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💰 Finance 🧾 SI = P × R × T Last tested2026-07-01

Simple Interest Calculator.

Quick answer

10,000 at 8% for 5 years earns 4,000 in simple interest, for a total of 14,000. Formula: interest = principal × rate × time ÷ 100 — charged only on the original principal, never on the interest.

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Simple Interest

$
%
Simple Interest
$4,000
over 5 years
Total Amount
$14,000
principal + interest
Principal
$10,000
your original amount
Simple vs Compound

Compounded annually, the same $10,000 at 8% would earn $4,693 — that's $693 more than simple interest.

Compound Interest →
Year-by-year balance
Year 1Year 5
Principal
Interest earned
✨ Live · Simple interest = Principal × Rate × Time. No compounding.
AR
Reviewed by

CFP® with 12+ years in mortgage & retirement planning.

🧮 The math

The simple interest formula.

Interest on principal only
SI = P × R × T ÷ 100
  • SI = simple interest earned
  • P = principal (original amount)
  • R = annual interest rate (percent)
  • T = time in years
  • Total amount = P + SI

For months, use T = months ÷ 12; for days, T = days ÷ 365. Because interest is never added back to the principal, the balance grows in a straight line — that's the key difference from compound interest.

Sources: SEC Investor.gov — Simple Interest · Reserve Bank of India

💡 Insights

3 things to know.

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It grows in a straight line

Interest is fixed each period because it's only ever charged on the original principal. Predictable, but it loses to compounding over time.

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"Flat rate" ≠ cheap

A flat/simple 10% loan can cost ~18% on a reducing-balance basis. You keep paying interest on money you've already repaid. Compare with an EMI.

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Where you'll see it

Short-term personal loans, many auto & gold loans, T-bills, and informal lending. Savings and mutual funds compound instead.

❓ FAQ

Common questions.

What is the simple interest formula?
Simple interest = P × R × T ÷ 100, where P is the principal, R is the annual interest rate (percent), and T is the time in years. The total amount you repay or receive is P + interest. Unlike compound interest, simple interest is charged only on the original principal — never on accumulated interest.
How do I calculate simple interest for months or days?
Convert the time to years first. For months, divide by 12 (e.g. 6 months = 0.5 years). For days, divide by 365. This calculator does it automatically — just pick the Years, Months, or Days unit. Example: ₹50,000 at 10% for 9 months = 50,000 × 10 × (9/12) ÷ 100 = ₹3,750.
What is the difference between simple and compound interest?
Simple interest is calculated only on the principal, so it grows in a straight line. Compound interest is calculated on the principal plus previously earned interest, so it accelerates over time. Over long periods the gap is huge — on ₹1,00,000 at 8% for 20 years, simple interest yields ₹1,60,000 while annual compounding yields ₹3,66,000. Short-term loans and many car/personal loans use simple interest; savings and investments usually compound.
Where is simple interest actually used?
Simple interest is common on short-term personal loans, many auto loans, some certificates of deposit, treasury bills, and informal lending. In India, gold loans and many NBFC short-tenure loans quote flat/simple interest. Always check whether a lender quotes simple (flat) or reducing-balance interest — the effective cost differs a lot.
Is a "flat rate" loan the same as simple interest?
Roughly, yes — a flat-rate loan charges interest on the full original principal for the entire tenure, which is simple interest. It looks cheaper than a reducing-balance (EMI) rate but is actually more expensive, because you keep paying interest on money you have already repaid. A 10% flat rate can equal ~18% reducing-balance. Use our EMI calculator to compare.