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All calculatorsMethodology

Balance Transfer Calculator

Compare a balance transfer with keeping the card: transfer fee, promo and post-promo APR, balance left when the promo ends, payoff months and total savings.

Interactive calculator · Method BALANCE-TRANSFER-1.0 · Last reviewed: 2026-11-04

Calculate your scenario

Both cases are simulated monthly with the same payment: interest = balance × APR ÷ 12, then the payment (never more than owed) is made at month end.

Your inputs

Try an example

Default worked example. Edit the inputs to calculate your scenario.

Default worked example

Savings from transferring $1,628.01
Total cost with transfer $6,213.43
Total cost staying on the current card $7,841.44
Balance left when the promo ends $780.00
Months to payoff (transfer / stay) 21 months / 27 months
Transfer fee $180.00 (added to balance)

Transfer: $6,000.00 + $180.00 fee at 0% for 18 months, then 26.99%, paying $300.00 a month; staying: $6,000.00 at 24.99%.

How to use the calculator

Enter the balance, your current APR, the transfer fee and how it is charged, the promo APR and length, the APR after the promo, and the monthly payment you plan to make in both cases.

What the result means

Moving $6,000 with a financed 3% fee to 0% for 18 months at $300 a month leaves $780 when the promo ends, pays off in 21 months and costs $6,213.43, about $1,628 less than staying at 24.99%.

Formula and units

Both cases are simulated monthly with the same payment: interest = balance × APR ÷ 12, then the payment (never more than owed) is made at month end. The transfer starts at balance + fee when the fee is financed and uses the promo APR for the promo months, then the post-promo APR. Total cost = all payments (+ the fee if paid upfront); savings = cost staying − cost with transfer.

Worked examples

$6,000 to 0% for 18 months at $300 a month: Balance to transfer: 6000 $; Current card APR: 24.99 %; Transfer fee (example 3%): 3 % of balance; Promo APR on the transfer (your offer): 0 %; Promo period: 18 months; APR after the promo ends (your offer): 26.99 %; Monthly payment (same in both cases): 300 $/month; Transfer fee: financed.
Example result: Savings from transferring: $1,628.01; Total cost with transfer: $6,213.43; Total cost staying on the current card: $7,841.44; Balance left when the promo ends: $780.00; Months to payoff (transfer / stay): 21 months / 27 months; Transfer fee: $180.00 (added to balance).

$10,000 with a 5% fee, 21 months at 0%, $500 a month: Balance to transfer: 10000 $; Current card APR: 27.99 %; Transfer fee (example 3%): 5 % of balance; Promo APR on the transfer (your offer): 0 %; Promo period: 21 months; APR after the promo ends (your offer): 29.99 %; Monthly payment (same in both cases): 500 $/month; Transfer fee: financed.
Example result: Savings from transferring: $3,125.85; Total cost with transfer: $10,500.00; Total cost staying on the current card: $13,625.85; Balance left when the promo ends: $0.00; Months to payoff (transfer / stay): 21 months / 28 months; Transfer fee: $500.00 (added to balance).

Limitations and common mistakes

Uses the APRs, fee and promo terms you enter; nothing here is a card offer. Assumes no new purchases, no late or missed payments (which can end a promo) and the same payment every month; APR ÷ 12 approximates daily interest. Credit decisions, limits and any deferred-interest terms are set by the issuer and are not modeled.

Paying only enough to look comfortable during the promo: the balance left when it ends moves to the post-promo APR, which is often higher than the original card.

Sources and assumptions

Method BALANCE-TRANSFER-1.0; last formula review 2026-11-04. Sources and their supported claims. Calculation methodology.