What Is a Good Interest Rate for a Personal Loan? | The Motley Fool (2024)

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When you take out a personal loan, you have to pay interest. As a result, it's in your best interest to get the best personal loan interest rate possible. At this point, you might be wondering "What is a good interest rate for a personal loan?" Or at least, "What is the average personal loan rate?"

Generally, the rate you'll receive will vary depending on your credit score, income, amount borrowed, and loan repayment term. Still, there are some industry averages you can use to compare personal loans.

Here's how to find out whether the loan interest rate you're offered is a good interest rate.

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On this page:

  • What is a good personal loan interest rate?
  • What affects your personal loan interest rate?
  • How to compare interest rates
  • Other questions

What is a good personal loan interest rate?

Experian put the average personal loan annual percentage rate (APR) at 9.41% in 2019, while the New York Federal Reserve puts the average personal loan interest rate at 9.34% for the third quarter of 2020 on a 24-month loan.

But your financial history influences the rate you're approved for, so might get approved for loans above or below the average interest rate. How do you know if the interest rate you're offered is good for you?

A good personal loan interest rate depends on your credit score:

  • 740 and above: Below 8% (look for loans for excellent credit)
  • 670 to 739: Around 14% (look for loans for good credit)
  • 580 to 669: Around 18% (look for loans for fair credit)
  • Below 579: Around 30% (look for loans for bad credit)

For a guide to finding the right loan for your credit score, check out our page on credit scores and personal loans.

You can use the loan calculator below to see how different interest rates affect your monthly payment.

Personal loan calculator

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Finding a good interest rate for a debt consolidation loan

When looking for a good interest rate for a debt consolidation loan, an additional question to ask is "Is this a lower rate than the rate on my credit cards?" In general, personal loan interest rates are lower than credit card interest rates -- but it's always good to double-check any specific loans you're considering.

Related Loan Topics

Best Low Interest LoansCar Loan Credit ScoresChoosing Longer Repayment Terms

What affects your personal loan interest rate?

Your own personal situation when you apply for a loan, the details of the loan you're applying for, and the lender you've chosen will all affect the interest rates you're offered. Some of the key factors that can impact your loan rate include:

  • Your credit score. As mentioned above, people with higher credit scores should qualify for loans at better rates. If you have a credit score of 750, 36% interest rate would be a considered a higher interest rate -- but if your score is 580, this would likely be a very good interest rate based on your credit history.
  • Your income and employment. You'll need proof of solid employment and a high enough income to convince a lender you can pay back the money you're borrowing. If you don't have those two things, you'll only be offered loans at very high rates -- if at all.
  • Whether the loan is a fixed or variable interest rate loan. Fixed rates don't change over time. With a fixed-rate loan, you'll always have the same monthly payment and the same interest rate. Variable rates, on the other hand, can go up and down over time. The personal loan interest rate on variable rate loans usually starts lower than that of a fixed rate loan -- so a variable-rate loan might look like a better deal, but its interest rate can go up over time. If you're looking at two different loans with the same rates but one is fixed and the other is variable, the fixed rate loan is almost always the better deal because you'll have the certainty of knowing it won't go any higher.
  • Whether it's a secured or unsecured loan. If you take out a secured personal loan, you use an asset, such as your home or car, as collateral. Most personal loans are unsecured, which means you do not need to put up any collateral.
  • Your repayment timeline. If you borrow money over a longer period of time, there's more risk to the lender, so interest rates are naturally higher. A loan with a short repayment timeline should have a lower rate than one with a long loan repayment period.
  • The amount you're borrowing. Bigger loans sometimes present more risk to lenders, so rates could be higher.

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As you can see, one reason there's so much variation in what's considered a good personal loan interest rate. Every borrower is different -- and your favorite lender might offer a more or less favorable loan term than competitors. That's why it's always a good idea to compare multiple personal loan lenders.

Compare the best personal loans

Get the best rates and terms to fit your needs. Here are a few loans we'd like to highlight, including our award winners.

LenderAPR RangeLoan AmountMin. Credit ScoreNext Steps

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Fixed: 8.99%-29.99% APR (with all discounts)

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How to compare interest rates

Comparing the personal loan interest rate you're being offered with the average loan rate is the first step to get an idea of where you stand.

