Credit Card Payoff Calculator
Enter your balance, APR and monthly payment to see when your card will be paid off and how much interest you will pay. Or set a goal in months to get the payment you need, and compare it with paying only the minimum.
Find it on your statement. Average US card APRs are around 20%–25%.
Common: 1% + interest, or 2%–3% of the balance.
The smallest minimum payment, often $25–$40.
How to use the Credit Card Payoff Calculator
- Enter your balance and APR from your latest card statement.
- Choose what you know: the monthly payment you can afford, or the number of months you want to be debt-free in.
- Check the minimum payment settings so the comparison matches your card's formula (see the terms or statement).
- Read the payoff time, interest and savings, and see the two balance paths on the chart.
- Scroll to the schedule for every month's interest and principal, and download it as CSV.
How credit card payoff is calculated
Card interest is charged monthly on the balance you carry. The monthly rate is the APR divided by 12, so a 22.9% APR is about 1.908% a month. Each payment first covers that month's interest and the rest reduces the balance.
With a fixed payment P, balance B and monthly rate r, the number of months to pay off the card is:
n = −ln(1 − r × B ÷ P) ÷ ln(1 + r)
To clear the card in a set number of months, the payment you need is the standard loan formula:
P = B × r ÷ (1 − (1 + r)−n)
Example: a $6,000 balance at 22.9% APR with $250 a month takes 33 payments (2 yr 9 mo) and costs about $2,101 in interest. Paying only a minimum of 1% of the balance plus interest (at least $25) would take about 20 yr 10 mo and cost about $10,362 in interest.
The payment must be larger than the first month's interest (B × r), otherwise the balance never shrinks. This calculator assumes no new purchases, no fees and a fixed APR; real statements use daily balances, so your card's numbers may differ by a few dollars.
Payoff time and interest for a $5,000 balance
Time to pay off / total interest paid, with no new charges.
| Monthly payment | 18% APR | 22% APR | 26% APR |
|---|---|---|---|
| $100 | 7 yr 10 mo / $4,311 | 11 yr 5 mo / $8,678 | 100 yr / $57,028,981,398,159 |
| $150 | 3 yr 11 mo / $1,984 | 4 yr 4 mo / $2,798 | 5 yr / $3,964 |
| $200 | 2 yr 8 mo / $1,314 | 2 yr 10 mo / $1,750 | 3 yr 1 mo / $2,280 |
| $300 | 1 yr 8 mo / $797 | 1 yr 9 mo / $1,022 | 1 yr 9 mo / $1,271 |
| $400 | 1 yr 2 mo / $579 | 1 yr 3 mo / $732 | 1 yr 3 mo / $895 |
| $500 | 11 mo / $458 | 1 yr / $574 | 1 yr / $697 |
Why minimum payments take so long
Minimum payments are usually a small percentage of the balance (often 1% plus that month's interest, or 2%–3% of the balance) with a dollar floor. Because the minimum shrinks as the balance falls, most of every payment goes to interest for years. Paying a fixed amount instead, even one only slightly above the first minimum, keeps the principal portion growing each month and cuts years off the payoff. Under the US CARD Act, statements also show how long the minimum-only path takes and what payment clears the balance in three years.
Frequently asked questions
How long will it take to pay off my credit card?
It depends on the balance, the APR and your payment. The months needed are n = −ln(1 − r×B/P) / ln(1 + r), where r is the APR divided by 12. For example, $5,000 at 22% APR takes 34 months (about $1,750 in interest) at $200 a month, but over 11 years (about $8,680 in interest) at $100 a month.
How much do I need to pay to clear my card in 12 or 24 months?
Use the 'Months to pay off' option. The payment is B × r / (1 − (1 + r)^−n). A $6,000 balance at 22.9% APR needs about $564 a month to be gone in 12 months, or about $314 a month for 24 months.
Why does paying only the minimum take so long?
The minimum is usually 1% of the balance plus interest, or 2% to 3% of the balance, so it shrinks as you pay. Most of each payment goes to interest and the principal falls slowly, which can stretch repayment to 10 years or more.
What happens if my payment is less than the interest?
The balance will grow instead of shrinking. The calculator warns you and shows the first month's interest, which is the minimum you must exceed to make progress.
Does this include new purchases or fees?
No. It assumes you stop using the card, the APR stays the same and no late or annual fees are added. New charges would lengthen the payoff time.
Is it better to pay off a credit card or save?
Card APRs are usually much higher than savings rates, so paying down card debt is typically the better return once you have a small emergency cushion. If you have several cards, a debt snowball or avalanche plan can help you decide the order.
Is my information stored?
No. All calculations happen in your browser and nothing you enter is sent to a server.