What Is a Fixed Interest Rate?

A fixed interest rate is an unchanging rate charged on a liability, such as a loan or a mortgage. It might apply during the entire term of the loan or for just part of the term, but it remains the same throughout a set period. Mortgages can have multiple interest-rate options, including one that combines a fixed rate for some portion of the term and an adjustable rate for the balance. These are referred to as hybrids.

How Fixed Interest Rates Work

A fixed interest rate is attractive to borrowers who don’t want their interest rates fluctuating over the term of their loans, potentially increasing their interest expenses and, by extension, their mortgage payments. This type of rate avoids the risk that comes with a floating or variable interest rate, in which the rate payable on a debt obligation can vary depending on a benchmark interest rate or index, sometimes unexpectedly.

Borrowers are more likely to opt for fixed interest rates when the interest rate environment is low when locking in the rate is particularly beneficial. The opportunity cost is still much less than during periods of high interest rates if interest rates end up going lower.

Fixed rates are typically higher than adjustable rates. Loans with adjustable or variable rates usually offer lower introductory or teaser rates than fixed-rate loans, making these loans more appealing than fixed-rate loans when interest rates are high.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) provides a borrowers can expect at any given time depending on their location. The rates are updated biweekly, and consumers can input information such as their credit score, down payment, and loan type to get a closer idea of what fixed interest rate they might pay at any given time and weigh this against an adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM).

How to Calculate Fixed Interest Costs

Calculating fixed interest costs for a loan is relatively simple. You just need to know:

• The loan amount
• The interest rate
• The loan repayment period

Remember that your credit scores and income can influence the rates you pay for loans, regardless of whether you choose a fixed- or variable-rate option.

Fixed vs. Variable Interest Rates

Variable interest rates on ARMs change periodically. A borrower typically receives an introductory rate for a set period of time—often for one, three, or five years. The rate adjusts on a periodic basis after that point. Such adjustments don’t occur with a fixed-rate loan that’s not designated as a hybrid.

In our example, a bank gives a borrower a 3.5% introductory rate on a $300,000, 30-year mortgage with a 5/1 hybrid ARM. Their monthly payments are $1,347 during the first five years of the loan, but those payments will increase or decrease when the rate adjusts based on the interest rate set by the Federal Reserve or another benchmark index.

If the rate adjusts to 6%, the borrower’s monthly payment would increase by $452 to $1,799, which might be hard to manage. But the monthly payments would fall to $1,265 if the rate dropped to 3%.

If, on the other hand, the 3.5% rate were fixed, the borrower would face the same $1,347 payment every month for 30 years. The monthly bills might vary as property taxes change or the homeowners insurance premiums adjust, but the mortgage payment remains the same.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Fixed Interest Rates

Fixed interest rates can offer both pros and cons for borrowers. Looking at the advantages and disadvantages side by side can help decide whether to choose a fixed- or variable-rate loan product.

Advantages

Fixed interest rates provide consumers with some degree of predictability. This means that your monthly loan or mortgage payments remain the same for the lifetime of the loan. Even if conditions change and rates go up, your rate remains the same. As such, you won't have to budget for increases in your payments later on down the road.

When interest rates are low or near historic lows, a loan that comes with a fixed interest rate can become more attractive. Taking out a loan with adjustable or variable rates probably won't be a good option, especially since there's a risk that rates may go up in the future.

A fixed interest rate on a mortgage, loan, or line of credit makes it easier to calculate the lifetime cost of borrowing because the rate doesn't change. This allows you to budget for other expenses, including any extras like vacations or a new car. It also gives you the opportunity to plan for any savings.

Disadvantages

Fixed interest rates tend to be higher than adjustable rates. Depending on the overall interest rate environment, it is highly possible that a loan with a fixed rate may carry a higher interest rate than an adjustable-rate loan.

You'll also want to consider declining rates when it comes to fixed interest rates. That's because if interest rates decline, you could be locked into a loan with a higher rate, whereas a variable-rate loan would keep pace with its benchmark rate.

Refinancing is another drawback. When you refinance your loan from one fixed-rate product to another of the same type or to a variable-rate loan, you could save money when rates drop. But it can be time-consuming, and closing costs can be high.

Example of Fixed Interest Rate

Let's take a look at a couple of examples to show how fixed interest rates work.

Assume that you're taking out a $30,000 debt consolidation loan to be repaid over 60 months at 5% interest. Your estimated monthly payment would be $566 and your total interest paid would be $3,968.22. This assumes you don't repay the loan early by increasing your monthly payment amount or making lump-sum payments toward the principal.

Here's another example. Say you get a $300,000 30-year mortgage at 3.5%. Your monthly payments would be $1,347 and your total mortgage costs with interest included would come to $484,968.

The Bottom Line

If you've ever taken out a loan, you know that you can't avoid paying interest. But understanding how they work can certainly help you save some money. They come in many different shapes and sizes, including fixed interest rates. This type of interest rate is locked in for the entire life of your debt, whether that's a car loan, line of credit, or mortgage. Unlike variable rates, which change according to the interest rate environment, you'll know how much you have to pay each month and your interest rate will never change until you either pay off the debt or you refinance.