Mortgages & MoneyLive

Mortgage Deposit Calculator

UK first-time buyers normally need 5–10% deposit. Bigger deposits unlock better rates.

Short answer

LTV (loan-to-value) is the loan ÷ property price. Lower LTV = better rate. The biggest jumps in rate are at 90%, 85%, 75% and 60% LTV thresholds.

Property

Property price

Deposit you have

Fill in the fields above to see your result instantly.

How it works

Deposit % = deposit ÷ price × 100. LTV = 100 − deposit %. Lenders price in tiers — pushing deposit just over a threshold (e.g. 25.1%) can save 0.2-0.5% on rate.

Worked example

£300k home, £30k deposit: 10% deposit, 90% LTV. To reach 85% LTV (better rates), need £45k deposit (£15k more).

Who should use this

•First-time buyers
•Home movers comparing deposit tiers

Common mistakes

×Forgetting upfront costs (stamp duty, legal, survey, moving)
×Maxing out the deposit and leaving no emergency fund

Frequently asked questions

Can I get a 100% mortgage?▾

A handful exist (e.g. Skipton Track Record) but most lenders want at least 5%.

Should I push for a bigger deposit?▾

Often worth it if it crosses an LTV tier — but keep 3-6 months of expenses in cash.

Related calculators

Mortgage Affordability →Stamp Duty →Mortgage Repayment →Amortization Schedule →