💳 Balance Transfer Calculator
See whether moving a credit card balance to a promotional-rate card saves money after the transfer fee and the promotional period.
How the Balance Transfer Calculator Works
A balance transfer moves debt to a card with a low or 0% introductory rate for a limited time, usually for a one-time fee of a few percent of the amount moved. It saves money only if enough of the balance is repaid before the promotional rate ends; any balance left afterward is charged the card’s regular rate.
This calculator compares two paths with the same monthly payment: keeping the balance on your current card, or transferring it. It simulates each month, including the switch to the regular rate after the promotion, and shows total interest and fees, payoff time, the balance remaining when the promotion ends, and the monthly payment needed to clear the whole transferred balance within the promotional period.
Formula
Transferred balance = balance × (1 + transfer fee %) Each month: interest = balance × APR ÷ 12 (promo APR during the promotion, regular APR after) Balance = balance + interest − payment Payment to clear during promo (0% APR) = transferred balance ÷ promo months
How to Use It
- Enter your current balance, current APR, and the monthly payment you can make.
- Enter the transfer fee, promotional APR, and promotional period of the new card.
- Enter the new card’s regular APR after the promotion.
- Compare total cost and payoff time for both paths.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a balance transfer worth it?
It usually saves money when the promotional rate is much lower than your current rate and you can repay most of the balance before the promotion ends. The transfer fee and the regular rate afterward determine how much you save.
How much is a balance transfer fee?
Commonly 3%–5% of the amount transferred, charged once and added to the new balance. Some cards offer lower fees for a limited time.
What happens when the 0% period ends?
Any remaining balance starts accruing interest at the card’s regular APR. The calculator includes this in its simulation.
How do I pay off a balance transfer before the promo ends?
Divide the transferred balance (including the fee) by the number of promotional months. The calculator shows this payment.
Related Glossary Terms
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Formula and content last reviewed: September 2026. All calculations run in your browser — nothing you enter is sent to or stored on our servers.
Guide: understanding your result
- A balance transfer usually charges a one-time fee (commonly 3%–5% of the amount moved) in exchange for a low or 0% introductory APR.
- The saving only holds if the balance is paid off before the intro period ends; after that the regular APR applies.
- New purchases on the same card may not get the promotional rate.
Worked example
Moving a $5,000 balance from a card at 24% APR to a 0% offer for 15 months with a 4% fee ($200): paying $346.67 a month clears it within the promotion, for a total cost of $200. The same monthly payment on the original card would take 1 yr 6 mo and about $958 in interest.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Paying only the minimum during the 0% period and carrying a balance into the regular APR.
- Missing a payment, which can end the promotional rate early under many card agreements.
Official sources
Examples are calculated live from the same data the calculator uses and are for education only — they are not financial, tax or investment advice.
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See all →✔ Reviewed by GelirLab Editöryal Ekibi · Last reviewed: September 2026 · How we check our calculators