Debt & credit cards

Balance Transfer Savings Calculator

Compare keeping your balance with transferring it to an introductory offer. See fees, interest savings and what happens when the promotional rate ends.

Balance and offer

Compare your options

Current balance ($) Current APR (%) Planned monthly payment ($) Transfer / comparison start date

The same fixed monthly payment applies to both options. No new purchases or other card balances are included. Enter the interest APRs from your offer.

Introductory offer

Introductory APR (%) Introductory period (months) Post-introductory APR (%)

The introductory APR applies to the first specified number of monthly payments. The post-introductory APR applies from the next month onward. This models an introductory-rate offer, not retroactive deferred interest.

Transfer fee

Fee type Transfer fee (%) Minimum fee ($) How is the fee paid?

When added to the balance, the fee accrues the same APR as the transfer. If your issuer applies a different rate to fees, this estimate will differ.

Calculations stay in this browser. Inputs are not saved or sent to analytics, advertising or replay systems.

Keep your card versus transfer

Total cash paid includes the transfer fee once, whether it is financed or paid upfront. N/A means a full payoff could not be projected.
Measure	Keep current card	Balance transfer

Monthly comparison

Cost means cumulative interest plus the transfer fee from the start. It excludes repayment of the original balance. The highlighted row is the final introductory payment, when present.
Payment date	Current payment	Transfer payment	Current balance	Transfer balance	Current cost	Transfer cost	Cost savings

How the balance transfer savings estimate works

Both options use your planned fixed monthly payment, made after each month's interest. Monthly interest is the opening balance multiplied by APR divided by 12, rounded half-up to cents. The final payment is capped at the balance plus interest. Daily accrual, variable rates, new purchases, annual fees, payment-allocation rules, late payments and loss of a promotional offer are not modeled.

Fees and interest savings

A percentage transfer fee is rounded half-up to cents and compared with your minimum fee; the larger amount applies. A fixed fee ignores the minimum. An added fee increases the opening transferred balance and accrues the offer's interest rate. An upfront fee does not increase the balance. Interest savings exclude the fee; lifetime cost savings subtract it once. Total cash paid includes all repayments and any separately paid fee.

What happens after the promotion?

The introductory rate covers months 1 through your selected period, including the payment at its end. The following month's interest uses the post-introductory rate on the remaining balance. There is no retroactive interest. Dates use the transfer-date anniversary, clamped to the last day of shorter months; actual issuer deadlines and statement periods may differ. Check your offer's exact expiration date.

The suggested payment to clear the promotion is the smallest whole-cent fixed payment that settles the transferred balance and any added fee within the introductory period, using the same monthly rounding. Monthly payments made during the promotion include interest and any repaid financed fee, but exclude fees paid separately upfront.

Break-even and incomplete payoff estimates

Lasting break-even is the first month when cumulative interest savings cover the transfer fee and remain at least that large through both payoff dates. A temporary crossover followed by higher lifetime costs is not lasting break-even. Without a fee, break-even may be at the start if the transfer never costs more. This compares borrowing costs, not cumulative cash payments, and does not discount future money.

If your payment cannot reduce a balance once its ongoing rate applies, or payoff exceeds 1,200 months, lifetime savings and lasting break-even are unavailable. Promotional-period results remain visible. A warning identifies which plan needs a larger payment. Projections that grow beyond the supported numeric range are rejected.

The CFPB explains introductory-rate durations and post-promotion rates. Review the issuer's terms; these calculations are estimates, not an offer or approval.