What if my payment is less than the interest?

Then the balance grows each month and the card is never paid off. Your payment must exceed the monthly interest charge to make progress.

Should I consider a balance transfer?

A 0% intro-APR balance transfer can pause interest while you pay down principal — useful if you can clear most of it before the promo ends and the transfer fee is worth it.

Credit Card Payoff Calculator

See how long it takes to pay off a credit card and the total interest you will pay.

UPDATED · MAY 2026

Card balance

APR

$110.00 interest this monthMonthly payment

$/mo

fixed each month

Time to pay off

2y 8m

TOTAL INTEREST$1,979

TOTAL PAID$7,979

Payoff time

32 mo

Total interest

$1,979

Total paid

$7,979

How to use the Credit Card Payoff Calculator

01
Enter your balance and APR. Your current card balance and its annual rate.
02
Set a fixed monthly payment. The amount you'll pay each month.
03
See the payoff time. Months to clear the card and total interest paid.

How is it calculated?

Each month interest accrues at APR ÷ 12 on the remaining balance; your fixed payment covers that interest first, and the rest reduces principal. We simulate month by month until the balance hits zero, reporting the time to payoff and total interest. If your payment is below the monthly interest, the balance never clears.

Frequently asked

The questions readers ask most about the credit card payoff calculator.

Minimum payments are mostly interest, so principal barely moves. At high APRs, paying only the minimum can take decades and cost more than the original balance in interest.

LEARNHow to pay off debt: snowball vs avalanche

How to use the Credit Card Payoff Calculator

How is it calculated?

Frequently asked

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