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Credit Card Payoff Calculator

This calculator estimates how many months a card balance needs and how much interest it accumulates, using the balance, APR, and payment you enter.

The lowest rates are only available to the most qualified applicants.

Advertising disclosure: Loancalculated may receive a referral fee if you apply through the link above. That fee does not change the rate you are offered, and it does not change our content. We are not a lender. Read the full disclosure.

By the Loancalculated Editorial Team · Last updated 2026-09-16

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The lowest rates are only available to the most qualified applicants.

Advertising disclosure: Loancalculated may receive a referral fee if you apply through the link above. That fee does not change the rate you are offered, and it does not change our content. We are not a lender. Read the full disclosure.

How this calculator works

Cards charge interest on any balance you carry, and the minimum due is usually a small slice of that balance. Paying only the minimum can stretch a debt over years.

For each month the tool:

  1. Adds interest = balance × annual rate ÷ 1,200.
  2. Sets the payment to the larger of 2% of the balance or a $25 floor, capped at the balance.
  3. Reduces the balance by the payment minus interest.

If the payment is below the interest charge, the balance climbs and the tool reports that the debt never clears.

Issuers set their own minimum-payment formulas, so use the percentage and floor from your card agreement.

Frequently asked questions

How does an issuer set the minimum payment?
Typically a percentage of the balance or a flat dollar floor, whichever is greater. Your card agreement states the exact rule.
Why does a minimum-only path take so long?
The minimum is tiny, so the bulk of it pays interest and barely any reaches principal. A balance that shrinks slowly keeps the interest charge high.
What if my payment is below the interest charge?
The balance grows rather than shrinks, so the debt never pays off. The tool reports no payoff time in that case.
Could moving the balance to another card help?
A low promotional rate cuts interest while it lasts, but transfer fees and the post-promotion rate matter. Compare the full cost first.

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