Cernarus

Student Loan Balloon Payment Calculator

This calculator estimates periodic payments for a loan that includes a one-time balloon payment due at a chosen date. It supports custom payment frequencies (for example, 12 for monthly or 26 for bi-weekly) and can either use an explicit balloon amount you enter or compute the remaining balance on the schedule and show that as the balloon.

Use the comparison mode to see side-by-side results for monthly versus bi-weekly schedules to understand how payment frequency affects the remaining balance and total cash paid by the balloon date.

Updated Nov 11, 2025

Compute periodic payment based on the selected payments-per-year, then estimate remaining balance at the balloon date and totals including an optional explicit balloon amount.

Inputs

Results

Updates as you type

Periodic payment

$97.82

Remaining balance at balloon date

$11,242.35

Balloon payment due

$11,242.35

Total paid through balloon date

$23,959.23

Estimated interest paid through balloon date

$3,959.23

OutputValueUnit
Periodic payment$97.82USD
Remaining balance at balloon date$11,242.35USD
Balloon payment due$11,242.35USD
Total paid through balloon date$23,959.23USD
Estimated interest paid through balloon date$3,959.23USD
Primary result$97.82

Visualization

Methodology

Calculations use standard amortization mathematics. The periodic payment for a fixed-rate loan is calculated from the periodic interest rate and the number of scheduled payments, with a safe fallback to principal divided by n when the rate is zero.

Remaining balance after m periods is computed from the amortization recurrence for positive rates, and a linear reduction formula for zero rates.

When a balloon amount is provided and greater than zero, the tool uses that explicit balloon as the cash due at the balloon date. When no balloon amount is provided, the theoretical remaining balance at the balloon date is treated as the balloon.

Worked examples

Example: $20,000 principal, 5% APR, 10-year amortization, balloon due in 5 years, bi-weekly payments (26 per year). The calculator will show the bi-weekly payment, the remaining balance at 5 years, and the total paid including the balloon.

Comparison: The comparison mode shows the corresponding monthly schedule (12 per year) and the bi-weekly schedule (26 per year) for the same principal and amortization period, highlighting any difference in total cash paid by the balloon date.

Expert Q&A

Can I enter an explicit balloon amount?

Yes. Enter a balloon amount greater than zero to use that exact cash due at the balloon date. Enter 0 to treat the computed remaining balance as the balloon.

Why do bi-weekly payments sometimes reduce interest?

With more frequent compounding and payments (26 vs 12), interest accrues on a shorter interval and additional principal is paid sooner. The calculator shows the estimated effect at the balloon date; actual savings depend on how your servicer applies payments and compounding.

How precise are these numbers?

This tool uses deterministic amortization formulas and standard double-precision math. Results are estimates: rounding, payment application order, servicer fees, grace periods, deferred interest, or differing day-count conventions can change actual amounts. See accuracy caveats in citations.

Is this secure and compliant?

This calculator is for informational purposes only. For production systems, follow recognized standards for software development, data protection, and numerical correctness as referenced in the citations. Do not rely solely on these estimates for legal or financial commitments.

Sources & citations