This credit card minimum payment calculator figures how much interest you will...show more instructions
Is Your Credit Card Costing You Too Much?
Whether you're paying off existing debt or considering using a credit card to finance a new purchase, you may be able to save hundreds---even thousands---by taking a minute to shop for the best credit card for your situation.
Visit our partner, Cardratings, to compare balance transfer credit cards which offer 0% intro APRs for 18 months or more on transferred balances. Likewise, if you're considering financing a new purchase, see the top 0% intro APR credit cards offering 12 months or more of interest-free financing.
Need longer than two years to pay off an existing debt or a new purchase? A fixed-payment personal loan may charge less interest than a credit card. See our list of the best personal loans for debt consolidation.
How Much Interest Will You Pay If You Only Make The Minimum Credit Card Payment?
Making minimum payments on credit cards? It's time to pay more, and this Credit Card Minimum Payment Calculator provides ample motivation.
Credit card bills show the total amount you owe, and the minimum payment due. Banks offer you two choices – either pay the full amount, or pay only the required minimum amount before the due date. Obviously, you can always pay any amount in between. If you fail to pay at least the minimum amount due, you will be charged late payment fees.
Related: 5 Financial Planning Mistakes That Cost You Big-Time (and what to do instead!) Explained in 5 Free Video Lessons
Paying the minimum payment required will result in interest charges, and it will keep debt hanging over your head for years. This minimum payment calculator reveals not only how much interest you will pay, but the total number of payments, number of years until your debt is paid off, foregone interest earnings, and your total estimated opportunity cost.
How Minimum Credit Card Payments Are Applied
Banks apply minimum payments to the balance and interest in a variety of ways. Typically, when making minimum payments, almost all the money goes toward interest incurred and only a tiny fraction goes toward the balance.
Beyond that, any amount you pay over the minimum due is normally applied to the balance with the highest annual percentage rate and then to balances with lower annual percentage rates.
Making minimum payments can ultimately result in paying over double the original balance – especially when you consider the total estimated opportunity cost. Cardholders making minimum payments and actively using their credit cards are very unlikely to pay off their balances.
Quickly Eliminate Credit Card Debt
Below are a number of things you can do to quickly eliminate credit card debt:
- Stop spending with credit cards – If you stop using credit cards, you will eventually pay off your balances; albeit very slowly when only making minimum payments.
- Pay more than the minimum due – You will be surprised how fast your credit card balances drop once you start paying more than the minimum.
- Reduce annual interest rates – Transfer credit card balances to other credit cards that offer zero percent balance transfer rates or ask your credit card company for a better deal.
Remember: The higher your interest rates and the less you pay every month, the more you'll end up paying in interest.
Responsible Credit Card Use
Be responsible! Stick to these rules, and you'll build your credit while avoiding debt:
- Always pay off your balance every month (this applies only after you pay off your credit card debt, until then, focus on paying down debt).
- Only charge what you'll be able to pay at the end of the month (start a budget to ensure overspending never occurs).
- Revisit the Credit Card Minimum Payment Calculator when you're tempted to just make minimum payments – is it really worth the cost?
Final Thoughts
This minimum credit card payment calculator is a motivational tool designed to steer you away from making minimum payments thus choosing to pay more instead. Making minimum payments has many disadvantages:
- It keeps you in debt longer – think years and years.
- It causes you to pay more interest – not only interest, but usually high interest.
- It prevents you from investing – interest paid is money that's never invested.
- It adds to your stress level – as if life isn't tough enough, debt increases anxiety and fatigue.
Rethink your spending. Don't fall into the minimum payment trap – be smart and use credit cards responsibly. This credit card minimum payment calculator can only give you the motivation – you have to apply the lessons learned. I hope you do.
Credit Card Minimum Payment Calculator Terms & Definitions
- Balance Owed – The amount of money owed on a credit card.
- Annual Interest Rate – The percentage applied to your credit card purchases that were not paid in full each month.
- Minimum Percent Payment – The minimum percentage that must be paid – usually found in your credit card disclosure statement.
- Minimum Dollar Payment – The minimum amount required by your credit card company to be paid before due date (typically applies if minimum percent payment is lower than this amount).
- Total Interest Paid – The total amount you pay for interest for using your credit card.
- Total Number of Payments Made – The total number of payments you need make to pay off your credit card balance given the variables.
- Years Until Debt is Paid Off – This is the number of years it will take you to pay off your credit card debt.
- Forgone Interest Earnings – This is the interest you could have earned if you would have invested your money instead of paying the credit card company (assumes a 7% return).
- Total Estimated Opportunity Cost – The sum of the total interest paid and the foregone interest earnings – what your overall opportunity and interest costs are as a result of debt.
- Balance Transfer – The process of transferring your credit card balance to another credit card.
- Balance Transfer Rate – Interest charged to the outstanding balance of your old credit card that is transferred to your new credit card.
Related Credit Card Calculators For Debt Payoff
- Credit Card Comparison Calculator: Which credit card is the best deal?
- Debt Snowball Calculator: How fast can the rollover method get me out of debt and how much will I save?
- Credit Card Interest Calculator: How much of my credit card payment is interest and how much is principal?
- Credit Card Payoff Calculator: How long until I pay off my credit card debt using a variety of payment strategies? Includes printable amortization schedule.
- Credit Card Payment Calculator: Which repayment strategy will cost the least and get me out of debt the fastest?
- Debt Payoff Calculator: How much must I pay each month to be out of debt by any selected date?
- Debt Consolidation Calculator: How much will I save by consolidating my debts into one loan versus paying them individually?
- Debt Reduction Calculator (With Amortization Schedule): How fast can I get out debt and how much will I save by adding a fixed amount to each monthly payment?
- Debt Repayment Calculator: How fast can I get out debt and how much will I save by adding a one-time additional payment to principal?
- Debt Calculator: How long will it take to get out using my current payment plan?
Compare Top Credit Card Offers
The Financial Mentor partners with Cardratings to show you relevant credit card offers. If you're looking to save money on interest or find a higher-value rewards card, check out today's top card offers now:
- 0% APR Credit Cards
- Balance Transfer Credit Cards
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- For Business Credit Cards
- For Fair/Average Credit Credit Cards
- Browse All Cards
