VA Loan Entitlement Calculator 2026
Calculate your remaining VA entitlement and the maximum loan you can get with $0 down. Works for first-time VA buyers, veterans with partial entitlement, and those using two VA loans simultaneously.
VA entitlement is the dollar amount the VA guarantees to the lender if you default. Lenders require a 25% guaranty on the loan amount. Your entitlement covers this guaranty — up to the limit — so you pay $0 down.
Entitlement Flow
| Step | Calculation | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 1. County Limit | Your county conforming limit | $806,500 |
| 2. Total Guaranty Needed | County Limit x 25% | $201,625 |
| 3. Basic Entitlement | Statutory amount | $36,000 |
| 4. Bonus Entitlement | Step 2 minus Basic | $165,625 |
| 5. Total Entitlement | Basic + Bonus | $201,625 |
| 6. Used Entitlement | Prior loan balance x 25% | $0 |
| 7. Remaining | Total minus Used | $201,625 |
| 8. Max $0-Down | Remaining x 4 | $806,500 |
Second-tier entitlement allows you to have two active VA loans simultaneously — for example, keeping your first home as a rental and buying a new primary residence. Your remaining entitlement after the first loan finances the second.
Second-Tier Entitlement Calculation
| New county entitlement (25% of $806,500) | $201,625 |
| Entitlement used on prior loan (25% of $0) | -$0 |
| Remaining (second-tier) entitlement | $151,625 |
| Max new VA loan with $0 down | $606,500 |
How to Use This VA Loan Entitlement Calculator
This calculator determines your remaining VA loan entitlement and the maximum loan you can get with $0 down — whether this is your first VA loan or you already have one outstanding.
Quick Calculator
Enter your Prior VA Loan Balance — the outstanding balance on any existing VA loans. If this is your first VA loan or all prior VA loans are paid off, enter $0. Enter your County Loan Limit (most counties: $806,500 in 2026 — check your county at VA.gov). Enter your Target Home Price to see if a down payment is needed and how much.
Advanced: How Entitlement Works
The Advanced section walks through the full entitlement calculation step by step. The Partial Entitlement tab explains how used entitlement reduces your available guaranty. Restoring Entitlement covers the three ways to get your full entitlement back: selling and paying off the VA loan, refinancing to a non-VA loan, or applying for a one-time restoration.
Pro: Two VA Loans at Once
The Pro section covers second-tier entitlement — how to use two VA loans simultaneously by keeping your first home as a rental and buying a new primary residence. The Funding Fee tab shows the cost difference between first use (2.15%) and subsequent use (3.3%) and calculates your exact fee amount.
How VA Entitlement Is Calculated
Basic Entitlement = $36,000 (statutory amount)
Bonus Entitlement = (County Limit x 25%) - $36,000
Used Entitlement = Prior VA Loan Balance x 25%
Remaining Entitlement = Total Entitlement - Used Entitlement
Max $0-Down Loan = Remaining Entitlement x 4
Example ($806,500 county, $0 prior loans):
Total Entitlement = $806,500 x 25% = $201,625
Max $0-Down = $201,625 x 4 = $806,500
The VA guaranty system works because lenders require a 25% guaranty on VA loans to protect against loss. Your entitlement provides this guaranty from the government. As long as your entitlement covers 25% of the loan amount, you qualify for $0 down. If you need a loan larger than four times your remaining entitlement, you must make a down payment equal to 25% of the excess.
Example: Second-Tier Entitlement Calculation
Situation: Veteran with existing VA loan, buying a new home
| Current VA loan balance | $200,000 |
| Current county loan limit | $647,200 |
| New county loan limit | $806,500 |
| Entitlement used on current loan | $200,000 x 25% = $50,000 |
| Total entitlement in new county | $806,500 x 25% = $201,625 |
| Remaining (second-tier) entitlement | $201,625 - $50,000 = $151,625 |
| Max new VA loan with $0 down | $151,625 x 4 = $606,500 |
This veteran can keep their current home as a rental and buy a new home up to $606,500 with zero down payment. The VA benefit is being used twice simultaneously.