How much can I borrow?
Banks work from what you have left once everything else is paid. Here is how they do it, and how to check before you apply.
Updated 2026-09-05
Most Swedish banks approve unsecured loans up to roughly five times your gross annual income, but the ceiling is rarely what stops you. What decides it is KALP, kvar att leva på, literally what is left to live on once housing, loans and living costs are paid. On a gross salary of SEK 32,000 a month, no children and SEK 8,000 in rent, most banks land at SEK 250,000–350,000.
KALP is what actually decides
Kvar Att Leva På is the bank's calculation of your monthly finances. From your net pay it deducts housing, existing loans, childcare and a standard allowance for living costs taken from Konsumentverket's reference values. What remains has to carry the new loan's monthly payment, with room to spare.
The room to spare is the point. The bank does not use your actual rate but a stressed one, often 6–8 percentage points higher, to see whether you would cope if rates rose. A loan that looks comfortable at 8% can fail because the bank tests it at 15%.
- Net pay, all income you can document
- Less housing, rent, or running costs plus interest and amortisation
- Less existing loans and credits, including unused card limits
- Less Konsumentverket's allowance for food, clothing, hygiene and insurance
- What remains is what must carry the new loan at a stressed rate
The debt ratio sets a ceiling on top
Beyond KALP the bank looks at your debt ratio: total debts divided by gross annual income. For unsecured lending most stop at four to five times income, everything included. An existing mortgage counts, which is why a large mortgage can block a small personal loan.
Unused credit cards often count as debt up to the full limit, even at a zero balance. A card with a SEK 60,000 limit can therefore cost you SEK 60,000 of borrowing capacity. Cancelling cards you do not use is the cheapest thing you can do before applying.
Do the sums yourself first
Take your net pay, subtract housing and every existing payment, then subtract roughly SEK 9,000 for a single adult or SEK 15,000 for a couple. What is left is approximately what the bank sees. If that figure covers the loan's monthly cost calculated at 15%, not at the rate you hope to get, you are probably within range.
Our calculator works out the monthly cost at any rate you like. Set a high one and see whether the figure still feels comfortable.
Common questions
Does my student loan count?
Yes, in the debt ratio. But CSN loans carry a low rate over a long term, so the monthly payment hits KALP less than an unsecured loan of the same size.
Does permanent employment matter?
Very much. Probationary contracts, fixed terms and self-employment almost always mean a lower approved amount, because the bank wants income it can count on. Two years of self-employment with declared profit is usually the bar.
Does a co-applicant raise the amount?
Usually yes. Two incomes are assessed against one shared cost of living, which gives better KALP than two separate calculations. Both become jointly liable for the whole debt.