What Is The Average Small Business Loan Amount?
The average small business loan size was $57,882 in the first quarter of 2026, the lowest figure recorded since 2021, according to data from the federal Small Business Lending Survey.
Loan sizes have fallen consistently over the past few years as banks and business owners alike face a tricky macroeconomic environment.
Average loan sizes and rates of approval
The average business loan approval rate has declined steadily since 2024, slipping from 51.3% to 44.4% over the past two years. The average size of approved loans has also trended down over the same two-year period, dropping from $83,342 to $57,882, with a nearly $20,000 drop from Q4 of 2025 to Q1 of 2026.
It isn’t just harder to get approved for a business loan than it was a couple of years ago — even business owners who get a, “Yes” may not get as much as they hoped. Loan sizes plunged in the first quarter of 2026, likely due at least in part to banks pulling back in response to the start of the conflict with Iran. That can put business owners in a tough spot, forcing them to choose between what they want to do and what they can actually afford to do.
| Period | Approval rate | Average loan size approved |
|---|---|---|
| 2026:Q1 | 44.4% | $57,882 |
| 2025:Q4 | 41.2% | $75,481 |
| 2025:Q3 | 42.1% | $76,222 |
| 2025:Q2 | 45.2% | $79,505 |
| 2025:Q1 | 46.6% | $84,510 |
| 2024:Q4 | 45.4% | $92,542 |
| 2024:Q3 | 46.6% | $90,918 |
| 2024:Q2 | 47.8% | $88,251 |
| 2024:Q1 | 51.3% | $83,342 |
| 2023:Q4 | 50.7% | $89,268 |
| 2023:Q3 | 52.8% | $74,998 |
| 2023:Q2 | 49.5% | $82,636 |
| 2023:Q1 | 51.0% | $109,668 |
| 2022:Q4 | 49.0% | $87,324 |
| 2022:Q3 | 49.4% | $64,523 |
| 2022:Q2 | 52.4% | $67,270 |
| 2022:Q1 | 51.9% | $65,998 |
| 2021:Q4 | 50.5% | $64,241 |
| 2021:Q3 | 51.3% | $87,553 |
| 2021:Q2 | 49.7% | $83,820 |
| 2021:Q1 | 53.1% | $121,839 |
How we sourced this data
The report contains information on the total number of applications received, the total dollar amount requested, the percentage of applications approved and the percentage of that dollar amount approved. We used that information to calculate the total and average amounts approved.
To see the unrounded numbers that we used in our calculations, download the Excel spreadsheet for the June 25, 2026 release from the bank’s website.
Small business loan demand
From the beginning of 2022 through most of 2025, more banks identified weaker demand for business loans than stronger demand, pointing to a multi-year decline.
That trend reversed in the first quarter of 2026. Banks reporting stronger demand reached 20.83%, compared with 10.42% reporting weaker demand. While stronger demand also briefly outpaced weaker demand in late 2024 and early 2025, this marked the strongest positive gap since early 2022. Most banks, 68.75%, reported no major change either way.
I think that increased demand in Q1 2026 could be a sign that businesses were starting to feel more comfortable amid what remained a pretty uncertain economic environment. However, that bump in demand may prove to be a one-quarter blip rather than the start of a trend, due to the massive economic impact of the war in Iran, which began late in Q1.
| Period | Banks reporting stronger loan demand | Banks reporting no major change in demand | Banks reporting weaker loan demand |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026:Q1 | 20.83% | 68.75% | 10.42% |
| 2025:Q4 | 13.38% | 71.13% | 15.49% |
| 2025:Q3 | 12.75% | 71.81% | 15.44% |
| 2025:Q2 | 13.38% | 71.97% | 14.65% |
| 2025:Q1 | 18.40% | 66.26% | 15.34% |
| 2024:Q4 | 17.26% | 69.05% | 13.69% |
| 2024:Q3 | 11.93% | 67.05% | 21.02% |
| 2024:Q2 | 16.85% | 61.24% | 21.91% |
| 2024:Q1 | 12.35% | 62.94% | 24.71% |
| 2023:Q4 | 10.67% | 56.67% | 32.67% |
| 2023:Q3 | 10.00% | 57.33% | 32.67% |
| 2023:Q2 | 12.23% | 51.08% | 36.69% |
| 2023:Q1 | 15.38% | 48.46% | 36.15% |
| 2022:Q4 | 12.69% | 61.19% | 26.12% |
| 2022:Q3 | 13.28% | 55.47% | 31.25% |
| 2022:Q2 | 17.29% | 63.91% | 18.80% |
| 2022:Q1 | 26.23% | 63.11% | 10.66% |
| 2021:Q4 | 20.16% | 68.99% | 10.85% |
| 2021:Q3 | 24.35% | 60.87% | 14.78% |
| 2021:Q2 | 23.28% | 62.07% | 14.66% |
| 2021:Q1 | 27.10% | 56.07% | 16.82% |
How we sourced this data
The report contains information on whether lenders feel loan demand has been substantially stronger, moderately stronger, remained basically unchanged, moderately weaker or substantially weaker. We used that information to calculate the percentage of banks that felt demand was overall stronger or weaker.
To see the unrounded numbers that we used in our calculations, download the Excel spreadsheet for the June 25, 2026 release from the bank’s website.
Average business loan size by interest type
Average business loan interest rates change over time, depending on the market. The average interest rate on new fixed-rate loans has trended downward from 8.59% in Q1 2024 to 7.59% in Q1 2026. Variable rates also trended down, dropping from 8.70% in Q1 2024 to 7.34% in Q1 2026.
