loan amount.

Worked example: Home price $350,000, 0% down, first-time use, not exempt: base loan $350,000; fee rate 2.15%; funding fee = $350,000 × 0.0215 = $7,525; financed loan = $350,000 + $7,525 = $357,525.

Use these estimates to compare options and prepare questions for a lender. Final pricing, eligibility, and approval depend on a full application and lender review.

Key Takeaways

  • The VA funding fee is generally a one-time charge based on the loan amount, your down payment, whether this is first or subsequent use, and whether you are exempt.
  • Financing the fee lowers cash needed at closing but increases the final loan amount.
  • An exemption for qualifying borrowers can reduce the funding fee to zero.

How to Use Our VA Funding Fee Calculator

Use the calculator above to estimate the VA loan funding fee on a purchase loan and see how it affects your final loan amount if you finance it.

Input What It Means Why It Matters
Home price The purchase price used to size the base loan The fee is applied to the loan amount, not the full purchase price when you make a down payment.
Down payment Your upfront contribution as a percentage of price This changes both the base loan and the applicable fee bracket.
First or subsequent use Whether you have used the VA loan benefit before The fee rate can be higher on subsequent use.
Exemption status Whether the funding fee is waived An exemption reduces the fee to zero.
Finance or pay in cash How the fee is handled at closing This changes the final loan amount and cash need.

How Much Is The VA Funding Fee?

The calculator starts with the base VA loan amount, which is the home price multiplied by one minus the down payment percentage. It then applies the funding-fee rate that matches the scenario you selected.

In this model, first-time use is 2.15 percent with less than 5 percent down, 1.5 percent with 5 to 9.99 percent down, and 1.25 percent with 10 percent or more down. Subsequent use is 3.3 percent with less than 5 percent down, 1.5 percent with 5 to 9.99 percent down, and 1.25 percent with 10 percent or more down. Exempt borrowers are treated as 0 percent. Those are all based on VA rules. 

The funding-fee amount equals the base loan multiplied by the applicable rate. If you choose to finance the fee, the calculator adds it to the base loan to show the final loan amount.

Who’s Exempt From The VA Funding Fee?

Some borrowers do not have to pay the VA funding fee. The VA says exemptions include borrowers receiving VA compensation for a service-connected disability, borrowers who are eligible for such compensation but receive retirement or active-duty pay instead, certain surviving spouses receiving DIC, service members with a qualifying proposed or memorandum rating before closing, and active-duty Purple Heart recipients who provide the required evidence on or before closing.

If the exemption applies, the calculator sets the fee to zero. That can materially change both the cash-to-close picture and the financed loan amount.

Should You Finance The Funding Fee?

Financing the funding fee reduces upfront cash needs because the fee is added to the loan instead of paid at closing. The tradeoff is that the starting loan balance becomes larger.

Paying the fee in cash keeps the financed balance lower, which may reduce the monthly payment and lifetime interest. The calculator helps you see the immediate size of the fee so you can compare those two approaches more clearly.

What The Calculator Can And Cannot Tell You

The calculator is useful for estimating the fee amount and final loan balance under different down payment and usage scenarios.

It does not replace a lender’s official fee calculation or your Certificate of Eligibility review. Program details, lender overlays, and exemption documentation still need to be confirmed in the real loan file.

Bottom Line

Our VA funding fee calculator helps you size one of the most important upfront charges in a VA purchase scenario. Use it to understand how the fee changes with down payment, prior use, and exemption status, then verify the final numbers with your lender and VA eligibility documents.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Much Is The VA Funding Fee?

It depends on whether this is your first or subsequent use of the VA loan benefit, your down payment size, and whether you are exempt.

Who Is Exempt From The VA Funding Fee?

Common exemptions include borrowers receiving disability compensation from the VA, certain eligible borrowers receiving retirement or active-duty pay instead, some surviving spouses, certain service members with a qualifying pre-discharge rating, and active-duty Purple Heart recipients who document eligibility before closing.

Can You Finance The VA Funding Fee?

Yes. Many borrowers choose to finance the fee into the loan, which increases the final loan amount but reduces the upfront cash needed at closing.

Is The Funding Fee The Same As Mortgage Insurance?

No. The VA funding fee is generally a one-time charge. VA loans typically do not require monthly mortgage insurance.

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