Closing Cost Calculator
Estimate home buyer (2-5%) or seller (6-10%) closing costs. Enter the home price, see every line item, and get a full breakdown of what to bring to the closing table.
The agreed-upon sale price of the home.
Most loan-related fees (origination, mortgage insurance) are calculated as a % of the loan, not the price. Leave at 0 for cash buyers.
Transfer tax rates and recording fees vary by state. National Average uses 0.5% transfer tax.
Used to derive loan amount if blank above.
Default 6% (5% is increasingly common post-NAR settlement, Aug 2024).
💵 Estimated Closing Costs
—
—
Loan-Related
—
Title & Escrow
—
Taxes & Gov
—
Prepaid & Other
—
Line-Item Breakdown
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Total | — |
💡 Cash to close & negotiation tips
—
🏠 Buying or selling a home?
📖 See top-rated first-time home buyer guides on Amazon →📝 How to use this closing cost calculator
- Pick a side — choose "I'm Buying", "I'm Selling", or "Both Sides" to see what each party typically pays. The buyer/seller split is negotiable in any real estate contract.
- Enter the home price — the agreed-upon sale price. The loan amount auto-fills at 80% (20% down) if blank; override it if your down payment is different.
- Select your state — transfer tax, recording fees, and title insurance rates vary significantly by state. California, New York, and Florida have higher transfer taxes than Texas, Arizona, or most of the Mountain West.
- Read the line items — the breakdown groups every closing cost into 4 buckets: loan-related (origination, appraisal, mortgage insurance), title & escrow, taxes & government fees (transfer tax, recording), and prepaid items (prorated taxes and homeowner's insurance).
- Plan cash to close — add the closing cost total to your down payment to know exactly how much cash you'll need at the closing table.
📌 5 things to know about closing costs
- ✓ Buyer closing costs are 2-5% of the price. On a $400,000 home, that's $8,000 to $20,000. FHA and VA buyers often pay the upper end because of mortgage insurance premiums and VA funding fees.
- ✓ Seller closing costs are 6-10% of the price. Most of that (5-6%) is real estate agent commission. The August 2024 NAR settlement has pushed average commissions down toward 5% as sellers stop offering blanket buyer-agent commissions.
- ✓ Closing costs are mostly negotiable. Lender fees (origination, processing) can often be reduced by shopping 2-3 lenders. Title insurance is regulated by state but you can usually pick the title company. The seller can offer concessions to cover some buyer costs.
- ✓ Transfer tax is the biggest state variable. States like California, New York, Pennsylvania, and Delaware charge $1-4 per $1,000 of price. Texas, Arizona, and most Mountain West states have no transfer tax at all.
- ✓ Get a Loan Estimate within 3 business days. Federal law (TRID) requires your lender to give you a 3-page Loan Estimate showing every closing cost line within 3 business days of application. The final Closing Disclosure must match within 0.125% for lender-controlled fees.
Disclaimer: This calculator provides closing cost estimates for educational and planning purposes only. Actual closing costs vary significantly by region, lender, title company, and current rate environment. State-specific rates (especially transfer tax and title insurance) are simplified averages; check with your lender, title company, and real estate attorney for exact figures. Loan Estimate and Closing Disclosure forms from your lender are the authoritative source. This tool does not constitute financial, legal, or tax advice.
Related Tools
Closing costs are one piece of buying or selling a home. These six calculators cover the full picture — from down payment, mortgage payment, and affordability to refinance decisions, rent vs. buy, and home sale proceeds.
- Mortgage Calculator — calculate your monthly mortgage payment, total interest, and full amortization schedule before you close.
- Down Payment Calculator — figure out how much cash you need upfront for the down payment, and the opportunity cost of low-down FHA/VA loans.
- Mortgage Affordability Calculator — how much house can you actually afford? Combines income, debts, and down payment into a realistic price range.
- Home Sale Proceeds Calculator — estimate the cash you net from selling, including mortgage payoff, commissions, and seller closing costs.
- Should I Refinance Calculator — compare your current mortgage to a new one; see how long it takes for the closing costs to pay for themselves.
- Rent vs Buy Calculator — should you rent or buy? Includes the time value of closing costs and equity build-up in the comparison.