Credit Card Payoff Formula:
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This calculator estimates the time required to pay off credit card debt based on your current balance, monthly payment, and annual interest rate (APR). It uses the standard logarithmic formula recommended by NerdWallet.
The calculator uses the following formula:
Where:
Explanation: The formula calculates how many months it will take to pay off debt when making fixed monthly payments that exceed the accrued interest.
Details: Knowing your payoff timeline helps with financial planning, debt management, and understanding the true cost of credit card debt.
Tips: Enter your current credit card balance, the fixed monthly payment you can afford, and your card's APR. All values must be positive numbers.
Q1: Why does my payment need to exceed the interest?
A: If your payment only covers the interest (or less), your principal balance will never decrease, resulting in infinite payoff time.
Q2: How accurate is this calculator?
A: It provides a good estimate assuming fixed payments and interest rates. Actual results may vary with changing rates or payment amounts.
Q3: What's the fastest way to pay off credit card debt?
A: Pay as much as possible each month beyond the minimum payment, focusing on highest-interest cards first (avalanche method).
Q4: Does this work for other types of loans?
A: This formula works best for credit cards. Mortgages and installment loans use different amortization calculations.
Q5: How can I pay off debt faster?
A: Consider balance transfers to lower APR cards, debt consolidation loans, or increasing your monthly payment amount.