The cheapest home improvement loan in Ireland is the government-backed Home Energy Upgrade Loan, from 3% APR. It is only for SEAI-approved energy work. For general renovations, the lowest typical rates run from about 6.1% to 7.2% APR on larger loans. On €20,000 over five years, total interest ranges from €1,541 to €4,679 depending on the lender.
The same €20,000 renovation loan can cost you three times more interest at one lender than another. At 3% APR, five years of interest comes to €1,541. At AIB’s standard 8.95% APR, it comes to €4,679. That is a €3,138 gap, based on Build Me’s calculation from each lender’s published rate.
Build Me is a Dublin renovation company, not a lender or broker. We earn nothing from any loan on this page. This is general information, not financial advice. Rates were checked on 12 October 2026 and change often, so always confirm with the lender.
Home Improvement Loans Compared: Every Lender in One Table
Here is every major home improvement loan in Ireland. They are ranked by the interest on €20,000 over five years. Rates are each lender’s typical APR for that amount. Some lenders price by credit profile, so your offer could be higher.
Three groups stand out. Energy upgrade loans are cheapest, at 3% to 3.8% APR, but come with strict conditions. Green personal loans sit around 6.4% to 6.5% APR. Standard home improvement loans range from about 6.5% to 8.95% APR, with credit unions averaging 7.22%.
| Lender and loan | APR on €20,000 | Loan range | Max term | Rate type | Interest on €20,000 over 5 years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bank of Ireland Home Energy Upgrade Loan | 3.0% | €5,000 to €75,000 | 10 years | Variable | €1,541 |
| AIB Home Energy Upgrade Loan | 3.55% | €5,000 to €75,000 | 10 years | Variable | €1,827 |
| An Post Money Home Energy Upgrade Loan | 3.75% | €5,000 to €75,000 | 10 years | Fixed | €1,931 |
| PTSB Home Energy Upgrade Loan | 3.8% | €5,000 to €75,000 | 10 years | Variable | €1,957 |
| AIB Green Personal Loan | 6.4% | €3,000 to €60,000 | 10 years | Variable | €3,322 |
| Bank of Ireland Green Home Improvement Loan | 6.5% | €2,000 to €75,000 | 10 years | Variable | €3,375 |
| Revolut Personal Loan | From 6.5% (up to 12.99%) | Up to €30,000 | 5 years | Variable | From €3,375 |
| An Post Money Home Improvement Loan | From 6.9% (up to 16.9%) | €5,000 to €75,000 | 10 years | Fixed | From €3,587 |
| Avant Money Home Improvement Loan | 7.1% | €5,000 to €75,000 | 10 years (€20,000+) | Fixed | €3,693 |
| Bank of Ireland Home Improvement Loan | 7.1% | €2,000 to €75,000 | 10 years | Variable | €3,693 |
| PTSB Personal Loan | 7.2% | €1,500 to €75,000 | Check with lender | Variable | €3,746 |
| Credit union (national median) | 7.22% | Varies, up to €100,000 at some | Varies | Usually variable | €3,757 |
| AIB Home Improvement Loan | 8.95% | €1,000 to €50,000 | Check with lender | Variable | €4,679 |
Sources: lender rate tables via bonkers.ie and lender websites, checked 12 October 2026. Interest figures are Build Me calculations from each APR. Energy upgrade loans need SEAI-approved works.
Home Improvement Loan Calculator: Compare the Total Cost
Enter the amount you need and the term you want. The calculator shows every loan you could use at that size, with the monthly repayment and total interest. It also shows a mortgage top-up over a longer term. That shows how a lower rate can still cost more overall.
