Home Equity Loan / HELOC Calculator
Find out how much equity you can tap with a home equity loan or HELOC based on your home's value, your mortgage balance, and your lender's combined loan-to-value limit.
About this calculator
Home equity loans and HELOCs let you borrow against the equity you've built up in your home. Lenders cap how much you can borrow using a Combined Loan-to-Value (CLTV) ratio — the total of all loans on the property as a percentage of its market value. To find your borrowing limit, multiply your home value by the CLTV cap, then subtract your existing mortgage balance. The remainder is the maximum a lender will allow you to draw as a second lien. This calculator also shows a comparison table across common CLTV thresholds so you can quickly see how different lenders' limits affect your options.
Field explanations
- Current home value
- The estimated current market value of your home — not the original purchase price. Use a recent appraisal, a Zestimate, or comparable sales. Lenders will order their own appraisal, which may differ. A higher appraisal increases your available equity.
- Remaining mortgage balance
- The current payoff balance on your first mortgage. Check your most recent statement. This is subtracted from the CLTV cap to determine how much room you have for a second lien.
- Max combined loan-to-value (CLTV) limit
- The maximum total debt — first mortgage plus home equity loan or HELOC — that a lender will allow as a percentage of your home's value. Most conventional lenders cap at 80–85%. Some lenders (and VA loans for veterans) allow up to 90% or 100%. Use the limit offered by your specific lender for the most accurate result.