VA Funding Fee Calculator
| Loan type | <5% down | 5-9.99% | 10%+ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Purchase · first use | 2.15% | 1.50% | 1.25% |
| Purchase · after first | 3.30% | 1.50% | 1.25% |
| Cash-out · first use | 2.15% flat | – | – |
| Cash-out · after first | 3.30% flat | – | – |
| IRRRL streamline | 0.50% flat | – | – |
| NADL purchase | 1.25% flat | – | – |
| NADL refi / assumption | 0.50% flat | – | – |
| Manufactured (not affixed) | 1% flat | – | – |
The VA funding fee is a one-time charge of 0.5% to 3.3% of the loan amount that keeps the VA home-loan program running without mortgage insurance. VA sets the rates by loan type, by whether it is your first use of the benefit, and - for purchases - by down payment: a first-time buyer putting less than 5% down pays 2.15%, at 5% down it drops to 1.5%, and at 10% down it is 1.25%. The rates below are the current chart, effective April 7, 2023.
The detail most calculators blur: the fee applies to the loan amount, not the purchase price. VA's own example - a first-time buyer with a $200,000 home and $10,000 down pays 1.5% of $190,000, which is $2,850. The fee can be financed on top of the loan, which is why the calculator shows the financed total as well as the fee itself. A significant share of veterans pay no fee at all: those with a service-connected disability rating and Purple Heart recipients in most cases are exempt - VA confirms exemption status during the application.
How to use
- Pick the loan type: purchase or construction, cash-out refinance, IRRRL (streamline), NADL, manufactured, or assumption.
- Enter the loan amount and, for purchases, the down payment - the tool drops you into the right rate tier (under 5%, 5-10%, 10%+).
- Read the fee percentage, the dollar fee, and the financed total if the fee is rolled into the loan, which most lenders allow.
Frequently asked questions
What is the VA funding fee rate for a first-time buyer?
For a first VA-backed purchase or construction loan with regular military, National Guard or Reserve service: 2.15% of the loan amount with less than 5% down, 1.5% with 5% to 9.99% down, and 1.25% with 10% or more down. Subsequent use starts at 3.3% under 5% down but reaches the same 1.5% and 1.25% tiers at higher down payments.
Is the funding fee charged on the purchase price or the loan?
The loan amount - VA's own example is a $200,000 home bought with $10,000 down: the fee is 1.5% of the $190,000 loan, or $2,850, not 1.5% of $200,000. That distinction saves $150 in their example and more on bigger loans, and it matters again in refinancing, where the fee rides on the new loan balance.
Who is exempt from the VA funding fee?
Veterans receiving VA compensation for a service-connected disability, veterans who would be entitled to it but receive retirement or active-duty pay instead, Purple Heart recipients in most cases, and qualifying surviving spouses. The lender orders the Certificate of Eligibility that surfaces exemption status - if you may be exempt, say so before you let the fee be financed.
How much is the fee on a streamline refinance (IRRRL)?
A flat 0.5% regardless of down payment or prior use - the lowest tier in the chart. A $300,000 IRRRL carries a $1,500 funding fee, typically financed into the new loan. Cash-out refinances pay more: 2.15% first use, 3.3% after, with no down-payment reduction.
Can the funding fee be rolled into the loan?
Yes - most lenders finance it, which is why the financed total matters more than the fee itself. Financed on a 30-year loan at 6.5%, every $1,000 of fee adds about $6.32 a month, so a $6,450 fee on a $300,000 purchase costs roughly $40.76 a month on top of the payment - real money, worth seeing before closing day.