Cash vs installment price calculator
Many shops quote two prices for the same product. Enter the cash price and the installment terms to see what the installments really cost.
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How to use it
- Enter cash price, installment down payment, monthly installment and number of installments.
- The result appears straight away and updates as you edit.
- Copy the result, or copy a link that keeps the same values to share it.
How it is calculated
Installment price = down payment + installment × number of payments. Extra = installment price − cash price. APR = 12 × the monthly rate at which the installments are worth (cash price − down payment).
Example
Inputs: Cash price = 3,000, Installment down payment = 0, Monthly installment = 275, Number of installments = 12. Result: Extra over the cash price: 300.00; Total installment price: 3,300.00; Extra as a share of the cash price: 10%.
Limits and caveats
- Assumes equal monthly installments starting one month after purchase.
- Admin or insurance fees are not included; add them to the down payment to count them.
Questions about this tool
Why look at the APR, not just the extra percent?
10% extra over one year is not the same as 10% over three years. The APR puts different terms on one scale.
Can installments ever be cheaper?
If the installment total equals the cash price there is no extra cost, which can help if you keep your cash available.
What if the installment plan has a down payment?
Enter it in its box; the APR is then worked out only on what remains after the down payment.