Credit Card Payoff Calculator

Enter what you owe, your card's APR and the amount you can pay each month.

Assumes the same amount every month and no new purchases.

How it works

  • The APR is divided by 12 to get the monthly interest rate.
  • Each month, interest is added to the balance, then your payment is subtracted.
  • The loop repeats until the balance reaches zero. The final payment is trimmed to whatever is left, which is usually less than a full payment.

Notes

  • Monthly interest comes from the annual APR you enter, divided by 12.
  • The model assumes no new purchases, no fees and a fixed payment. Real statements vary if you keep using the card.
  • If your payment does not cover the monthly interest, the balance grows forever. The calculator says so instead of returning a number.

Common questions

Why does paying the minimum take so long?
A minimum payment is often only 1-2% of the balance plus interest, so very little goes to principal. Raising the payment by even $50 a month can cut years off the payoff.
Is APR the same as the interest I pay?
APR is the yearly rate. The monthly rate is APR divided by 12, so a 22.99% APR costs about 1.92% of the balance each month.