Typical APRs checked 12 October 2026. Your own offer may differ.
| Loan | APR | Monthly | Total interest |
|---|---|---|---|
| AIB Green Personal LoanEnergy-saving works | 6.4% | €389 | €3,322 |
| Bank of Ireland Green LoanEnergy-saving works | 6.5% | €390 | €3,375 |
| Revolut Personal LoanRate depends on credit profile | 6.5% | €390 | €3,375 |
| An Post Money Home ImprovementRate depends on credit profile | 6.9% | €393 | €3,587 |
| Avant Money Home ImprovementRate depends on credit profile | 7.1% | €395 | €3,693 |
| Bank of Ireland Home Improvement | 7.1% | €395 | €3,693 |
| PTSB Personal Loan | 7.2% | €396 | €3,746 |
| Credit union (median) | 7.22% | €396 | €3,757 |
| AIB Home Improvement Loan | 8.95% | €411 | €4,679 |
| Mortgage top-up (20 years)Secured on your home, plus legal fees | 3.96% | €120 | €8,809 |
Build Me estimate using each lender’s typical APR for the amount, checked 12 October 2026. Revolut, Avant Money and An Post Money price by credit profile, so offers can be higher. Energy upgrade loans need SEAI-approved works by a One Stop Shop or Community Project Co-ordinator. The mortgage top-up uses the Central Bank’s June 2026 average new variable rate of 3.96%. It excludes legal and valuation fees. This is not financial advice.
Which Loan Fits Which Renovation?
The right loan depends mostly on the size of the job and whether it saves energy. Most personal loans stop at €75,000. Some credit unions lend up to €100,000. Beyond that, a mortgage top-up is usually the only practical option.
Here is how typical Dublin projects line up, using budgets from Build Me's own cost guides. A standard Dublin bathroom refit costs €6,500 to €12,000 for a mid-spec finish. That suits a credit union or personal loan. A 25 m² single-storey rear extension costs about €50,000 to €70,000 to build. That needs a 10-year loan or a top-up.
At the top end, a full renovation of a three-bed semi in Dublin runs €150,000 to €250,000. That is well past any personal loan limit. In practice, most homeowners fund it with savings plus a mortgage top-up or further advance.
| Project | Typical budget | Best-value finance to compare |
|---|---|---|
| Bathroom renovation | €6,500 to €12,000 | Credit union or bank personal loan |
| External wall insulation (semi-D) | About €17,200 after the SEAI grant | Home Energy Upgrade Loan, from 3% APR |
| New windows and doors | Varies by house | Green personal loan (6.4% to 6.5% APR) |
| Dormer attic conversion | From €35,000 | Fixed-rate personal loan over €30,000, or top-up |
| Single-storey rear extension | €50,000 to €70,000+ | 10-year personal loan or mortgage top-up |
| Full three-bed semi renovation | €150,000 to €250,000 | Mortgage top-up or further advance |
| Buying and renovating a vacant home | Varies widely | Local Authority Purchase and Renovation Loan plus grant |
Budgets: Build Me cost guides (2026 estimates) and SEAI data for external wall insulation. Rates: lender tables checked 12 October 2026.
How Much Should You Borrow for a Renovation?
Borrow the full project cost plus a contingency, minus any grant you are sure of. Most renovation loans are sized too small. The builder's quote is only part of the bill. The shortfall then lands on a credit card or a dearer second loan.
Check four things before you apply. First, confirm the quote includes VAT at 13.5%. Second, add a 10% to 15% contingency for older homes, a Build Me estimate from our own projects. Third, include professional fees, such as an engineer or architect. Fourth, remember most grants pay out only after the work is finished.
That last point catches many people out. SEAI grants and the vacant property grant both pay on completion. If you are doing external wall insulation on a semi-D, you may need to fund the €23,219 median cost first. The €6,000 grant only arrives at the end, according to SEAI data.
- Quote: confirm the total includes VAT and lists what is excluded.
- Contingency: add 10% to 15% for older homes, 5% to 10% for newer ones.
- Fees: include engineer, architect and any planning costs.
- Grants: plan to fund the full cost upfront if the grant pays on completion.
- Repayment: keep the monthly repayment comfortable if rates rise on a variable loan.
