Balance Transfer Calculator
A 0% intro APR sounds free, but transfer fees run 3%–5%. Enter both scenarios to see whether the transfer actually beats staying put — and when the break-even lands.
Your results
Charts & visualization
Balance paths compared
During the intro window the transferred balance freezes while interest keeps piling onto the old card.
Every chart’s underlying numbers are available as text — use the “view as table” control under each chart.
How it works
Two schedules run in parallel with the same monthly payment:
- Stay — the current card accrues its full APR every month.
- Transfer — a fee equal to fee% of the balance applies immediately, then the balance accrues 0% (or the intro rate) during the promo window, switching to the regular APR afterward.
Savings = interest avoided on the old card minus the upfront fee. If your payment cannot clear the balance before the intro period ends, remaining months accrue the regular APR — often similar to the card you left. The chart makes that cliff visible.
Formula used
Transfer fee— balance × fee %, charged once upfrontTransfer path— intro APR for intro months, then regular APRBoth paths— identical monthly payment
Example calculation
Transferring $8,000 costs a $240 fee (3%), but freezes interest for 15 months while your $300 payments attack principal directly. Staying put would cost about $3,797 in interest; transferring brings all-in financing cost near $737 — netting roughly $3,059 in savings. The catch: any balance left when the intro ends jumps to 22.9%, so the payment size matters as much as the offer.
Assumptions & limitations
- The fee is paid upfront rather than added to the balance.
- No new purchases on either card.
- Intro APR applies from month one; deferred-interest offers behave differently.
- Payment timing is on-time every month.
Results are planning estimates based on your inputs and the stated assumptions — not financial advice or a loan offer. Verify important figures with your lender or advisor.
Frequently asked questions
Are balance transfers worth the 3% fee?
Usually yes when moving high-APR debt (20%+) into a genuine 0% window with a payoff plan that fits the promo period. A 3% fee equals roughly six weeks of 24% interest — everything beyond that is savings.
What happens if I do not pay it off in time?
Remaining balance starts accruing the regular APR — frequently close to what you were already paying. Model your real payment here so the intro length matches reality.
Does a transfer hurt my credit score?
It can nudge scores via a new account inquiry and utilization changes, but lowering expensive debt usually helps over time. Opening several cards in quick succession is riskier than one well-used transfer.
Can I transfer between cards from the same bank?
Most issuers refuse transfers within their own family of cards. Check before applying — the offer assumes the move is possible.