totn Excel Functions

MS Excel: How to use the RATE Function (WS, VBA)

This Excel tutorial explains how to use the Excel RATE function with syntax and examples.

Description

The Microsoft Excel RATE function returns the interest rate per payment period for an annuity.

The RATE function is a built-in function in Excel that is categorized as a Financial Function. It can be used as a worksheet function (WS) and a VBA function (VBA) in Excel. As a worksheet function, the RATE function can be entered as part of a formula in a cell of a worksheet. As a VBA function, you can use this function in macro code that is entered through the Microsoft Visual Basic Editor.

Syntax

The syntax for the RATE function in Microsoft Excel is:

RATE( number_payments, payment, PV, [FV], [Type], [Estimate] )

Parameters or Arguments

number_payments
The number of payment periods for the annuity.
payment
The amount of the payment made each payment period.
PV
It is the present value.
FV
Optional. It is the future value. If this parameter is omitted, it assumes a FV value of 0.
Type

Optional. It indicates when the payments are due. If the Type parameter is omitted, it assumes a Type value of 0. Type can be one of the following values:

Value Explanation
0 Payments are due at the end of the period. (default)
1 Payments are due at the beginning of the period.
Estimate
Optional. It is your guess at what the rate will be. If this parameter is omitted, it assumes an Estimate of 10%.

Returns

The RATE function returns a numeric value.

Applies To

  • Excel for Office 365, Excel 2019, Excel 2016, Excel 2013, Excel 2011 for Mac, Excel 2010, Excel 2007, Excel 2003, Excel XP, Excel 2000

Type of Function

  • Worksheet function (WS)
  • VBA function (VBA)

Example (as Worksheet Function)

Let's look at some RATE examples and explore how to use the RATE function as a worksheet function in Microsoft Excel:

This first example returns the interest rate per payment period on a $5,000 loan where monthly payments of $250 are made for 2 years. All payments are made at the end of the period.

=RATE(2*12, -250, 5000)
Result: 1.513%

This next example returns the interest rate per payment period on a $5,000 loan where monthly payments of $250 are made for 2 years. All payments are made at the beginning of the period.

=RATE(2*12, -250, 5000, , 1)
Result: 1.655%

This next example returns the interest rate per payment period on a $8,000 loan where weekly payments of $700 are made for 4 years. All payments are made at the end of the period.

=RATE(4*52, -700, 8000, , 0)
Result: 8.75%

This final example returns the interest rate per payment period on a $6,500 loan where annual payments of $1,000 are made for 10 years. All payments are made at the end of the period.

=RATE(10*1, -1000, 6500)
Result: 8.711%

Example (as VBA Function)

The RATE function can also be used in VBA code in Microsoft Excel.

Let's look at some Excel RATE function examples and explore how to use the RATE function in Excel VBA code:

Dim LValue As Double

LValue = Rate(10*1, -1000, 6500)

In this example, the variable called LValue would now contain the value of 0.087113756.