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How to Calculate EMI Manually: Complete Step-by-Step Guide

Published on February 1, 20255 min readFinancial Planning

Understanding how to calculate EMI manually helps you make informed decisions about loans. Learn the exact formula banks use and verify your calculations with practical examples.

Whether you're planning to take a home loan, car loan, or personal loan, understanding how EMI (Equated Monthly Installment) is calculated gives you the power to compare offers and plan your finances better. In this comprehensive guide, we'll walk you through the exact formula banks use and show you how to calculate EMI step by step.

What is EMI?

EMI (Equated Monthly Installment) is the fixed amount you pay to your lender every month to repay your loan. It includes both the principal amount and the interest, calculated in such a way that the loan is fully repaid over the specified tenure.

The EMI Formula

Standard EMI Formula:

EMI = [P × R × (1 + R)^N] / [(1 + R)^N - 1]

Where:

  • P = Principal loan amount
  • R = Monthly interest rate (Annual rate ÷ 12 ÷ 100)
  • N = Number of monthly installments (Tenure in months)

Step-by-Step EMI Calculation

Example: Home Loan EMI Calculation

Loan Amount (P)

₹25,00,000

Annual Interest Rate

8.5%

Loan Tenure

20 years

Step 1: Convert annual interest rate to monthly

R = 8.5% ÷ 12 ÷ 100 = 0.00708333

Step 2: Convert years to months

N = 20 years × 12 = 240 months

Step 3: Calculate (1 + R)^N

(1 + 0.00708333)^240 = 5.4274

Step 4: Apply the EMI formula

EMI = [25,00,000 × 0.00708333 × 5.4274] / [5.4274 - 1]
EMI = [96,067] / [4.4274] = ₹21,697

Result:

Monthly EMI = ₹21,697

EMI Calculation for Different Loan Types

Car Loan Example

Loan Amount: ₹8,00,000

Interest Rate: 9.0% per annum

Tenure: 5 years (60 months)

EMI = ₹16,608

Personal Loan Example

Loan Amount: ₹5,00,000

Interest Rate: 14.0% per annum

Tenure: 3 years (36 months)

EMI = ₹17,073

Important Tips for EMI Calculation

  • 💡Use a calculator for precision: Manual calculation can have rounding errors. Always verify with a reliable EMI calculator.
  • 💡Consider processing fees: Banks charge 1-3% processing fee which increases your effective cost.
  • 💡Fixed vs Floating rates: The formula works for fixed rates. Floating rates will change your EMI over time.
  • 💡Prepayment impact: Making prepayments reduces your principal and can significantly reduce total interest.

When Should You Calculate EMI Manually?

✅ Good for:

  • • Understanding the calculation process
  • • Quick rough estimates
  • • Learning financial concepts
  • • Verifying calculator results

⚠️ Limitations:

  • • Time-consuming for multiple scenarios
  • • Prone to calculation errors
  • • No amortization schedule
  • • Difficult for complex calculations

Ready to Calculate Your EMI?

Use our free EMI calculator to get instant, accurate results with detailed amortization schedules.

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Key Takeaways

  • • EMI calculation helps you plan your finances before applying for loans
  • • Understanding the formula gives you transparency into bank calculations
  • • Always verify manual calculations with reliable online calculators
  • • Consider all costs including processing fees and insurance when comparing loans
  • • Use EMI knowledge to negotiate better terms with lenders

Published by Ratenix Team

August 1, 2025

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