VA Funding Fee Calculator 2026
Your VA funding fee for a purchase, cash-out refinance or IRRRL — first or subsequent use, by down payment (2.15%, 1.5%, 1.25%, 3.3%, 0.5%) — plus what financing it costs and a comparison with FHA and conventional mortgage insurance. Rates confirmed on va.gov.
| Funding fee rate | — |
|---|---|
| Base loan amount | — |
| Funding fee | — |
| Total loan if the fee is financed | — |
| Monthly P&I with / without the fee financed | — |
| Interest paid on the financed fee over the term | — |
| Fee at other down payments | — |
| Versus FHA / conventional mortgage insurance | — |
In short
The VA funding fee is 2.15% of the loan for a first-use purchase with less than 5% down and 3.3% on subsequent use; 1.5% with 5% down and 1.25% with 10% down regardless of use; 2.15% / 3.3% for cash-out refinances and 0.5% for an IRRRL. Veterans receiving disability compensation, active-duty Purple Heart recipients and surviving spouses on DIC are exempt. It is usually financed, which adds interest, but VA loans have no monthly mortgage insurance.
Who this is for: US veterans and service members budgeting a VA purchase or refinance.
VA funding fee table
| Loan | First use | Subsequent use |
|---|---|---|
| Purchase / construction, under 5% down | 2.15% | 3.3% |
| Purchase, 5% to under 10% down | 1.5% | 1.5% |
| Purchase, 10% or more down | 1.25% | 1.25% |
| Cash-out refinance | 2.15% | 3.3% |
| IRRRL (streamline refinance) | 0.5% | |
- Rates have been in force since 7 April 2023 and apply to veterans, active-duty, National Guard and Reserve members alike.
- The fee can be financed, but a financed $8,600 fee at 6% over 30 years costs about $10,000 more in interest.
- Exemptions cover roughly a third of VA borrowers — check your Certificate of Eligibility, which states whether the fee is waived.
- VA loans need no down payment, no mortgage insurance and have no loan limit for borrowers with full entitlement, though lenders apply their own caps.
See also: FHA Loan Calculator 2026, Mortgage Payment Calculator (PITI).
Assumptions
- Fee = base loan × VA rate for loan type, use and down-payment band; 0% if exempt.
- Financed fee added to the loan; extra interest = payment difference × months − fee.
- FHA comparison: 1.75% upfront + 0.55% annual on 96.5% LTV; conventional PMI at 0.75%.
Worked example
Funding fee 2.15% × $400,000 = $8,600. Financing it makes the loan $408,600 and the payment $2,450 instead of $2,398 — $52 a month, or about $9,960 of extra interest over 30 years on top of the fee. With 5% down the fee would be $5,700; with 10% down $4,500. FHA on the same home would cost about $6,755 upfront plus $177 a month for life; VA has no monthly insurance.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the VA funding fee in 2026?
2.15% of the loan for a first-use purchase with less than 5% down, 3.3% for subsequent use; 1.5% with 5% down and 1.25% with 10% down; 0.5% for an IRRRL.
Who is exempt from the VA funding fee?
Veterans receiving disability compensation (or entitled to it but receiving retirement pay), active-duty Purple Heart recipients, and surviving spouses receiving DIC.
Can I roll the funding fee into the loan?
Yes — most borrowers finance it. It then accrues interest for the life of the loan.
Is the fee refundable?
If VA later grants a disability rating effective before your closing date, the fee is refunded.
Does the funding fee count toward closing costs?
It is separate from closing costs and is the only VA-specific fee; sellers can pay it as a concession.
Is there a VA loan limit?
Not for borrowers with full entitlement; those with partial entitlement are limited by the conforming limit in their county.
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