Pawn Shop True Cost
Pawn Loan Calculator — True Cost to Reclaim
What this calculator does
This calculator shows the total cost to get your item back from a pawn shop. It includes monthly interest and storage fees for the months you hold the loan.
The math, with a worked example
Monthly rate = monthly APR ÷ 100. Balance after interest = loan × (1 + monthly rate)^months. Total to reclaim = balance + storage fees. A $200 pawn loan at 25% monthly interest plus $20 of storage fees costs $410.63 to reclaim after 3 months, so $210.63 to borrow against your own $200.
Why this matters
A pawn loan charges compound interest on your own property: $200 borrowed at 25% monthly costs $410.63 to reclaim after 3 months — more than the loan itself in interest and storage. The shop wins either way; you only win by coming back fast.
Methodology and transparency
Balance = loan × (1 + monthly rate)^months, plus storage fees — monthly compounding, which is what makes pawn rates brutal at 3+ months. State law caps pawn interest very differently (some states allow 20-25% monthly, others far less), so your ticket's rate is the real input. The unpriced risk: miss the deadline and the item is gone, converting all interest paid into the cost of losing it. Everything runs in your browser; no data is sent or stored.
Last reviewed: 2026-08-08
Common questions
How is pawn APR calculated?
Pawn shops charge monthly interest rates. The annualized APR is usually very high.
Can I lose my item?
Yes. If you do not repay the loan plus fees by the end of the term, the pawn shop can sell your item.
Are pawn loans cheaper than payday loans?
Sometimes, but both are expensive. The total cost depends on the interest rate and fees.