₹8 lakh personal loan EMI: 3 or 5 years for a home renovation

An ₹8 lakh personal loan at 12% has an EMI of ₹17,796 for 5 years. Total interest is ₹2,67,733 and you repay ₹10,67,733. Over 3 years the EMI rises to ₹26,571 but interest falls to ₹1,56,572. 12% is an example rate. Your own rate depends on the lender, your salary and your credit score.

Pallavi, 41, teaches at a college in Kolhapur and takes home ₹70,000 a month. The family house is 30 years old. The terrace leaks every monsoon, the wiring is old, and the kitchen and bathroom need redoing. The contractor's quote is ₹8 lakh, and she wants to know whether to pay it off in 3 years or 5.

₹

= ₹8,00,000 (8 lakh)

%

years

Monthly EMI

₹17,796

  • Principal 74.9%
  • Interest 25.1%
Principal amount
₹8,00,000
Total interest
₹2,67,733
Total amount payable
₹10,67,733
Interest as % of loan
33.47%
  • Processing fees, insurance and rate changes on floating loans are not included.

The same amount over different periods

Loan tenure Monthly EMITotal interestTotal amount payable
2 years ₹37,659₹1,03,811₹9,03,811
3 years ₹26,571₹1,56,572₹9,56,572
4 years ₹21,067₹2,11,219₹10,11,219
5 years ₹17,796₹2,67,733₹10,67,733
7 years ₹14,122₹3,86,264₹11,86,264

Worked out at 12% a year. The row in bold is the one in the calculator above.

Repayment schedule (yearly)

YearPrincipal paidInterest paidTotal paidBalance left
1₹1,24,232₹89,315₹2,13,547₹6,75,768
2₹1,39,988₹73,559₹2,13,547₹5,35,780
3₹1,57,742₹55,805₹2,13,547₹3,78,038
4₹1,77,748₹35,799₹2,13,547₹2,00,290
5₹2,00,290₹13,256₹2,13,547₹0

Paying ₹1.11 lakh extra to stretch to 5 years

On ₹70,000 a month, the 3-year EMI of ₹26,571 takes about 38% of her pay. The 5-year EMI of ₹17,796 takes about 25%. The catch is the interest. To save ₹8,775 a month, the 5-year loan costs ₹1,11,161 more than the 3-year one.

The 4-year loan sits in between. Its EMI is ₹21,067, about 30% of her pay, and it saves ₹56,514 in interest compared with 5 years. Renovation bills also tend to run over the quote, so it helps to keep some savings aside for that rather than borrowing again later.

Frequently asked questions

What is the EMI on ₹8 lakh for 3 years?

At 12%, it is ₹26,571 a month. You pay ₹1,56,572 as interest and ₹9,56,572 in total, so interest adds 19.57% to the loan.

Is a 7-year loan a good idea for ₹8 lakh?

The EMI drops to ₹14,122, only ₹3,674 below the 5-year EMI. Interest jumps to ₹3,86,264, which is ₹1,18,531 more than 5 years and nearly half the loan. Take 7 years only if no shorter EMI fits.

How much is the 2-year EMI on ₹8 lakh?

At 12%, the 2-year EMI is ₹37,659 and interest is ₹1,03,811. It is the cheapest option here, but it suits a household with a much higher income or two earners.

Does a 1% lower rate change much on ₹8 lakh?

At 11% instead of 12%, the 5-year EMI is ₹17,394, ₹402 less a month. Interest falls from ₹2,67,733 to ₹2,43,636, a saving of ₹24,097. A good credit score and a quote from a second lender can be worth that much.