What are the standard mortgage durations offered in the US?

1. The default market standard: 30-year fixed — America’s baseline

Thirty‑year fixed-rate mortgages are the standard most borrowers encounter: they spread repayment over three decades to lower monthly costs even though they increase total interest paid over the life of the loan ^{[2] [1]}. Multiple consumer‑facing guides and mortgage glossaries identify the 30‑year fixed as the single most common mortgage term ^{[1] [2]}.

2. The shorter, interest-savings alternative: 15‑year fixed

The 15‑year fixed mortgage is the other principal “standard” term homeowners consider; it raises monthly payments compared with a 30‑year loan but typically lowers the interest rate and substantially cuts total interest paid because the loan is repaid faster ^{[1] [4]}.

3. Adjustable-rate mortgages and hybrid terms: fixed period + longer amortization

ARMs often combine an initial fixed‑rate window (commonly 5–10 years) with a longer amortization length—frequently a 30‑year payoff schedule—so borrowers get a lower initial rate but face rate reset risk later ^{[5] [3]}. Industry glossaries and lender education pages emphasize that ARMs are usually structured with that fixed initial period followed by recurring adjustments ^{[5] [3]}.

4. Short terms (5–10 years) and long terms (40+ years): available but less typical

Some mortgages have very short terms—businesslike five‑year loans or interest‑only arrangements that amortize over a short horizon—or extended terms such as 40‑year mortgages and occasionally other customized lengths. Reporting notes loans “as short as five years” and “40 years or longer” exist, though they are far less common than 15‑ and 30‑year products ^{[1] [3]}.

5. Lender and program constraints: what’s “standard” depends on product and investor rules

What lenders offer is shaped by program rules: conventional conforming loans (those sellable to Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac) have typical structures that make 15- and 30‑year schedules common, while government programs (FHA, VA, USDA) and jumbo or non‑QM loans may use different allowable terms or limits ^{[6] [3] [2]}. In short, “standard” in retail practice reflects both borrower demand and what secondary market buyers will purchase ^[3].

6. Regulation and the “qualified mortgage” concept that limits exotic terms

Regulatory frameworks (post‑Dodd‑Frank and CFPB rules) and the Qualified Mortgage (QM) standard discourage certain risky structures—interest‑only, balloon payments and some very long terms—so widely marketed “standard” products tend to be fully amortizing 15‑ or 30‑year schedules or ARMs meeting QM rules ^{[3] [7]}.

7. Practical takeaway for borrowers: match term to goals and tolerance

Choose a term based on cash‑flow needs, total interest cost and risk tolerance: 30‑year fixed for lower monthly payments and stability; 15‑year fixed for faster equity and less interest; ARMs if you want a lower initial rate and accept reset risk after the fixed window ^{[4] [5]}. Consumer guidance repeatedly urges shopping loan estimates and comparing fixed vs adjustable options before deciding ^{[4] [6]}.

8. Gaps and limits in the provided reporting

Available sources list common terms and examples (5, 10, 15, 30, 40 years and ARMs), explain regulatory influences and typical ARM structures, but they do not provide exhaustive market share percentages or up‑to‑date frequency counts for every term in 2025; those specific statistics are not found in the current reporting ^{[1] [2]}.

Sources cited above: Investopedia ^[1]; Forbes Advisor ^[2]; CrossCountry Mortgage glossary ^[8]; HSH/Common types guide ^[3]; Quicken Loans glossary ^[5]; Chase education ^[9]; CFPB and related consumer guidance ^{[6] [4]}; U.S. Code/QM rule context ^[7].