Credit card payoff calculator

Calculate how long a credit card balance takes to pay off on minimum payments versus a fixed monthly payment, and the interest each costs.

آخر تحديث 28 سبتمبر 2026أمثلة تم التحقق منها: 4

Months to pay off (fixed payment)

عدد صحيح؛ إلى الأقرب، وعند التعادل بعيدًا عن الصفر

Interest paid (fixed payment): $1,859.78
Months to pay off (minimum payments): 232
Interest paid (minimum payments): $8,453.56
Interest saved: $6,593.78
First minimum payment: $145.42

Card issuers charge interest daily on the average daily balance; this monthly model is a close approximation. New purchases are not included.

Paying $200.00 a month clears the card in 35 months with $1,859.78 of interest. Minimum payments take 232 months (19.3 years) and cost $8,453.56 in interest — $6,593.78 more.

Balance over time

Minimum paymentsFixed $200.00

Interest paid

Month by month الصفوف: 232

الشهر	Minimum payment	Balance (minimum)	Fixed payment	Balance (fixed)
1	$145.42	$4,950.00	$200.00	$4,895.42
2	$143.96	$4,900.50	$200.00	$4,788.84
3	$142.52	$4,851.50	$200.00	$4,680.22
4	$141.10	$4,802.98	$200.00	$4,569.54
5	$139.69	$4,754.95	$200.00	$4,456.74
6	$138.29	$4,707.40	$200.00	$4,341.79
7	$136.91	$4,660.33	$200.00	$4,224.65
8	$135.54	$4,613.72	$200.00	$4,105.27
9	$134.18	$4,567.59	$200.00	$3,983.61
10	$132.84	$4,521.91	$200.00	$3,859.63
11	$131.51	$4,476.69	$200.00	$3,733.28
12	$130.20	$4,431.92	$200.00	$3,604.53

طريقة الحساب S

Monthly rate
$r = \frac{22.9}{1200} = 0.01908333333$
Each month
$\text{interest} = B \times r,\quad B \leftarrow B + \text{interest} - \text{payment}$
First minimum payment
$\max\!\big(1\% \times 5{,}000.00 + 95.42,\ 25.00\big) = 145.42$
The minimum is recalculated every month from the new balance, so it shrinks as the balance falls.
Fixed payment plan
$35\ \text{months},\quad \text{interest} = 1{,}859.78$
Minimum payment plan
$232\ \text{months},\quad \text{interest} = 8{,}453.56$

حول Credit card payoff calculator

Card interest accrues each month at APR ÷ 12 on the balance, and the minimum payment is recalculated from the new balance every month, so it shrinks as the debt falls and the payoff drags on. The calculator runs two schedules month by month, one on minimum payments and one at a fixed amount, and compares the months and interest each takes.

With the defaults, a 5,000 balance at 22.9% APR, a fixed 200 a month clears the card in 35 months with 1,859.78 of interest. The minimum (1% of the balance plus the month's interest, at least 25) starts at 145.42 and takes 232 months, 19.3 years, costing 8,453.56.

Issuers charge interest daily on the average daily balance, so statements differ slightly from this monthly model, and new purchases are not included. Check your card agreement for its minimum payment rule.

أمثلة محلولة

5,000 at 22.9%: 200 a month vs 1% plus interest

Card balance: 5000
معدل النسبة السنوية (⁨APR⁩): 22.9%
Fixed monthly payment: 200
Minimum payment rule: % of balance plus interest
Minimum payment percentage: 1%
Minimum payment floor: 25

Months to pay off (fixed payment): 35
Interest paid (fixed payment): 1,859.78
Months to pay off (minimum payments): 232
Interest paid (minimum payments): 8,453.56
Interest saved: 6,593.78
First minimum payment: 145.42

مصدر التحقق: ⁨Python decimal (prec 50) month-by-month simulation, interest at APR/12 then payment⁩

3% of statement balance with a 35 floor

Card balance: 5000
معدل النسبة السنوية (⁨APR⁩): 22.9%
Fixed monthly payment: 200
Minimum payment rule: % of statement balance
Minimum payment percentage: 3%
Minimum payment floor: 35

Months to pay off (minimum payments): 180
Interest paid (minimum payments): 7,070.63
First minimum payment: 152.86

مصدر التحقق: ⁨Python decimal month-by-month simulation⁩

Payment larger than the balance — one month

Card balance: 1000
معدل النسبة السنوية (⁨APR⁩): 12%
Fixed monthly payment: 2000
Minimum payment rule: % of statement balance
Minimum payment percentage: 2%
Minimum payment floor: 25

Months to pay off (fixed payment): 1
Interest paid (fixed payment): 10.00
First minimum payment: 25.00
Months to pay off (minimum payments): 52

مصدر التحقق: ⁨1000 × 1% = 10 interest, cleared in one payment; the 25 floor exceeds 2% × 1010 (Python decimal simulation for 52 months)⁩

Zero APR

Card balance: 1200
معدل النسبة السنوية (⁨APR⁩): 0%
Fixed monthly payment: 100
Minimum payment rule: % of statement balance
Minimum payment percentage: 2%
Minimum payment floor: 25

Months to pay off (fixed payment): 12
Interest paid (fixed payment): 0.00
Months to pay off (minimum payments): 48
Interest paid (minimum payments): 0.00

مصدر التحقق: ⁨1200 / 100 = 12 months; 2% of the balance never exceeds the 25 floor, so 1200 / 25 = 48 months⁩

الأسئلة

How long does it take to pay off a credit card with minimum payments?

Often decades, because the minimum shrinks with the balance. A 5,000 balance at 22.9% APR on a minimum of 1% plus interest (at least 25) takes 232 months, 19.3 years, and costs 8,453.56 in interest. In the US, Regulation Z (12 CFR 1026.7(b)(12)) requires each statement to show the payoff time and total cost at the minimum payment.

How much do I need to pay to clear my card in 3 years?

Use the loan payment formula with 36 months. Clearing 5,000 at 22.9% APR in 36 months takes 193.29 a month and 1,958.37 of interest; in 24 months it takes 261.62 a month and 1,278.84 of interest. US statements show the 36-month figure and the saving against minimum payments, unless the minimum already clears the balance within 3 years (Regulation Z).

How is credit card interest calculated?

The APR is divided into a periodic rate and applied to the balance. At 22.9% APR the monthly rate is 22.9 ÷ 12 = 1.908%, so a 5,000 balance accrues 95.42 of interest in the first month. Issuers usually apply a daily rate to the average daily balance instead, which gives a slightly different figure, and interest is charged on interest left unpaid.

What is the average credit card interest rate?

22.15% APR for US accounts assessed interest in the second quarter of 2026, according to the Federal Reserve's G.19 consumer credit release of 8 September 2026. At that rate, 5,000 paid off at 200 a month takes 34 months and costs 1,767.76 in interest, against 35 months and 1,859.78 at the 22.9% default.

How much faster does paying more than the minimum clear a card?

Each extra amount shortens the payoff sharply. On 5,000 at 22.9% APR, 150 a month takes 54 months and 3,021.92 of interest, 200 takes 35 months and 1,859.78, and 300 takes 21 months and 1,075.70. Doubling the payment from 150 to 300 cuts the interest by 64%.

ما مدى دقة «⁨Credit card payoff calculator⁩»؟

تعتمد الدقة على مدخلاتك وافتراضات الطريقة. يستخدم الحساب العشري 50 رقمًا معنويًا، لكن التقديرات والأساليب العددية وبيانات المصدر قد تكون أقل دقة؛ تقريب القيم المعروضة لا يزيل هذه الحدود. أمثلة محلولة جرى التحقق منها بمصادر مستقلة: 4. مثلًا، يجري التحقق من «⁨5,000 at 22.9%: 200 a month vs 1% plus interest⁩» بالرجوع إلى ⁨Python decimal (prec 50) month-by-month simulation, interest at APR/12 then payment⁩.

ما مصدر هذه الطريقة؟

Regulation Z, Appendix M1 to Part 1026 — Repayment disclosures (minimum payment repayment estimates); Consumer Financial Protection Bureau — Understanding minimum payments.

حول هذه الحاسبة

B_{k} = B_{k-1}(1 + r) - \min\big(\text{payment}_k,\ B_{k-1}(1+r)\big),\qquad r = \frac{\text{APR}}{1200}

المصادر

للتخطيط فقط. يطبق المقرضون والسلطات الضريبية والأسواق قواعدهم الخاصة في التقريب والرسوم؛ تأكد من الأرقام لديهم قبل الالتزام.

تم التحقق بالرجوع إلى المصادر

تتضمن هذه الحاسبة أمثلة محلولة بإجابات من مصادر مستقلة، وعددها 4. تُشغّل ضمن مجموعة الاختبارات، ويمكنك تشغيلها هنا أيضًا.

Balance over time

Interest paid

Monthly rate

Each month

First minimum payment

Fixed payment plan

Minimum payment plan