See how long it will take to pay off your credit card balance and how much interest you will pay.
Rates as of Q2 2025 (example)
| Period | Date | Payment | Principal | Interest | Balance |
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A credit card payoff calculator shows how long it will take to clear your balance if you pay a fixed amount each month, and how much interest you'll pay in total along the way. Unlike making only the minimum payment (which often decreases over time as your balance falls), this calculator assumes you pay the same fixed amount every month until the balance is cleared.
Each month, interest is calculated on the current balance and added to it, then your fixed payment is subtracted. This repeats until the balance reaches zero. If your payment doesn't exceed the monthly interest charge, the balance will never decrease — the calculator requires a payment large enough to make progress.
Formula: Each month: Interest = Balance × (Annual Rate ÷ 12 ÷ 100). Balance = Balance + Interest − Monthly Payment. Repeat until Balance ≤ 0.
Example: For a £2,500 balance at a 22% APR (example rate — enter your actual rate) with a fixed £150 monthly payment, it would take roughly 20 months (about 1 year and 8 months) to clear the balance, with total interest of around £485 — meaning you'd repay roughly £2,985 in total. (Note: all figures in this example are for illustration purposes only.)
Credit card APRs in the UK vary significantly depending on the card type and your credit profile — cards aimed at people building or rebuilding credit often carry higher APRs, while balance transfer cards may offer a 0% promotional rate for a limited period (after which the standard APR applies to any remaining balance). Under FCA rules on "persistent debt," credit card providers in the UK are required to take action — such as contacting you with guidance or proposing a repayment plan — if you've paid more in interest, fees, and charges than you've repaid of your borrowing over an 18-month period, which is designed to help people who are making minimum payments without making real progress on their balance. Paying a fixed amount above the minimum, as modelled by this calculator, is generally a faster way to clear a balance than paying only the minimum each month.
If your fixed payment doesn't exceed the monthly interest charge, the balance will increase rather than decrease, and it would never be paid off under this scenario. Make sure your monthly payment is comfortably above the interest charge to make real progress.
No — the default is an example only. Credit card APRs vary significantly by card type and your credit profile, and can range from promotional 0% rates to APRs well above 30% for some cards. Check your card statement or terms for the actual rate.
Minimum payments are often calculated as a percentage of the balance (or a fixed minimum amount, whichever is higher), so they decrease as your balance falls — this can dramatically extend payoff time. This calculator assumes a fixed payment amount that doesn't decrease, which generally clears the balance faster. See the Credit Card Calculator for a minimum-payment scenario.
Potentially — a 0% balance transfer card moves your balance to a new card with no interest for a promotional period (usually with a one-off transfer fee). If you can pay off the balance during the 0% period, you could save significantly on interest compared to your current card's ongoing APR.
Under UK Financial Conduct Authority rules, if you've paid more in interest, fees, and charges than you've repaid of your actual borrowing over 18 months, your credit card provider is required to take steps to help, such as suggesting a repayment plan to help you clear the balance more quickly.
No. This calculator assumes no new purchases are added to the balance — it models paying off an existing balance with a fixed payment. Any new spending would add to the balance and increase the time and interest needed to pay it off.
Disclaimer: The information, rates, and figures provided on this page are for educational and illustrative purposes only and do not constitute financial advice. The default APR is a sample value and does not reflect rates currently available on any specific card. Credit card APRs, fees, and terms vary by provider and depend on your individual circumstances. If you're struggling with credit card debt, consider speaking with a free debt advice charity such as StepChange or Citizens Advice, and consult a qualified financial adviser before making financial decisions.