What is an EMI, and how is it calculated?
An Equated Monthly Instalment (EMI) is the fixed amount you pay your lender every month until a loan is fully repaid. Each instalment covers two parts: a portion of the amount you borrowed (the principal) and the interest charged on the balance you still owe. The total EMI stays constant every month, but the split changes over time. In the early months most of your EMI goes toward interest; as the outstanding balance falls, more of each payment goes toward the principal.
The EMI Formula
EMI = P × r × (1+r)n ÷ [(1+r)n − 1]
Here r is the monthly interest rate, which is simply your annual rate divided by 12. So a 12% annual rate works out to exactly 1% per month.
A Worked Example
Suppose you borrow ₹5,00,000 at 12% per year for 5 years (60 months). Putting those into the formula gives:
Monthly EMI
₹11,122
Total interest paid
₹1,67,333
Over 60 months you repay ₹6,67,333 in total, of which ₹1,67,333 is interest on top of the ₹5,00,000 you borrowed.
Three things change your EMI:
Principal
A larger loan amount raises your EMI in direct proportion. Double the loan, double the EMI.
Interest Rate
A higher rate increases both your monthly EMI and the total interest you pay across the loan.
Tenure
A longer tenure lowers the monthly EMI but increases total interest, because you owe for longer.