Difference between flat and reducing interest rate

Understanding the difference between flat vs reducing interest rates is crucial when evaluating loan options, as they significantly impact the total cost of borrowing. The primary distinction is that a reducing interest rate is computed on the remaining loan balance, whereas a flat interest rate is computed on the entire principal amount.

Flat Interest Rate

Under the flat interest rate method, interest is calculated on the entire principal amount for the entire loan tenure, regardless of the repayments made.

For instance, if you borrow Rs 1,00,000 at a 10% flat rate for three years, the interest is calculated on Rs 1,00,000 throughout the tenure, resulting in higher overall interest costs.

This method leads to higher EMIs and a greater total interest payout over time. It's often used for short-term loans and offers simplicity and predictability in repayment schedules.

Reducing Interest Rate

The reducing balance method calculates interest on the outstanding loan balance after each payment. As you make EMI payments, the principal reduces, and consequently, the interest amount decreases over time. 

This method results in lower total interest payments compared to the flat rate and makes it more cost-effective for long-term loans. It encourages early repayment, as reducing the principal faster leads to less interest paid. You can use the reduced interest rate while taking a home loan, educational loan, or business loan.

This is all about the flat rate vs reducing rate.

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As I was doing some research to find the best personal loans, I came across flat and reduced rates of interest. I didn’t know what they meant at the moment, and thus I did some research about the same. If you are trying to learn about the difference between flat and reducing interest rates, then I can assist you with that. 

What is the Difference Between Flat and Reducing Rate of Interest?

As per my understanding, a flat interest rate means that the rate of interest stays unchanged during the whole tenure of the loan. However, the interest rate is based on the principal amount owed at the end of a certain period. Here are a few major differences between these two. 

1. In the flat interest rate, the interest is calculated based on the total amount sanctioned. Whereas in reducing the rate, the interest rate is calculated based on the outstanding loan amount.

2. Calculating a flat interest rate is much easier compared to reducing interest rates. 

3. Reducing interest rate calculation shows effective interest rates, and flat rate calculation shows higher interest rates.

And that’s about it. This is all I am aware of about the difference between flat rate and reducing rate. I hope this helps.

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What is the difference between floating and fixed rate of interest?

When you take out a loan for a specific length of time, you must repay both the principal and the interest within that time frame. Other than the loan rate, I know it's critical to understand how the bank calculates interest on your house loan. The flat interest rate method and the reducing balance interest rate approach are the two most commonly used methods for calculating interest on loans. Let’s see the flat rate vs reducing rate concept.

Difference between flat and reducing interest rate:

Flat Interest Rate:

As the title suggests, a flat interest rate is one that is computed on the whole amount of the loan during its duration, without taking into account the fact that monthly EMIs slowly reduce the principal amount. As a result, the Effective Interest Rate is significantly greater than the initial nominal Flat Rate. The following is the formula for computing a fixed rate of interest:

Interest per Instalment = (Actual Loan Amount * Total Years * Interest Rate per year) / Total Number of Instalments

For example, if you borrow Rs 2,00,000 for 5 years at a fixed rate of 10% p.a., you will pay:

Rs 40,000 (principal repayment @ 1,00,000 / 5) + Rs 10,000 (interest @ 10% of 1,00,000) = Rs.50,000 every year or Rs.4167 per month.

You'd end up paying Rs. 2,50,020 (4167*12* 5) over the course of the entire period. 

As a result, the EMI of Rs. 4167 per month changes to an effective interest rate of 17.27 percent per annum in this example. 

Reducing Interest Rate:

As the title suggests, a reducing/diminishing balance rate is an interest rate computed monthly on the outstanding loan amount. The EMI for this option covers interest on the outstanding loan amount for the month as well as the principal payments. The outstanding loan balance decreases with each EMI payment. As a result, the next month's interest is based only on the outstanding loan balance. This is the actual difference between flat rate and reducing rate.

Reduced balance interest is calculated using the following formula:

Interest To Pay Per Installment = Interest Rate for Every Installment * Total Loan Amount Left

For instance:

If you take a loan of Rs. 2,00,000 for 5 years at a reducing rate of interest of 10% p.a., your EMI cost will decrease with each payment. You would pay Rs. 20,000 in the interest the first year, Rs. 18,000 on a reduced principal of Rs 80,000 the second year, and so on, until you only paid Rs.12,000 in the interest the last year. You would pay Rs. 2.8 lakh instead of Rs.3 lakh if you used the fixed-rate option.

Now you know the concept of flat rate vs reducing rate.