Free · Fixed-payment estimate · Monthly schedule

Credit card payoff calculator

Enter your balance, APR and planned monthly payment. Estimate the months to payoff and total interest, then compare another payment amount or a declining minimum.

Illustrative fixed-payment estimate · Snowballr calculation · $5,000 balance, 22% assumed APR, $250 fixed payment

$5,000 at an assumed 22% APR, $250/month: 26 months

With no fees, new charges or rate changes, monthly APR/12 accrual before a fixed $250 payment gives 26 monthly cycles and $1,285.72 in interest. The final payment is smaller. This is an assumption-led example, not an exact lender payoff quote.

Try your own statement APR and affordable payment. If the payment cannot reduce principal, the calculator shows that limitation instead of a payoff date.

Card balance ($)

Annual percentage rate (%)

Payment plan

Fixed monthly payment ($)

Minimum-payment assumptions

Each month: the greater of the dollar floor or the balance percentage plus that month's interest. Match your issuer's terms; other minimum formulas are not modeled.

Balance percentage, before interest (%)

Minimum dollar floor ($)

Estimated payoff

26 months

Total interest

$1,285.72

Total repayment

$6,285.72

Minimum-only comparison using the selected formula: 230 months and $8,099.77 interest. Your plan reduces modeled interest by $6,814.05.

Estimate assumes a constant APR, monthly interest at APR/12 before payment, no new purchases or fees, and no intermediate rounding. Actual cards may use daily balances, multiple APRs and different minimum rules. This does not model grace periods or confirm that a fixed payment meets your statement minimum.

Monthly repayment schedule

All 26 simulated monthly cycles; amounts displayed to cents.
Month	Opening balance	Interest	Payment	Closing balance
1	$5,000.00	$91.67	$250.00	$4,841.67
2	$4,841.67	$88.76	$250.00	$4,680.43
3	$4,680.43	$85.81	$250.00	$4,516.24
4	$4,516.24	$82.80	$250.00	$4,349.04
5	$4,349.04	$79.73	$250.00	$4,178.77
6	$4,178.77	$76.61	$250.00	$4,005.38
7	$4,005.38	$73.43	$250.00	$3,828.81
8	$3,828.81	$70.19	$250.00	$3,649.01
9	$3,649.01	$66.90	$250.00	$3,465.90
10	$3,465.90	$63.54	$250.00	$3,279.45
11	$3,279.45	$60.12	$250.00	$3,089.57
12	$3,089.57	$56.64	$250.00	$2,896.21
13	$2,896.21	$53.10	$250.00	$2,699.31
14	$2,699.31	$49.49	$250.00	$2,498.80
15	$2,498.80	$45.81	$250.00	$2,294.61
16	$2,294.61	$42.07	$250.00	$2,086.67
17	$2,086.67	$38.26	$250.00	$1,874.93
18	$1,874.93	$34.37	$250.00	$1,659.30
19	$1,659.30	$30.42	$250.00	$1,439.72
20	$1,439.72	$26.39	$250.00	$1,216.12
21	$1,216.12	$22.30	$250.00	$988.42
22	$988.42	$18.12	$250.00	$756.54
23	$756.54	$13.87	$250.00	$520.41
24	$520.41	$9.54	$250.00	$279.95
25	$279.95	$5.13	$250.00	$35.08
26	$35.08	$0.64	$35.72	$0.00

Monthly payment to repay at an assumed 22% APR

Balance	12 months	24 months	36 months
$2,500.00	$233.99	$129.70	$95.48
$5,000.00	$467.98	$259.40	$190.96
$10,000.00	$935.95	$518.79	$381.91
$15,000.00	$1,403.92	$778.18	$572.86

Payments use the monthly amortization formula and are rounded up to cents. Constant APR, no fees or new charges; this does not establish your issuer's required minimum.

Compare a balance transfer with the same repayment budget

Assume a $5,000 transfer, a 3% fee added to the balance, and 0% interest for 18 months. The modeled starting balance is $5,150, so paying $286.12 per month clears it within the promotional period.

That example does not describe a current offer. Compare the written fee, promotional end date, rate afterward, and treatment of new purchases. Do not infer savings without comparing both full repayment schedules.

For several credit cards, compare repayment orders

The debt snowball calculator compares highest-APR-first with smallest-balance-first under the same fixed monthly budget. Its entered minimums stay fixed, while this single-card calculator can recalculate the stated minimum formula each month.

Primary sources and model limits

The model uses one balance, static APR, monthly interest before payments and no fees or new charges. It does not model daily balance changes, multiple APR categories, grace periods or issuer-specific payment allocation.

Credit Card Payoff Calculator FAQ

How long will it take to pay off my credit card?

The estimate depends on your balance, APR and payment plan. A fixed payment stays constant; the minimum mode recalculates the chosen formula each month. Actual payment timing, daily accrual, fees and rate changes can alter the result.

Should I pay off card debt or build savings first?

Consider essential bills, required payments, access to emergency cash and the cost of interest. There is no universal starter-fund amount or sequence for every household. The calculator estimates debt repayment, not the suitability of a complete financial plan.

Will a balance transfer help me pay off faster?

A lower rate may help if the fee and repayment terms make the full schedule cheaper at your budget. Check the promotional end date, rate afterward and rules for new purchases. This calculator holds the APR constant and does not model a promotional rate expiration.

What happens if my payment does not cover interest?

At a constant positive APR, a fixed payment no greater than the modeled monthly interest cannot reduce principal. The calculator labels it Payment too low and reports partial figures rather than inventing a debt-free date.

Will paying off a card improve my credit score?

A smaller reported balance may reduce utilization, but the point change and timing depend on your broader credit profile and scoring model. This calculator does not estimate credit scores.

What if I have multiple cards?

Use the multi-debt calculator to compare highest-APR-first and smallest-balance-first with the same budget. It uses fixed entered minimums. Check each statement for required payments and separate APR categories before applying a plan.

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Methodology and editorial standards

Each calculator uses its own inputs and method. Review the labels, units and assumption notes shown with the result. Costs, taxes, fees, benefits and other factors are not modeled unless the page or calculator explicitly says they are. A fixed-rate projection is a scenario, not a forecast or personalized recommendation.

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