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Updated March 2026

Deposit Savings Calculator
Ireland 2026

How long until you have enough to buy? Enter your target, savings, and monthly amount. See your timeline — and how Help to Buy can fast-track it.

Your Savings Plan

€
The price of the property you're aiming for
€
€
How much you can put aside each month
%
Best regular savers: 2.5–3.5%. Standard savings: 0.5–1.5%
Help to Buy refunds up to €30,000 for new builds only
€
Tax refund from Help to Buy. Calculate your exact HTB

Your Deposit Timeline

Enter your details and press calculate

Your savings timeline will appear here

Start Learning About BER Now

When you're ready to buy, a property's BER rating will significantly affect your running costs — €1,600/year difference between A and D. Start factoring BER into your property search early.

See BER energy costs
Book a BER assessment at Homerating.ie

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Affordability Calculator
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Help to Buy Calculator
Calculate your exact HTB tax refund — up to €30,000.
First Home Scheme
Government equity share to bridge the gap to buying.
Total Cost of Buying
Every fee beyond the purchase price.
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Is it cheaper to keep renting or buy now?
Mortgage Comparison
Compare every lender's rates when you're ready.

How Long Does It Take to Save a Deposit in Ireland?

The 10% deposit rule means you need €35,000 for a €350,000 home and €50,000 for a €500,000 home. For the average first-time buyer in Dublin, where prices sit around €430,000, that's a deposit target of €43,000. At a savings rate of €1,000 per month — which already requires serious discipline — that's over three and a half years of pure saving, assuming no help.

Help to Buy Can Cut Years Off

The Help to Buy scheme refunds up to €30,000 in income tax you've paid over the last four years, provided you're buying or building a new home worth €500,000 or less. For many FTBs, this single scheme can cover the bulk of the deposit — turning a three-year savings timeline into 12 months or less. The First Home Scheme goes further by taking a government equity share of up to 30%, reducing what you need from your mortgage and deposit combined.

Where to Park Your Savings

Ireland isn't generous with tax-free savings options. Interest on deposits is taxed at 33% DIRT, so even a decent rate of 3% nets you just 2% after tax. Regular saver accounts from the main banks (AIB, BOI, PTSB) typically offer 3–4% on monthly deposits up to €1,000 — useful for building the habit, but the real gains come from cutting expenses, not chasing rates.

Setting a Realistic Target

Don't forget that 10% is the minimum — some buyers put down more to secure a better mortgage rate or reduce monthly repayments. LTV tiers at 60%, 70%, and 80% often come with progressively lower rates. Run the numbers here, then check the Affordability Calculator to see what your savings target actually buys.

Related tools: Affordability Calculator · Help to Buy Calculator · First Home Scheme Calculator

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Your Next Steps
Check your borrowing powerHow much can you actually borrow? Help to Buy refundCould you get up to €30,000 back? First Home SchemeGovernment equity share explained
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