Credit card payoff calculator How long will this credit card take to pay off?
Enter your credit card balance, APR, minimum-payment formula, and a fixed monthly payment to compare two payoff paths. See how long each one takes, how much interest it accumulates, and how a payment that stays fixed can change the result.
Your credit card
Saved only for this calculator on this device.
Payment comparison
The fixed payment saves $2,882 in estimated interest.
Explore credit card payoff tradeoffs
See how a declining minimum payment compares with a fixed payment that stays consistent until the final month.
Minimum payment versus a fixed monthly payment
The minimum declines with the balance. The fixed payment stays the same until the final month.
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Understand your credit card payoff estimate
Learn why the size and behavior of your monthly payment can dramatically change payoff time and interest.
Why does the estimated minimum payment decrease over time?
The calculator estimates the minimum as the larger of the entered minimum-dollar floor or the entered percentage of the remaining principal plus that month’s interest. As the balance falls, the percentage-based part of the payment can also fall.
Why can a fixed payment pay off the card faster?
A fixed payment does not decline with the balance. As estimated interest falls, more of the same payment can go toward reducing the remaining balance.
Why might the actual credit card payoff differ?
Actual results may differ because of:
- New purchases
- Balance-transfer activity
- Fees
- Variable APR changes
- Penalty rates
- Late or missed payments
- Issuer-specific minimum-payment formulas
- Payments that differ from the entered amount
Credit card payoff terms, explained
Get plain-language definitions of the inputs and results.
Definitions of terms
- Minimum payment (% of balance)
- The percentage of your current balance used to estimate the required payment each month.
- Minimum payment is never less than
- If the percentage produces a smaller payment, the calculator uses this dollar amount instead.
- Fixed payment
- The same chosen payment every month until the final payment.
- Total interest
- All estimated interest charged before the balance reaches zero.
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About this credit card payoff estimate
Review what is included, how the two payment schedules work, and what the estimate excludes.
What is included
The calculation uses the balance, APR, minimum-payment percentage, minimum-dollar floor, and fixed monthly payment.
Key assumptions
Monthly interest is added first using the fixed APR divided by 12. The estimated minimum is the larger of the entered dollar floor or the entered percentage of remaining principal plus that month’s interest. The fixed-payment schedule uses the same entered payment every month.
Each final payment is limited to the balance and interest still owed, so the calculator does not overpay the card. The APR remains fixed throughout both schedules.
What is excluded
The estimate does not include new purchases, additional fees, changing APRs, penalty rates, late payments, promotional offers, or issuer-specific rules not represented by the inputs.
Methodology and disclaimer
Updated August 23, 2026. This estimate is educational and is not financial advice. See the full disclaimer.