Average size of fixed rate loans
The average size of fixed-rate loans declined after a post-pandemic boom in 2022, bottoming out at $85,821 in the first quarter of 2024 before climbing back to $100,090 in Q1 2026.
| 2026 Q1 | $100,090 |
|---|---|
| 2025 Q1 | $92,334 |
| 2024 Q1 | $85,821 |
| 2023 Q1 | $98,950 |
| 2022 Q1 | $121,451 |
| 2021 Q1 | $72,372 |
| 2020 Q1 | $97,951 |
How we sourced this data
The report contains information on the total number of new fixed-rate business loans and the outstanding dollar amount of those loans, broken down by quarter. We used that information to calculate the average dollar amount of new fixed-rate loans, rounded to the nearest dollar.
To see the unrounded numbers that we used in our calculations, download the Excel spreadsheet for the June 25, 2026 release from the bank’s website.
Average size of variable rate loans
New variable-rate loans have, on average, been bigger than fixed-rate loans, though the size has swung considerably in recent years, dropping from $311,103 in Q1 2022 to $156,287 in Q1 2025 before climbing back to $218,864 in Q1 2026.
The drastic swings in size over the past four years shows just how unpredictable variable-rate loan sizes have become, likely tracking broader interest rate movements.
| 2026 Q1 | $218,864 |
|---|---|
| 2025 Q1 | $156,287 |
| 2024 Q1 | $195,312 |
| 2023 Q1 | $209,440 |
| 2022 Q1 | $311,103 |
| 2021 Q1 | $286,929 |
| 2020 Q1 | $173,698 |
How we sourced this data
The report contains information on the total number of new variable-rate business loans and the outstanding dollar amount of those loans, broken down by quarter. We used that information to calculate the average dollar amount of new variable-rate loans, rounded to the nearest dollar.
To see the unrounded numbers that we used in our calculations, download the Excel spreadsheet for the June 25, 2026 release from the bank’s website.
Average SBA 7(a) and 504 loan amounts
According to SBA fiscal year 2025 data, which covers loan approvals through Sept. 30, 2025, the average 7(a) loan was $477,571, while the average 504 loan was $1.15 million. The table below combines activity from the SBA’s two largest loan programs.
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) guarantees loans made by participating lenders to eligible small businesses. Depending on the program, borrowers can access financing from $500 to $5.5 million.
Check out LendingTree’s full guide on SBA loans.
| Fiscal year | 7(a) + 504 total approved | 7(a) + 504 loans approved | Average loan amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $45,091,988,200 | 84,840 | $531,494 |
| 2024 | $37,788,942,200 | 76,235 | $495,690 |
| 2023 | $33,935,044,000 | 63,286 | $536,217 |
| 2022 | $34,901,801,990 | 56,932 | $613,044 |
| 2021 | $44,754,862,340 | 61,532 | $727,343 |
| 2020 | $28,376,710,700 | 49,417 | $574,230 |
| 2019 | $28,134,363,000 | 58,006 | $485,025 |
| 2018 | $30,126,183,100 | 66,228 | $454,886 |
| 2017 | $30,461,181,500 | 68,648 | $443,730 |
| 2016 | $28,868,508,343 | 70,012 | $412,337 |
How we sourced this data
We used that information to calculate the average SBA loan amounts by year.
SBA 7(a) loan amounts
The SBA’s flagship 7(a) loan program had an average loan amount of $477,571 in fiscal year 2025, which covers loan approvals through Sept. 30, 2025. The 7(a) program can be used for a variety of business needs, including working capital, equipment purchases and commercial real estate.
| Fiscal year | 7(a) total $ approved |
|---|---|
| 2025 | $37,287,816,200 |
| 2024 | $31,124,036,200 |
| 2023 | $27,515,666,000 |
| 2022 | $25,693,805,700 |
| 2021 | $36,536,756,800 |
| 2020 | $22,549,825,700 |
| 2019 | $23,175,811,000 |
| 2018 | $25,372,539,100 |
| 2017 | $25,447,458,500 |
| 2016 | $24,128,426,343 |
How we sourced this data
We used that information to calculate the average SBA loan amounts by year.
SBA 504 loan amounts
The average SBA 504 loan amount reached $1,154,122 in fiscal year 2025, which covers loan approvals through Sept. 30, 2025. The 504 program helps businesses finance major fixed assets such as commercial real estate and equipment.
| Fiscal year | 504 total $ approved |
|---|---|
| 2025 | $7,804,172,000 |
| 2024 | $6,664,906,000 |
| 2023 | $6,419,378,000 |
| 2022 | $9,207,996,290 |
| 2021 | $8,218,105,540 |
| 2020 | $5,826,885,000 |
| 2019 | $4,958,552,000 |
| 2018 | $4,753,644,000 |
| 2017 | $5,013,723,000 |
| 2016 | $4,740,082,000 |
How we sourced this data
We used that information to calculate the average SBA loan amounts by year.
Frequently asked questions
The average approved small business loan amount was $57,882 in the first quarter of 2026, according to data from the federal Small Business Lending Survey.
According to SBA fiscal year 2025 data, which covers loan approvals through Sept. 30, 2025, the average 7(a) loan amount was $477,571, while the average 504 loan amount was $1,154,122.
Most startup businesses apply for $100,000 or less, according to the Federal Reserve, though lenders offer startup financing anywhere from $5,000 to $10 million depending on the loan type and lender.
A reasonable loan amount depends on what your business can comfortably repay, not just what a lender approves. Use LendingTree’s business loan calculator to estimate monthly payments against expected cash flow before committing to an amount.
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