Balance Transfer Calculator
Is a 0% balance transfer worth the fee? Compare total cost vs staying put.
Your Balance Transfer Calculator Result
Generated from the inputs below — a record you can revisit, or share with anyone helping you plan.
Your detailsInput Parameters
Example rate, not current market data. Enter the rate on your loan or quote.
Typical range is 3-5% of the transferred balance, charged upfront
Rate that applies to any balance still remaining once the promo window ends
Transferring saves $1,619 in interest and fees combined, vs. staying on your current card.
This starts accruing interest at 26.9% APR once the promo window closes.
3.0% of $6,000, added to your new balance
Analysis
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The Balance Transfer Calculator answers the question a 0% APR offer doesn't: is moving your balance actually worth it once the transfer fee is subtracted? Enter your current balance, current APR, what you can pay each month, and the terms of the balance-transfer offer — the transfer fee, the 0% promo length, and the go-to rate after the promo ends.
The calculator runs your payoff two ways: staying on your current card at its current APR, and transferring to the new card and paying the upfront fee. It shows total interest and fees under each path side by side, so you can see the real net savings (or net cost) of transferring — not just whether the intro rate is 0%.
This is a decision tool for a specific transfer offer. If you want to model minimum-payment behavior or an existing 0% promo already on your current card, use the Credit Card Manager instead.
How the Calculation Works
Starting Balance on New Card = Balance + Transfer Fee
Interest accrues at 0% during the promo window, then at the post-promo APR on any remainder
Most issuers add the transfer fee to the balance itself rather than charging it separately, so the new card actually starts slightly higher than your old balance. The calculator applies your fixed monthly payment against that higher starting balance, at 0% for the promo window, then switches to the post-promo APR if a balance remains when the window closes.
The "stay put" scenario runs the same fixed monthly payment against your current balance at your current ongoing APR, month by month, until it's paid off.
Frequently Asked Questions
No — if you can pay off the balance quickly on your current card anyway, the transfer fee can outweigh the modest interest you'd save. Transfers make the most sense for larger balances that will take many months to clear.
Any remaining balance starts accruing interest at the card's regular post-promo APR, which is often similar to or higher than a typical card's ongoing rate. The calculator's "Balance When Promo Ends" figure shows exactly what would be left.
Yes — most issuers add the fee to the transferred balance, so it counts against your available credit on the new card from day one. This calculator reflects that by starting the new-card balance at balance + fee.
Opening a new card triggers a hard inquiry and can temporarily lower your average account age, but paying down revolving debt usually improves your credit utilization ratio, which is a larger factor in most scoring models.