WorthCalc

Credit Card Payoff & Interest Calculator

Example values are editable illustrations, not market averages or recommendations.

Basic inputs

Advanced inputs
Advanced inputs

Results

Enter your figures or load the example.

Required / first payment—

Payoff time—

Total interest—

Total payments—

New charges—

Negative amortization—

Assumptions used

    Methodology and Limitations

    Last updated: 2026-07-31

    Estimate disclaimer: Educational scenario estimate only; verify current contracts, rates, taxes and official rules before acting.

    Enter your statement balance, APR, and either a fixed monthly payment or a target payoff month to see how long it will really take and how much interest you’ll pay — including what happens if new charges keep hitting the card.

    Before you enter numbers

    Use the exact balance, APR, and minimum-payment formula from your latest statement, not a rounded estimate. If you have a promotional rate, note both the promotional APR and its expiration month so the calculator can switch to the standard rate at the right point.

    Formula

    ending balance = opening balance + new charges + interest + fees − payment

    The engine keeps full precision internally and flags any plan where the payment doesn’t exceed the interest accrued — a mathematical sign that the balance won’t actually shrink under those inputs.

    Worked example

    A $5,000 balance at 20% APR paid at a fixed $200 a month clears in roughly 30 months with substantially less total interest than a declining minimum payment on the same balance. Turning on $100 of new monthly charges shows how quickly a payoff plan can stall.

    Reading the CARD Act box on your own statement

    Every U.S. credit card statement discloses, under the CARD Act, how long minimum payments alone would take and what a 36-month fixed payment would be. Enter that same fixed-payment figure here to see the full amortization schedule and total interest, not just the summary numbers on the statement.

    Limits and privacy

    This tool provides a general educational estimate, not individualized financial, tax, legal, or credit counseling advice. It does not display “guaranteed,” “safe,” or similar claims about outcomes.

    The calculation runs in your browser. Do not put account numbers, card numbers, or other identifying information into a shareable link.

    Read Why Your Credit Card Statement Warns You About the Minimum Payment for the CARD Act disclosure rules, how issuers calculate minimum payments, and when a nonprofit credit counselor is the better next step.

    Frequently asked questions

    Why does my balance grow even though I’m paying every month?

    New charges plus accrued interest can exceed your payment in a given cycle — the result panel flags this so it isn’t hidden inside a single summary number.

    Is the minimum-payment formula universal across issuers?

    No. Use the exact minimum shown on your statement; formulas vary by issuer and sometimes by account.

    Can I model a 0% promotional period?

    Yes — enter the promotional rate and its length, then the standard rate that applies afterward.

    What happens after the promotion ends?

    The standard APR applies to the remaining modeled balance from that month forward.

    Does this include late fees?

    Only if you add them explicitly as a recurring charge; the base formula doesn’t assume any fee amount.

    Sources

    This tool runs entirely in your browser. Your input never leaves your device.