VA Funding Fee Calculator and Charts

The VA loan program is known for benefits like no down payment and no monthly mortgage insurance. But one part of the loan that is often less understood is the VA funding fee.

This one-time cost can vary based on your loan type, down payment and prior use of the VA loan, and it can have a meaningful impact on your total loan amount.

On this page, we will define the VA funding fee, provide a calculator to estimate your cost and show the current VA funding fee charts.

What Is the VA Funding Fee?

The VA funding fee is an upfront cost of using the VA loan. Not every borrower pays the VA funding fee, and those who can finance the fee are included in the entire loan amount. The VA funding fee goes directly to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to offset the cost of administering the program.

The VA funding fee applies to all purchase and refinance loans when the borrower does not qualify for an exemption. Borrowers exempt from paying the VA funding fee include those receiving VA disability compensation, Purple Heart recipients and surviving spouses. 

Borrowers can pay the VA funding fee upfront or finance it into their mortgage.

Use the VA funding fee calculator below to estimate your cost based on your loan details, service status and prior VA loan use.

VA Funding Fee Calculator

Once you have an estimate, you can use the charts below to see how VA funding fee rates are structured based on different scenarios.

VA Funding Fee Charts

VA funding fee percentages vary based on the loan type, prior usage of the VA loan and down payment. Most first-time VA buyers with no down payment will pay 2.15%.

VA Funding Fee Chart for Purchase and Construction Loans

	Down Payment %	VA Funding Fee
First Use	0 to less than 5%	2.15%
	5% to less than 10%	1.5%
	10% or more	1.25%
Subsequent Use	0 to less than 5%	3.3%
	5% to less than 10%	1.5%
	10% or more	1.25%

VA Funding Fee Chart for Refinance Loans

Refinance Type	VA Funding Fee
Cash Out (first use)	2.15%
Cash Out (subsequent use)	3.3%
IRRRL (VA Streamline)	0.5%

VA Funding Fee Chart for Other Loan Types

Loan Type	VA Funding Fee
Manufactured Home (not permanently fixed)	1%
VA Loan Assumption	0.5%

How to Calculate the VA Funding Fee

You can calculate the VA funding fee by multiplying your loan amount by the applicable funding fee percentage based on your loan type, down payment and prior VA loan use.

VA funding fee = loan amount × funding fee percentage

For example, let’s say you’re a first-time VA buyer purchasing a home for $200,000 with no down payment. In this scenario, your funding fee percentage would typically be 2.15%.

• Loan amount: $200,000
• Funding fee rate: 2.15%
• Calculation: $200,000 × 0.0215 = $4,300

Your VA funding fee would be $4,300.

If you choose to roll the funding fee into your loan instead of paying it upfront, your new total loan amount would be $204,300.

How Lenders Determine Your Funding Fee Status and Amount

To get a VA loan, lenders must obtain the borrower’s Certificate of Eligibility (COE). The COE confirms the borrower meets the VA loan’s servicer requirements and conveys your funding fee status.

Veterans exempt from paying the VA funding fee will have “Exempt” next to the funding fee status on their COE. Conversely, those who must pay the VA funding fee will have “Non-Exempt” listed.

The COE also lists prior loans, which helps the lender determine previous loan usage and the correct VA funding fee percentage.

VA Funding Fee Refunds for Pending Disability Claims

Borrowers with pending VA disability claims may still need to pay the VA funding fee at closing. However, if your claim is later approved, you may be eligible for a full refund of the fee.

To qualify for a refund, your disability compensation must be effective as of the date of your loan closing. If that’s the case, the VA can retroactively determine that you should have been exempt from the funding fee.

Getting a refund is typically straightforward. In many cases, the VA will issue the refund automatically. If not, you can contact your lender, loan servicer or your local VA Regional Loan Center to start the process.

Refund timelines can vary, but borrowers often receive their VA funding fee refund within a few weeks after approval.

If you believe you may qualify for an exemption or refund, it’s worth discussing your situation with a VA-approved lender before closing on your loan.

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