But since rates can vary wildly depending on your credit profile, the best thing to do is to compare rates from at least three lenders. Ideally, look at a mix of different kinds of lenders to get the full picture. Check with your local credit union or bank in addition to an online lender or two (or three). By doing this comparison, you can see whether the rates are all similar or if any stand out as particularly high or particularly low. Just be sure to check all the costs and fees associated with each loan, like the origination fee or prepayment penalty.

When comparing loan rates to see if a personal loan is offering a good rate or not, compare the APRs to get the whole picture. The APR tells you the full cost of a loan, including the interest rate and fees. Also, be careful to compare loans with the same term (compare 5-year loans to other 5-year loans) and interest rate type (compare fixed-rate loans to other fixed-rate loans).

TIP

Finding the lowest interest rate for your personal loan

Some lenders offer loans at rates lower than 6%. If you're looking for a loan with a lower interest rate, you can find some of the top-rated low-interest loans on our list of the best low-interest personal loans.

What to do if you're not offered a good personal loan interest rate

If you're only being offered personal loans at very high rates -- above the national average rates -- you need to consider why.

Your priority should be to find out if there's something in your borrower profile that is a red flag for lenders, such as a low credit score or insufficient income. If that's the problem, you either need to improve your credit or earn more income -- or get a cosigner to vouch for you. If you have bad credit, for example, you can get a much better rate if the cosigner has a high credit score.

You can also get a lower rate by putting up collateral, like a bank account or vehicle. A loan with collateral is called a secured loan (a loan without collateral is called an unsecured loan). Secured loans often have lower interest rates, but be careful: the lender can take your collateral if you miss a monthly payment.

If you're a well-qualified borrower and aren't being offered a loan at a good rate, you may simply need to shop around to see if another personal loan lender can offer a competitive rate. You can also consider borrowing for a shorter period of time or borrowing a bit less money so you present less of a risk.

RELATED: What is a good interest rate for a savings account? Also, check out The Ascent's article on why interest rates are so low on savings accounts.

The bottom line

What is a good interest rate for a personal loan? It's the lowest rate you can get with your credit score and financial situation. The lower the rate you pay to borrow, the more you can save on your loan. If you're a reasonably well-qualified borrower, always be sure to compare rates from different lenders and look for rates at or below the average. That way you won't pay more than necessary to for your personal loan.

Still have questions?

Here are some other questions we've answered:

  • How long does it take to get a loan?
  • What credit score do I need for a personal loan?
  • How do I apply for a personal loan?

The Ascent's best personal loans

Looking for a personal loan but don’t know where to start? Our favorites offer quick approval and rock-bottom interest rates. Check out our list to find the best loan for you.

Best personal loans

Our Loans Experts

What Is a Good Interest Rate for a Personal Loan? | The Motley Fool (85)

By:Dana George

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Dana George has a BA in Management and Organization Development from Spring Arbor University. For more than 25 years, she has written and reported on business and finance, and she's still passionate about her work. Dana and her husband recently moved to Champaign, Illinois, home of the Fighting Illini. And though she finds the color orange unflattering on most people, she thinks they'll enjoy Champaign tremendously.

What Is a Good Interest Rate for a Personal Loan? | The Motley Fool (86)

What Is a Good Interest Rate for a Personal Loan? | The Motley Fool (87)Fact CheckedNathan Alderman

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Nathan Alderman has worked with The Motley Fool since 2005, making errors his arch-enemies in a variety of roles including a six-year stint as the dedicated fact-checker for The Motley Fool's premium newsletter services. As The Ascent's Compliance Lead, he makes sure that all the site's information is accurate and up to date, which ensures we always steer readers right and keeps various financial partners happy. A graduate of Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism, Nathan spends his spare time volunteering for civic causes, writing and podcasting for fun, adoring his wife, and wrangling his two very large young children.

What Is a Good Interest Rate for a Personal Loan? | The Motley Fool (2024)

FAQs

What is a reasonable interest rate for a personal loan? ›

Average online personal loan rates
Borrower credit ratingScore rangeEstimated APR
Excellent720-850.12.64%
Good690-719.14.84%
Fair630-689.18.69%.
Bad300-629.21.74%.
Apr 9, 2024

Is 8% a good rate for a personal loan? ›

A good personal loan interest rate depends on your credit score: 740 and above: Below 8% (look for loans for excellent credit) 670 to 739: Around 14% (look for loans for good credit) 580 to 669: Around 18% (look for loans for fair credit)

Is 10% high for a personal loan? ›

Avoid loans with APRs higher than 10% (if possible)

According to Rachel Sanborn Lawrence, advisory services director and certified financial planner at Ellevest, you should feel OK about taking on purposeful debt that's below 10% APR, and even better if it's below 5% APR.

