The booking amount is the first payment to a builder to reserve a flat. The down payment is the part of the whole price you pay from your own funds rather than the loan. The booking amount usually counts towards the down payment, but the down payment is larger.
Side by side
Factor
Booking amount
Down payment
Paid to
The builder or seller
The builder or seller, over one or more instalments
When
At booking
Before and alongside loan disbursements
Size
Up to 10% before a registered agreement in RERA projects
Price minus the loan; at least what lenders' loan-to-value caps require
Source
Your funds
Your funds
Refund on cancellation
As the agreement and RERA rules allow
As the agreement allows
Affects the loan
No
Yes; sets how much you borrow
When Booking amount matters
Check the cancellation terms before paying a booking amount, and do not pay above 10% in a RERA project before the agreement is registered.
When Down payment matters
Plan the down payment early: lenders fund only part of the value, and stamp duty and registration are generally on top.
In more detail
Reserve Bank of India rules cap the loan-to-value ratio for home loans: up to 90% for loans up to ₹30 lakh, 80% above that up to ₹75 lakh, and 75% above ₹75 lakh. Lenders may fund less.
So the down payment is at least 10% to 25% of the value depending on loan size, plus costs the loan does not cover.
Usually yes. It is the first instalment of your own contribution.
What is the minimum down payment for a home loan?
It depends on the loan size under RBI loan-to-value caps: 10% for loans up to ₹30 lakh, 20% up to ₹75 lakh and 25% above, before costs a lender excludes.
Can I get the booking amount back if I cancel?
As the agreement allows. In RERA projects, state rules and the model agreement limit what a builder may deduct.
Sources
Reserve Bank of India, prudential norms on loan-to-value for housing loans
Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016, section 13
A plain-language summary, not legal or tax advice. Rules set by states differ and change; check the current position for your property.