SBA loan calculator
Enter the loan amount, what it pays for and the term, and see the highest rate the SBA lets a lender charge on a variable 7(a) loan, with the monthly payment and total interest at that cap.
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Example numbers. Change them to match the loan you have in mind.
The SBA 7(a) maximum is $5 million.
10 years is 120 months, the most for working capital.
7.00% on Oct 19, 2026, Federal Reserve H.15. Change it if prime moves.
SBA maximum rate for this loan
13.00%
Prime 7.00% plus 6.0% for a loan of $50,001 to $250,000
- Monthly payment at the cap
- $2,239.66
- Total interest at the cap
- $118,759
For comparison: at 10.98% APR, a bank small-business average for owners who qualify, the same loan costs about $97,746 in interest.
Find my fundingYour amount carries into the quiz, already filled in.
The most a lender may charge on a variable 7(a) loan. Your rate can be lower. Equal monthly payments, no fees. An estimate, not an offer.
SBA maximum variable rates, by loan size
With prime at 7.00%. Your loan's row is marked.
| Loan amount | SBA cap | Cap at this prime rate |
|---|---|---|
| $50,000 or less | Prime + 6.5% | 13.50% |
| $50,001 to $250,000 (your loan) | Prime + 6.0% | 13.00% |
| $250,001 to $350,000 | Prime + 4.5% | 11.50% |
| Over $350,000 | Prime + 3.0% | 10.00% |
How the math works
- Spread: the SBA sets a maximum spread over the base rate by loan size: 6.5% for $50,000 or less, 6.0% for $50,001 to $250,000, 4.5% for $250,001 to $350,000 and 3.0% above $350,000.
- Maximum rate = prime rate + spread. The prime rate starts at 7.00%, the Federal Reserve H.15 bank prime loan rate for Oct 19, 2026.
- Monthly payment: equal payments at the maximum rate over your term, using the standard loan payment formula.
- Total interest = the payments added up, minus the loan amount.
The Federal Reserve describes prime as the rate posted by a majority of the top 25 U.S.-chartered commercial banks. It can change, and a variable rate moves with it, so your payment can change over the life of the loan. The SBA also allows an optional peg rate as the base; this calculator uses prime.
Business Funders is not affiliated with the SBA. Read how SBA loans work, or try any rate in the loan payment calculator.
Common questions
Sources
- U.S. Small Business Administration, Terms, conditions, and eligibility (7(a) maximum variable rates, maturity terms), accessed Oct 20, 2026
- U.S. Small Business Administration, 7(a) loans (maximum loan amount, uses including working capital), accessed Oct 20, 2026
- Federal Reserve, H.15 Selected Interest Rates, bank prime loan rate 7.00% for Oct 19, 2026 (release dated Oct 20, 2026), accessed Oct 20, 2026
- NerdWallet, Business loan interest rates (bank small-business loan 6.37% to 10.98%, updated Sep 16, 2026), accessed Oct 20, 2026