Bank Home Improvement Loans: AIB, Bank of Ireland and PTSB
The three main banks all offer home improvement loans up to €50,000 or €75,000. All three use variable rates, so your repayment can change during the loan. Each also has a cheaper green option and offers the Home Energy Upgrade Loan.
Bank of Ireland Home Improvement Loan
Bank of Ireland lends €2,000 to €75,000 over one to 10 years. Its rate falls as you borrow more: 8.9% APR under €10,000, 8.3% from €10,000 and 7.1% from €20,000. Its own example shows €20,000 over five years at €394.71 a month, with €3,682.60 in interest.
The green home improvement loan is the better deal for many renovations, at 6.5% APR. It covers insulation, heat pumps, solar panels, heating controls and new windows and doors. Bank of Ireland asks for a dated, detailed quote from your builder. Its Home Energy Upgrade Loan, at 3% APR, is the cheapest on the market.
AIB Home Improvement Loan
AIB's standard home improvement loan is the dearest of the big three, at 8.95% APR on €1,000 to €50,000. Existing customers can get approval within three hours. You can repay weekly, fortnightly or monthly, with no early repayment fees.
AIB's Green Personal Loan is much cheaper at 6.4% APR, for €3,000 to €60,000 over up to 10 years. At least half the loan must go on a green upgrade. AIB's Home Energy Upgrade Loan costs 3.55% APR.
PTSB Personal and Home Improvement Loans
PTSB is the cheapest pillar bank for larger loans. Its typical APR is 8.8% under €10,000, 7.2% from €10,000 and 6.2% from €25,000. Loans run from €1,500 to €75,000.
PTSB's Home Energy Upgrade Loan also drops as you borrow more. It costs 4.2% APR on smaller loans and falls to 3% APR from €50,000. That makes it the joint cheapest for a large deep retrofit.
- Loans up to €75,000 (€50,000 at AIB)
- Fast decisions for existing customers
- Cheaper green and energy upgrade options
- Variable rates can rise during the loan
- Standard rates are high on smaller loans
- AIB's standard loan is the dearest major option
Non-Bank Loans: Avant Money, An Post Money and Revolut
Non-bank lenders offer some of the lowest standard rates, and two of them fix your rate for the whole loan. The catch is personalised pricing. Your rate depends on your credit profile, so the headline rate is not guaranteed.
Avant Money has the lowest typical rate on big loans, at 6.1% APR from €30,000. It charges 7.1% from €20,000 and 8.5% below that. Rates are fixed, and terms run to 10 years for home improvement loans of €20,000 or more.
An Post Money also offers fixed rates, from 6.9% APR on €20,000 to €75,000. Its rates can reach 16.9% APR, depending on your profile. An Post's own example shows €20,000 over five years at €393.20 a month, with €3,591.96 in interest. Revolut lends up to €30,000 over five years, from 6.5% APR up to 12.99%.
- Avant's 6.1% APR is the lowest standard rate over €30,000
- Fixed rates at Avant and An Post Money
- Quick online decisions
- Rates depend on your credit profile
- Revolut caps loans at €30,000 and five years
- Fixed rates can mean less flexibility
Credit Union Home Improvement Loans
Credit unions charged a median of 7.22% APR on home improvement loans. That figure comes from the Irish League of Credit Unions' July to August 2025 survey. That was based on a €20,000 loan for external insulation and new windows. By law, credit unions cannot charge more than 12.68% APR.
Each credit union sets its own rate, so shopping around pays. 1st Credit Union advertises 7.97% APR on loans up to €100,000. Capital Credit Union in Dundrum charges 8.2% APR, also up to €100,000. MFCU offers 8.29% APR over up to 10 years.
Many credit unions also refund part of your interest. According to the ILCU, 46% of affiliated credit unions paid a loan interest rebate for the year to September 2024. The average rebate was 3.7%.
