VA Funding Fee Calculator 2026

Calculate your fee

Loan amount Base loan amount before the funding fee is added

Down payment Percent of the purchase price

Service type Regular military / veteran / active duty Reserves / National Guard

Funding fee rates have been identical for all service types since the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act schedule took effect in 2020.

Use of VA benefit First time use (full entitlement) Subsequent use (a prior VA loan used your entitlement)

Disability exemption No service connected disability compensation I receive VA disability compensation (10% rating or higher, or entitled to it)

Veterans receiving VA compensation for a service connected disability are exempt from the funding fee.

Interest rate (APR %) Used only for the finance vs cash comparison

Loan term (years) Used only for the finance vs cash comparison

Your estimate

Base loan amount	$0
Funding fee rate	0%
Funding fee	$0

Finance the fee

New loan total: $0
Monthly payment: $0
Total interest paid: $0

Pay cash at closing

Cash due at closing: $0
Monthly payment: $0
Total interest paid: $0

2026 VA funding fee schedule (purchase and construction)

Down payment	First use	Subsequent use
Less than 5%	2.15%	3.30%
5% to less than 10%	1.50%	1.50%
10% or more	1.25%	1.25%

Source: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, "VA funding fee and loan closing costs," VA.gov, verified October 2026. Rates set under 38 U.S.C. 3729. Same rates apply to regular military, Reserves, and National Guard members.

Frequently asked questions

What is the VA funding fee?

The VA funding fee is a one time payment to the Department of Veterans Affairs that helps keep the VA home loan program self sustaining. It replaces monthly mortgage insurance, which VA loans do not charge. The fee is a percentage of the base loan amount and depends on your down payment and whether this is your first or a subsequent use of the benefit.

Who is exempt from the VA funding fee?

You do not pay the funding fee if you receive VA compensation for a service connected disability (10% rating or higher), are eligible for that compensation but receive retirement or active duty pay instead, are a surviving spouse receiving Dependency and Indemnity Compensation, or are an active duty service member with a Purple Heart awarded on or before closing. Confirm your exemption status on your Certificate of Eligibility.

Should I finance the funding fee or pay it in cash at closing?

Both are allowed. Financing the fee into the loan preserves your cash at closing but increases your loan balance, your monthly payment, and the total interest you pay over the life of the loan. Paying it in cash keeps the loan smaller. Use the comparison above with your actual interest rate to see the dollar difference.

Is the fee calculated on the loan amount or the purchase price?

The funding fee percentage applies to the base loan amount only, not the full purchase price. If you buy a $400,000 home with 10% down, the fee rate applies to the $360,000 loan, before the fee itself is added.

Does the fee differ for Reserves and National Guard members?

No. Since the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act rate schedule took effect in 2020, Reserves and National Guard members pay the same funding fee rates as regular military members for the same down payment tier and use type.