Is 159% APR legal? ›

There's no federal regulation on the maximum interest rate that your issuer can charge you, though each state has its own approach to limiting interest rates. State usury laws often dictate the highest interest rate that can be charged on loans, but these often don't apply to credit card loans.

Is 7% high for a personal loan? ›

A good APR on a personal loan is typically one below 12 percent. But to qualify for it, you'll need a credit score above 670 and a stable source of income or a creditworthy co-signer that meets these requirements. Securing a low APR can save you thousands of dollars over the life of a loan, as shown in the table below.

Can I negotiate my personal loan interest rate? ›

A. Yes, you can use competing loan offers as leverage to negotiate better terms with a lender. Presenting alternative offers can demonstrate your willingness to explore options and potentially lead to improved terms such as lower interest rates or reduced fees.

How much would a $5000 loan cost per month? ›

What is the monthly payment on a $5,000 personal loan?
Payoff periodAPRMonthly payment
2 years15%$242
3 years15%$173
4 years15%$139
5 years15%$119
3 more rows

How high is too high for a personal loan? ›

The majority of lenders state that their maximum personal loan amount is $50,000, though some will go as high as $100,000. Some borrowers—such as those who are wealthy and with high credit scores—might be able to borrow more.

Will personal loan rates go down in 2024? ›

Lower personal loan rates may be on the horizon in 2024 after the Fed made progress curbing inflation at the end of 2023. That progress came after four more Federal Reserve rate hikes in 2023.

What credit score do I need for a $10000 personal loan? ›

To increase your chance of qualifying for a $10,000 unsecured loan, you should have a credit score of 600 or higher. Some lenders start their minimum credit score requirements at 600, however, there are some lenders that require a credit score in the high 600s or low 700s.

Which bank personal loan is best? ›

Lowest interest rates charges by banks on their personal loans:
BankMinimum interest rate on personal loan (%)
HDFC Bank10.5
State Bank of India12.30
Bank of Baroda13.15
Punjab National Bank13.75
6 more rows
Jan 24, 2024

Which bank offers the cheapest personal loan? ›

Current Interest Rate on Personal Loans
BankInterest Rate (p.a.)Processing Fee
Yes Bank10.99% p.a. onwards - 20% p.a.Up to 2%
Kotak Mahindra Bank10.99% and aboveUp to 3%
Axis Bank10.49% p.a.- 22% p.a.Up to 2% of the loan amount
IndusInd Bank10.25% p.a. - 26% p.a.3% onwards
26 more rows

Why do people fall for predatory loans? ›

Predatory lenders often use aggressive sales tactics and exploit borrowers' lack of understanding of financial transactions. Through deceptive or fraudulent actions and a lack of transparency, they entice, induce, and assist a borrower in taking out a loan they will not reasonably be able to pay back.

What is the highest APR allowed by law? ›

There is no federal law that sets maximum interest rates on all consumer loans; rather, rates are restricted at the state level. This means usury laws vary between states.

What's considered a high APR rate? ›

The APR you receive is based on your credit score – the higher your score, the lower your APR. A good APR is around 22%, which is the current average for credit cards. People with bad credit may only have options for higher APR credit cards around 30%. Some people with good credit may find cards with APR as low as 16%.

Is 12% a good interest rate on a personal loan? ›

Deciding what constitutes a good APR for a personal loan therefore relies on various factors. The suitability of an annual percentage rate (APR) for a personal loan varies based on several factors but typically ranges between 6% and 12%.

What is the average interest rate on a $5000 personal loan? ›

The interest rate on a $5,000 loan from a major lender is usually around 6.4% to 35.99%. It's difficult to pinpoint the exact interest rate that you'll get for a $5,000 loan since lenders take many factors into account when calculating your interest rate, such as your credit score and income.

Is 12% APR good for a personal loan? ›

In most circumstances, a 12% interest rate on a personal loan definitely qualifies as a good rate unless the borrower has nearly perfect credit. To guarantee that you will be able to qualify for an interest rate near 12%, you will need to have a good to excellent credit score of over 700 points.

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