The 30-second answer
At 8% APR — the typical home equity loan rate in 2026 — a $100,000 loan costs $955.65/month over 15 years, $836.44/month over 20 years, or $1,213.28/month over 10 years. Unlike a HELOC, the payment is fixed for the entire term — same number on month 1 and month 180. The most popular term is 15 years because it balances affordable monthly cost ($955) against reasonable total interest paid (~$72K over the life of the loan).
$100,000 home equity loan monthly payment by rate and term
| APR | 10-Year Term | 15-Year Term | 20-Year Term | 30-Year Term |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6.0% | $1,110.21 | $843.86 | $716.43 | $599.55 |
| 7.0% | $1,161.08 | $898.83 | $775.30 | $665.30 |
| 8.0% (typical 2026) | $1,213.28 | $955.65 | $836.44 | $733.76 |
| 9.0% | $1,266.76 | $1,014.27 | $899.73 | $804.62 |
| 10.0% | $1,321.51 | $1,074.61 | $965.02 | $877.57 |
Standard amortization. Assumes a fixed-rate home equity loan (HELoan), not a HELOC. Numbers are monthly principal + interest only — doesn't include property tax or insurance.
How much total interest will you pay?
The monthly payment is only half the story. Total interest paid varies dramatically by term — and shorter terms save tens of thousands.
| Term @ 8% APR | Monthly | Total Paid | Total Interest |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 years | $1,213.28 | $145,593 | $45,593 |
| 15 years | $955.65 | $172,017 | $72,017 |
| 20 years | $836.44 | $200,747 | $100,747 |
| 30 years | $733.76 | $264,154 | $164,154 |
The 10-year vs 30-year choice costs you $118,561 in extra interest for the privilege of $480/month lower payments. If you can afford the 10-year payment, the financial math is overwhelming.
Home equity loan vs HELOC: the same $100K compared
A common question: would I be better off with a $100K HELOC or a $100K home equity loan? Both let you tap home equity, but the payment behavior is completely different.
| $100K at 8% | Home Equity Loan (15-yr fixed) | HELOC (10-yr draw, then 20-yr repay) |
|---|---|---|
| Month 1 payment | $955.65 (fixed) | $666.67 (interest only) |
| Year 5 payment | $955.65 (fixed) | Variable — depends on Prime |
| Year 11 payment | $955.65 (fixed) | $836.44 (now amortizing) |
| Year 15 payment | Loan paid off | $836.44 |
| Total interest paid | $72,017 | $120,747 (if drawn full and held to maturity) |
The HELoan wins on total cost if you'll use the full $100K and pay it back. The HELOC wins on flexibility if you only need to draw portions over time, or if you want minimum payments while you preserve cash flow.
See our full HELOC vs Home Equity Loan comparison for the decision framework.
What changes your actual $100K home equity loan payment
Credit score: Borrowers with 760+ FICO typically save 1-2 percentage points vs 660-700 borrowers. On $100K over 15 years, 1 point of APR is ~$10,800 in lifetime interest.
Combined loan-to-value (CLTV): Most lenders price tiers at 70%, 80%, 85%, and 90% CLTV. Each tier above 70% typically adds 0.25-0.5% to your rate.
State: Some states (Texas, especially) have specific home equity loan rules that affect pricing. Most others don't differ materially.
Lender: A 0.5% pricing difference between two qualified lenders is normal. On $100K over 15 years, that's $5,400 in lifetime interest. Shop at least 3 lenders.
No-closing-cost vs traditional: Most lenders offer both. The no-cost option usually adds 0.125% - 0.375% to the rate in exchange for waiving $1,500-$3,000 in fees. Math out which is cheaper for the time you'll hold the loan.
How to get a real $100,000 home equity loan quote
The numbers above are real math, but they're based on industry averages. Your actual rate and payment depend on your specific situation.
The fastest way to get a written quote for a $100,000 home equity loan or HELOC is to start a real rate quote with Audi Garner — direct lender, licensed in 22 states. You'll get a quote with the rate, the monthly payment, and all costs within 1 business day. No credit pull for the initial quote.
Get my real home equity loan quote →