# Balance Transfer Calculator

URL: https://speedycalculator.com/calculators/finance/balance-transfer/
Last updated: 2026-10-25

> The balance transfer calculator shows how much you save by moving a credit card balance to a card with a 0% (or low) introductory APR – after the balance transfer fee – how long payoff takes and the interest paid on each card.

## Inputs

- Current balance
- Current card APR (%)
- Monthly payment
- Balance transfer fee (%)
- Promotional APR (%)
- Promotional period (months)
- APR after the promo (%)

## Results

- Months to pay off – current card
- Interest – current card
- Balance after transfer
- Balance left when the promo ends
- Months to pay off – new card
- Interest and fee – new card
- Savings
- Monthly payment to clear it within the promo

## Formula

```
New balance = balance × (1 + transfer fee)
During the promo: balance falls by your payment each month at the promo rate
After the promo: remaining balance accrues the regular APR until paid
Savings = cost on the old card − cost on the new card
```

## Explanation

Balance transfer cards often offer 0% for 12–21 months with a 3–5% fee. You only win if you pay most of the balance before the promo ends and don't add new purchases.

### How to use the Balance Transfer Calculator

- **Current balance**
- **Current card APR**
- **Monthly payment**
- **Balance transfer fee**
- **Promotional APR**
- **Promotional period**
- **APR after the promo**

Results update as you type, and every field accepts the units shown in its menu.

### How it works

Enter your balance, current APR, monthly payment, the transfer fee, promo APR and length, and the APR after the promo.

### Tips

- Compare loans by APR and total cost, not just the monthly payment.
- Extra payments go straight to principal and can save a lot of interest.
- Pay off the highest-rate debt first if you want to save the most money.
- Check for prepayment penalties before paying a loan off early.

### Common mistakes to avoid

- Stretching a loan term to lower the payment without seeing the extra interest.
- Paying only the minimum on credit cards.
- Forgetting fees that are rolled into the loan.

### Inputs explained

FieldWhat to enterCurrent balanceAmount in your currencyCurrent card APRIn %Monthly paymentAmount in your currencyBalance transfer feeIn %Promotional APRIn %Promotional periodIn monthsAPR after the promoIn %

### What each result means

- **Months to pay off – current card** = nper([Current card APR]÷1200, [Monthly payment], [Current balance])
- **Interest – current card** = [Monthly payment]×[Months to pay off – current card] - [Current balance]
- **Balance after transfer** = [Current balance]×(1 + [Balance transfer fee]÷100)
- **Interest and fee – new card** = [Monthly payment]×[Months to pay off – new card] - [Current balance]
- **Savings** = [Interest – current card] - [Interest and fee – new card]

### Example values

How the main result changes when **Current balance** changes and everything else stays at the example values above:

Current balanceSavings3,000290.514,500768.456,0001,532.257,5002,570.229,0004,025.412,0009,834.46

## Worked example

Inputs — Current balance: $6,000; Current card APR: 24 %; Monthly payment: $300; Balance transfer fee: 3 %; Promotional APR: 0 %; Promotional period: 18 months; APR after the promo: 22 %.

Results — Months to pay off – current card = 26; Interest – current card = $1,738.76; Balance after transfer = $6,180.00; Balance left when the promo ends = $780.00; Months to pay off – new card = 21; Interest and fee – new card = $206.51; **Savings = $1,532.25**; Monthly payment to clear it within the promo = $343.33.

## FAQ

**Is a balance transfer worth it?**
Usually, if the fee is lower than the interest you'd pay and you can pay off most of it in the promo period.

**What is a typical balance transfer fee?**
3–5% of the amount transferred.

**Do new purchases get 0% too?**
Not always – and payments may go to the 0% balance first.

**What formula does the Balance Transfer Calculator use?**
New balance = balance × (1 + transfer fee).


## Sources

- [Consumer Financial Protection Bureau](https://www.consumerfinance.gov/)