Skip to Content

£10,000 loans

Compare loans from multiple providers in one search[1]

  • Our smart search tool can show you loan rates without affecting your credit record
  • Review all the important figures before applying, especially APR
Compare loans
man running while using phone

How much will a £10,000 loan cost?

Before you take out a £10,000 loan, it’s important to understand how much it will cost you to pay it back.

Factors that influence this include:

The term of your loan

If you spread your loan out over a longer period, the monthly payments might be lower but you’re likely to pay more interest as it’ll take you longer to pay it off

The amount you borrow

The cost of your loan and the annual percentage rate (APR) you’re charged will change based on how much you want to borrow

The annual percentage rate (APR)

This includes any fees or charges you might have to pay as well as the interest rate. The lower the APR, the less your loan will cost to pay back, but be aware you might not always get the advertised representative APR

The table below shows how the APR can affect the cost of a £10,000 loan*

Loan term APR% Monthly repayment Total payable Total interest paid
12 months 3.4% £849 £10,188 £185
3 years 3.4% £293 £10,548 £533
5 years 3.4% £181 £10,860 £888
12 months 5.9% £860 £10,320 £322
3 years 5.9% £304 £10,944 £936
5 years 5.9% £193 £11,580 £1,572
12 months 9.9% £879 £10,548 £544
3 years 9.9% £322 £11,592 £1,599
5 years 9.9% £212 £12,720 £2,719

*The figures are provided for illustrative purposes only.

Use our loan calculator to find out how much your loan repayments might cost.

Should I opt for a secured or unsecured loan?

If you’re taking out a loan, it will either be secured or unsecured. Which option is best for you will depend on your financial situation and circumstances.

A secured loan is when the lender uses one of your assets, usually your home, as security in case you can’t pay the money back. Because this type of loan is less risky for the lender, interest rates tend to be lower than unsecured options.

An unsecured loan is another name for a personal loan. They tend to be offered to people who’ve got a good credit rating. You borrow money from the lender and agree to make regular payments and pay the loan back in full, plus interest accrued.

Pros and cons of secured loans

With a secured loan, you’re borrowing money against something you own to guarantee you’ll pay it back. This is usually your home.

Pros:

  • You can usually borrow larger amounts of money
  • The interest rates are likely to be lower than with an unsecured loan
  • The loan can normally be paid back monthly over a long period
  • They typically have lower monthly repayments than unsecured loans
  • Making repayments on time can help you build up a good credit score
  • You're more likely to be accepted for a secured loan than an unsecured loan – especially if you have a less than stellar credit history

Cons:

  • You may be putting your house on the line if you struggle to repay the £10,000 loan
  • You could damage your credit score if you don’t make your repayments on time
  • They typically have variable interest rates, so your monthly repayments could increase
  • As these loans often span longer periods, you may end up paying more in the long run
  • You may have to pay an arrangement fee

There are several different types of secured loan available, these include home equity loans, homeowner loans and second mortgages.

Pros and cons of unsecured loans

An unsecured loan is a simple way of borrowing a fixed amount of money. You pay it back through regular instalments and don’t need to use an asset as security.

Pros:

  • Your repayments will usually be fixed each month making it easier to budget
  • You can normally borrow more than you’d be able to with a credit card
  • Your personal assets aren’t put at risk
  • Flexible repayment plans mean you can choose how long you need to pay back the loan
  • The application is more straightforward than for taking out a secured loan

Cons:

  • They typically have higher interest rates than secured loans
  • You need a good credit history to get the best rates
  • Amounts available to borrow tend to be smaller
  • Your credit rating could be at risk if you miss payments
  • There may be early repayment charges
  • You may have to pay an arrangement fee

Can I get a £10,000 loan with bad credit or no credit?

There are usually still some loan options available if you’ve got a poor credit history or haven’t built up much of a credit score yet.

These can also help you improve your credit score if you keep up to date with your repayments. Although the interest rates are likely to be much higher.

You might be able to get a ‘bad credit loan’ from a lender that specialises in products for people with poor credit.

If you’re a homeowner, you may find it easier to get approved for a secured loan.

Another option is to take out a guarantor loan, where a family member or close friend acts as the guarantor who’ll step in and repay the loan if you can’t make the payments.

Some personal or unsecured loans might still be available if you’ve got a poor credit rating, but there’s usually a limit to how much you can borrow, and the APR is likely to be much higher.

However, consider carefully your own financial situation and if taking on more credit is the right solution for your current situation. Speak to debt advice organisations to get support on improving your situation before you consider taking out more debt. Available organisations include:

National Debtline

Citizens Advice

What to look out for with a £10,000 loan

There are a number of things you should consider when you’re taking out a £10,000 loan, these include:

Fixed rate vs. variable - With variable interest rates, your monthly repayments will go up and down as the interest rate fluctuates. In contrast, with a fixed-rate loan, the rate of interest you pay will stay the same. This can help you to budget

Loan term - The length of the period over which you choose to repay the loan will affect how much you end up paying back. When you borrow money over a longer period of time, you’ll pay less each month, but you’ll pay more in interest over the full term of the loan

Total amount repayable - With some loans you can borrow as much as £25,000. You can often borrow more with a secured loan and usually the more you borrow the lower the interest rate. But what lenders offer will depend on your circumstances and credit rating

Early repayment charges - If you want to pay more of your loan off each month, or pay the whole loan amount off before the end of the term, some lenders might charge you a fee. This often amounts to one or two months’ interest

Low advertised rates - You won’t always get the APR you see advertised. At least 51% of borrowers must get the advertised rate, but you may end up with one that’s higher. The lender calculates the rate you’ll get based on your credit score and level of risk

How do I find a £10,000 loan that's right for me?

