Credit card
payoff calculator
How long until you're debt-free? Enter three numbers and find out.
📋 Year-by-year breakdown
| Year | Paid | Interest | Balance left |
|---|
Files are processed in your browser and never uploaded.
How to use Credit card payoff calculator
Enter your figures
Fill in Number (apr), Apr Slider, Number (payment) and Pay Slider. Values you change are used straight away, with no submit button.
Read the results
The ⚡ What if I pay more? and 📋 Year-by-year breakdown update as soon as a value changes.
Start over any time
Nothing is saved on a server, so reloading the page clears everything.
What this tool does
Your APR, typed or dragged
Enter the card's APR or drag the slider, and the payoff time and total interest update as it moves.
See what the rate is costing you
Moving the rate shows how much of each payment is going to interest rather than the balance, which is the case for a balance transfer in one picture.
Your real monthly payment
Enter what you actually pay each month rather than the minimum, and the schedule is built from that figure.
What paying a bit more is worth
Nudging the payment up usually takes months off the date and a lot off the interest, and both figures move as you drag.
Runs fully in your browser with no upload and no sign-up
Your balance, rate and payment stay in your browser. Nothing is uploaded and there is no sign-up.
Frequently asked questions
Why does paying only the minimum take so long?
Credit card minimums are set at roughly 2% of your balance. Most of that goes to interest, leaving almost nothing to reduce what you actually owe. On a $5,000 balance at 24% APR, the monthly interest alone is about $100 - so a $120 minimum payment only chips away $20 of real debt per month.
What's a good monthly payment to aim for?
A useful rule of thumb: pay at least 3× the minimum. If your minimum is $100, pay $300. Better yet, pick an amount that pays off the debt within 2-3 years. Use the slider above to find your sweet spot. Even an extra $25/month makes a big difference over time.
What APR should I enter?
Your APR (Annual Percentage Rate) is on your monthly statement, usually in the "interest charge" section. The average US credit card APR in 2026 is about 21-24%. Store cards are often 25-30%. If you have multiple cards, use the highest-rate card first (that's the "avalanche" method).
Does this include minimum payments?
This calculator uses whatever monthly payment you enter as a fixed amount each month. If you want to model minimum-only payments, use a lower number like 2% of your balance (e.g. $100 for a $5,000 balance). The results will show just how slowly that pays off.
Last updated: