Find out how long it takes to pay off a credit card and how much interest you'll pay, or the payment needed to be debt-free by a target date.
Informational only — not financial advice. This calculator provides general estimates for educational purposes and does not account for every factor in your situation. It is not financial, investment, tax, or legal advice. Figures are estimates and may not reflect current rates. Consult a qualified professional before making financial decisions.
Credit-card debt compounds against you: interest is charged monthly on your balance at the card's APR, so a large balance and a small payment can keep you in debt for years. This calculator shows how long your current payment will take to clear the balance and how much interest that costs.
The math iterates month by month: each month adds interest (APR ÷ 12 of the balance), your payment covers that interest first, and whatever's left reduces the principal. If your payment barely exceeds the monthly interest, payoff stretches out enormously — which is exactly how minimum payments are designed to work.
Two proven strategies attack multiple cards: the avalanche (highest APR first, cheapest overall) and the snowball (smallest balance first, best for motivation). Our guide to snowball vs. avalanche compares them.