It’s important to find the right loan to fit your needs and to choose one that makes it as affordable and easy to manage as possible.

To help you make the right choice:

  1. Check your credit score

    Do this before you apply so that you can spot any mistakes and correct any out-of-date information. Errors in your credit report can negatively impact your application, so correcting them can help to improve your credit rating

  2. Work out how much you can afford to repay

    A key factor when choosing the right loan is working out what you’ll be able to comfortably pay back each month to avoid getting into debt

  3. Use a loan calculator

    Using one will show you how much your loan would cost you each month, plus you can see the total amount of interest you’d pay. You can use this to compare the differences between interest rates and different loan terms

  4. Look at the terms and conditions for charges and fees

    Interest isn’t the only cost you’ll need to consider. You may be charged an arrangement fee and there’ll usually be penalties for late payments or paying off your loan in full early

  5. Do a soft search to see which loans you may be eligible for

    Applying for a loan can negatively impact your credit score, so use our smart search tool to find out which loans you’re most likely to be accepted for before you apply

What do I need to apply for a personal loan?

When you apply for a loan, you’ll need to provide information to support your application, this typically includes:

  • Your bank details
  • Your current address
  • Your employment status
  • Your salary and household income
  • Your marital status and whether you have any dependents or children
  • Other financial commitments like a mortgage and credit cards

As well as checking your credit history, this type of information helps lenders to understand your financial situation and decide whether it’s a good idea to give you a loan.

Frequently asked questions

APR stands for annual percentage rate. This is the official rate that’s used to help you understand the total cost of what you’re borrowing over a year.

Unlike a simple interest rate, an APR includes any compulsory fees you have to pay.

You can use an APR to compare different loans but also different financial products. For example, you could use it to see how much taking out a loan would cost compared to a credit card.

When you see a representative APR, you’re not guaranteed to get that rate. The lender only has to offer it to 51% of customers and they may increase it if they think you’re a higher risk.

A smart search tool, like our loan eligibility checker, performs a soft search on your credit file that won’t affect your credit score.

It can help you find out which loans and financial products you’ll have the best chance of being accepted for before you apply.

Once you apply for a loan, the lender will do a hard credit check to make a complete search of your credit report. But too many hard checks in a short space of time can negatively affect your credit score.

Doing a soft search can help you avoid applying for the wrong loan and harming your credit record.

This will really depend on how much you can afford to repay each month. Generally, it’s best to borrow money for the shortest time possible, so that you end up paying less overall.

Loan term lengths are typically anywhere from 12 months up to five years. Borrowing for a longer period means you’ll pay less each month, but it’ll probably cost you more in the long run.

So it’s best to look for the shortest loan term with the most manageable monthly repayments.

If you miss a repayment, you may be charged a late payment fee by your lender and it can also affect your credit rating.

If you miss payments or don’t pay the full amount for three to six months, it’s known as defaulting.

This will be recorded on your credit report and could make it harder for you to access financial products in the future.

A repayment holiday is when the lender agrees that you can pause your loan repayments for a set period.

This option is usually offered if you’re struggling to make your repayments and it’s designed to give you a bit of financial flexibility.

Keep in mind that interest will still be charged if you take a repayment holiday, so you’ll end up paying more overall and your original term will be extended.

If you’re struggling with your loan, you should contact your lender as soon as possible. They might be able to restructure your debt to reduce your monthly repayments or give you a short repayment holiday.

You can also get free debt advice from Citizens Advice and charities like StepChange and National Debtline.

This usually depends on which lender is providing the loan and whether you’re already an account holder with them.

If you’ve got an existing account with the lender, the money might be put into your account as quickly as the same day, or the following business day.

Typically, you can expect to receive the loan money within one to five days from the approval of your application.

Yes, depending on your individual circumstances, it’s possible to get a personal loan up to a maximum amount of around £25,000.

Typically, the more money you borrow the lower the interest rate you’ll be charged.

You can also spread the payments out over a longer term to reduce how much you need to pay each month. But remember that doing this means you’re likely to end up paying more interest overall.

A £10,000 loan can be used to help pay for planned big events like a wedding or a special holiday, or you might want to use it to pay for home improvements or to buy your next car.

Useful links

View all loans guides

[1]Gocompare.com introduces customers to Experian Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Gocompare.com’s relationship with Experian Limited is limited to that of a business partnership, no common ownership or control rights exist between us. Please note, we cannot be held responsible for the content of external websites and by using the links stated to access these separate websites you will be subject to the terms of use applying to those sites