Base interest rate calculator 2025

The FORIS base interest rate calculator helps you to precisely calculate interest based on the statutory default interest rate. With just a few entries, you can quickly obtain a reliable overview of the interest amounts due – ideal for the effective calculation of claims.

  • Calculate default interests
  • Up to date & fast
Basiszinsrechner

The FORIS base interest rate calculator 2025

Calculate base interest rates – updated daily and quickly. Determine the interest rates on your claims using our base interest rate calculator. You can choose between consumer or commercial transactions as the basis for the calculation type.

Value required
Date incorrect
Date incorrect

The first and the last specified day are taken into account (Calculation basis: 365 days a year / 366 days for a leap year)

The entered value is incorrect
The entered value is incorrect

How does the base interest rate calculator work?

The FORIS base interest rate calculator facilitates the precise calculation of interest claims. It not only enables the determination of default interest on the basis of a constant interest rate, but also allows the specification of an alternative, dynamic or static interest rate.

What is the interest rate for late payment?

The default interest is composed of the current base interest rate and a surcharge. The base interest rate is generally set semi-annually by the German Federal Bank (Deutsche Bundesbank) on January 1 and July 1. The amount of the surcharge depends on whether the debtor is a consumer or a non-consumer. The current base interest rate can be viewed at the website of Deutsche Bundesbank.

Default interest rate for consumer transactions

For legal transactions with consumers, the default interest rate amounts to 5 percentage points above the base interest rate.

Default interest rate for commercial transactions

This includes all transactions that non-consumer such as entrepreneurs or merchants conclude among themselves for their business operations. The decisive factor for the amount of the default interest is when the commercial transaction was concluded.

  1. If a commercial transaction was concluded by 28/07/2014, the default interest rate amounts to 8 percentage points above the base interest rate.
  2. If a commercial transaction was concluded after 28.07.2014, the default interest rate shall be 9 percentage points above the base interest rate.

Continuing obligations

Continuing obligations are, for example, contracts with recurring individual services extending over a longer period of time (e.g. service contracts, rental agreements, service contracts, etc.).

Here, too, the relevant date is when the commercial transaction was concluded. For contracts concluded by 28/07/2014, the legislator has provided a transitional period of two years with regard to the time of performance.

    1. Upon conclusion of the continuing obligation until 28/07/2014:
      1. If the respective service is rendered by 30/06/2016, the default interest rate shall be 8 percentage points above the base interest rate.
      2. If the respective service is rendered after 30/06/2016, the default interest rate shall be 9 percentage points above the base interest rate.

  1. Upon conclusion of the continuing obligation as of 28/07/2014: The default interest rate of 9 percentage points above the base interest rate shall apply irrespective of when the respective service is rendered.

How the default interest calculated?

The following formula can be used for manual calculation of default interest:

Invoice amount in € x (base interest rate + X percentage points) x (days in arrears / 365*) = default interest

*In the case of leap years, the calculation basis is 366 days, while 360 days are used for commercial calculations.

We are here for you

If you have any questions regarding our services and offerings, we will be happy to assist you.

Contact person

Conny Leuschner

Telephone

+49 228 95750-50
Conny Leuschner
Conny Leuschner