- Some lend up to €100,000
- Interest rebates at many credit unions
- Local decisions suit self-employed borrowers
- You must be a member to borrow
- Rates vary widely between credit unions
- Usually variable rates
Home Energy Upgrade Loan: The Cheapest Rate, With Conditions
The Home Energy Upgrade Loan Scheme is the cheapest renovation loan in Ireland, with rates from 3% APR. It is backed by the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland (SBCI) and the European Union. Loans run from €5,000 to €75,000 per property, over one to 10 years, with no charge on your home.
The conditions are strict. The works must be carried out by an SEAI-registered One Stop Shop or Community Project Co-ordinator. They must improve your BER by at least 20%. At least 75% of the loan must go on energy upgrade works, after the SEAI grant. Up to 25% can fund other work, like decorating.
You can apply through AIB, Bank of Ireland, PTSB, An Post Money and seven credit unions, according to the SBCI. The scheme is open until 31 December 2026, or until funds run out. For energy work outside a One Stop Shop, such as new windows, a green personal loan is the realistic option.
Uptake has been slow so far. By the end of June 2025, 580 loans worth €28.5 million had been drawn down. That is according to the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment. That suggests funding is unlikely to run out before the deadline.
| Lender | Energy upgrade loan APR | Rate type |
|---|---|---|
| Bank of Ireland | 3.0% | Variable |
| PTSB | 4.2% (under €15,000) to 3.0% (€50,000+) | Variable |
| AIB | 3.55% | Variable |
| An Post Money | 7.2% (under €10,000) to 3.75% (€20,000+) | Fixed |
Sources: lender rate tables via bonkers.ie and Bank of Ireland, checked 12 October 2026. Scheme rules: SBCI.
The SBCI says loans are available until 31 December 2026, unless funding runs out sooner. If you are planning a deep retrofit, get your Home Energy Summary Report from a One Stop Shop early.
Mortgage Top-Up vs Personal Loan for Bigger Projects
A mortgage top-up has a much lower rate, but stretching it over 20 years can cost more in total. The average new variable mortgage rate was 3.96% in June 2026, according to Central Bank figures. Most unsecured loans charge 6% to 9% APR.
Here is how that plays out on a €60,000 extension, based on Build Me's calculation. A top-up at 3.96% over 20 years costs about €360 a month, but €26,428 in interest. The same top-up over 10 years costs €12,520. A 10-year Avant Money loan at 6.1% APR costs €19,703.
The result: a top-up wins only if you keep the term short. It is also secured on your home and usually involves legal and valuation fees. A personal loan is faster and leaves your mortgage untouched.
Build Me calculation from Central Bank June 2026 average new variable rate and lender typical APRs. Excludes fees.
Before You Borrow: What to Check
Compare the total cost of credit, not just the monthly repayment. The CCPC advises comparing interest rates, terms and total costs across lenders, because they differ widely. Its own loan calculator is a useful second check.
Next, cut what you borrow. Apply for any grants that reduce your borrowing first, then borrow only the gap.
Buying an empty home to renovate? The grant for empty and derelict homes pays up to €70,000. It pairs with the Local Authority Purchase and Renovation Loan.
- Total cost: compare the total repayable, not only the APR or monthly figure.
- Fixed or variable: fixed gives certainty, variable usually allows free overpayments.
- Early repayment: check for fees if you plan to clear the loan early.
- Credit record: lenders check the Central Credit Register for loans of €500 or more.
- Insurance: payment protection is optional, and you do not have to take the lender's.
- Builder's quote: green loans need a detailed, dated quote, so ask for one upfront.
What to Expect Next for Renovation Loan Rates
Watch two dates and one trend over the next year. Each could change which loan is cheapest for your project.
- Energy upgrade loan deadline: the SBCI scheme runs until 31 December 2026 unless funds run out. We found no announced extension when we checked in October 2026.
- Mortgage rates: Ireland's average new mortgage rate was 3.49% in June 2026. That was below the euro area average for the first time since February 2023. That keeps top-ups attractive for large projects.
- Personalised pricing: Avant Money and An Post Money now price loans by credit profile. Expect more lenders to quote "from" rates, which makes comparing actual offers essential.
We give you a detailed, itemised quote with VAT included, ready to show any lender. That way you borrow the right amount, not too little.
Home Improvement Loan FAQ
What is the cheapest home improvement loan in Ireland?
The Home Energy Upgrade Loan is cheapest, from 3% APR at Bank of Ireland, but only for SEAI-approved energy work. For general renovations, the lowest typical rates are Avant Money's 6.1% APR over €30,000 and PTSB's 6.2% APR from €25,000.
How much can I borrow for home improvements?
Most banks and non-bank lenders go up to €75,000, and AIB up to €50,000. Some credit unions lend up to €100,000. For larger projects, a mortgage top-up is the usual route.
Are credit union home improvement loans cheaper than banks?
Sometimes. The ILCU's 2025 survey found a median of 7.22% APR. That beats AIB's standard 8.95%, but not the best rates from PTSB or Avant Money on larger loans.
Can I use a green loan without an SEAI One Stop Shop?
Yes, for green personal loans. Bank of Ireland and AIB green loans need eligible works and a builder's quote. The Home Energy Upgrade Loan is different, because it requires an SEAI-registered One Stop Shop.
Is a mortgage top-up cheaper than a personal loan?
The rate is lower, but a longer term can cost more in total. On €60,000, a 20-year top-up at 3.96% costs about €26,428 in interest. A 10-year loan at 6.1% costs about €19,703.
When does the Home Energy Upgrade Loan Scheme close?
The SBCI says loans are available until 31 December 2026, unless the scheme is fully allocated before then.
Do home improvement loans need security?
No. Personal home improvement loans and the Home Energy Upgrade Loan are unsecured. A mortgage top-up is secured on your home.
Next Steps
- This week: get an itemised quote with VAT, then add a 10% to 15% contingency.
- This week: check your Central Credit Register record before you apply.
- Within two weeks: apply for any grants first, so you borrow less.
- Within a month: get offers from at least three lenders, including a credit union.
- Before 31 December 2026: apply for the Home Energy Upgrade Loan if your project qualifies.
How We Checked These Rates
We checked every rate on 12 October 2026 against lenders' published rate tables. Sources were Bank of Ireland, An Post, Revolut, the SBCI, three credit unions and bonkers.ie's lender listings. Credit union averages come from the ILCU's 2025 survey. Mortgage rates come from Central Bank figures reported in August 2026. Interest figures are Build Me calculations from each typical APR. Where a lender quotes a range, we used its lowest typical rate and said so. We re-check rates every quarter.
Sources
- Bank of Ireland: Home improvement loan rates (checked 12 October 2026)
- bonkers.ie: AIB Home Improvement Loan (checked 12 October 2026)
- bonkers.ie: AIB Green Personal Loan (checked 12 October 2026)
- bonkers.ie: PTSB Personal Loan (checked 12 October 2026)
- bonkers.ie: Avant Money Home Improvement Loan (checked 12 October 2026)
- An Post Money: Home Improvement Loan (checked 12 October 2026)
- Revolut: Personal loans in Ireland (checked 12 October 2026)
- SBCI: Home Energy Upgrade Loan Scheme (checked 12 October 2026)
- bonkers.ie: PTSB Home Energy Upgrade Loan (checked 12 October 2026)
- bonkers.ie: AIB Home Energy Upgrade Loan (checked 12 October 2026)
- bonkers.ie: An Post Money Home Energy Upgrade Loan (checked 12 October 2026)
- Irish League of Credit Unions: Credit union loan rates survey (July to August 2025)
- 1st Credit Union: Home Improvement Loan (checked 12 October 2026)
- Capital Credit Union: Home Improvement Loan (checked 12 October 2026)
- MFCU: Home Improvement Loan (checked 12 October 2026)
- The Irish Times: Mortgage interest rates dip below euro zone average (12 August 2026)
- Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment: statement on the Home Energy Upgrade Loan Scheme (October 2025)
- CCPC: Personal loans (checked 12 October 2026)
