Balance Transfer Calculator
Calculate the cost of a credit-card balance transfer: the transfer fee, months to pay off at a fixed payment through the promo and standard APR, and total cost.
How to use this tool
- Enter the balance you want to transfer and the transfer-fee percent.
- Enter the promo APR and how many months it lasts, plus the standard APR afterward.
- Enter the fixed monthly payment you will make.
- Read the fee, months to pay off, total interest, and total cost.
Find out what a balance transfer really costs. Enter the balance, transfer fee, promo and standard APRs, and your monthly payment to see the fee, payoff time, and total cost.
Formula
Transfer fee = Balance × Fee %
Starting balance = Balance + Transfer fee
Each month: interest = balance × (APR ÷ 12), using the promo APR while month < promo length, then the standard APR; the payment first covers interest and the rest reduces principal.
Total cost = Transfer fee + Total interest
How it works
A balance transfer moves debt to a new card that offers a low or 0% introductory APR for a set number of months, usually in exchange for a one-time transfer fee (commonly 3%–5% of the amount moved). This calculator adds the fee to the transferred balance, then simulates a fixed monthly payment month by month: while the month index is inside the promo window it charges the promo APR, and afterward it switches to the standard APR. The fee plus any interest accrued is reported as the total cost.
The key to a transfer paying off is clearing the balance — or most of it — before the promo expires. If your fixed payment is too low, the leftover balance starts accruing the standard APR and the savings erode. A transfer only helps when the fee plus post-promo interest is less than the interest you would have paid on the original card; comparing total cost is the honest test.
Reviewed by the AbraCalc Credit Desk. This is general information, not financial advice; confirm your card's terms (APR, fees, minimum-payment rule) with your issuer or a qualified advisor.
Worked example
$5,000 transfer, 3% fee, 0% for 12 months, $500/month
- Transfer fee = 5,000 × 3% = 150.
- Starting balance = 5,000 + 150 = 5,150.
- At $500/month with 0% promo APR, 10 payments cover $5,000 and an 11th clears the last $150.
- All 11 months fall inside the 12-month promo, so interest = 0.
- Total cost = fee 150 + interest 0 = 150.
Months to pay off = 11, transfer fee = $150.00, total cost = $150.00
Transfer fee by balance and fee rate
| Balance | 3% fee | 4% fee | 5% fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| $1,000 | $30.00 | $40.00 | $50.00 |
| $2,000 | $60.00 | $80.00 | $100.00 |
| $3,000 | $90.00 | $120.00 | $150.00 |
| $5,000 | $150.00 | $200.00 | $250.00 |
| $7,500 | $225.00 | $300.00 | $375.00 |
| $10,000 | $300.00 | $400.00 | $500.00 |
Key terms
- Balance transfer
- Moving a balance from one credit card to another, usually to capture a lower introductory APR.
- Transfer fee
- A one-time charge (often 3%–5%) on the amount transferred, added to the new balance.
- Promotional APR
- A temporary low or 0% rate offered for an introductory period, after which the standard APR applies.
- Standard APR
- The ongoing rate that applies to any balance remaining once the promo period ends.
Frequently asked questions
- Is a balance transfer worth the fee?
- It depends on whether the fee plus any post-promo interest is less than the interest you would pay on the original card. Clearing the balance during a 0% promo usually makes the transfer worthwhile.
- What happens if I do not pay it off before the promo ends?
- Any remaining balance starts accruing the standard APR. This calculator switches to the standard rate after the promo length, so you can see the cost of not finishing in time.
- Does the transfer fee get added to my balance?
- Typically yes — the fee is added to the transferred amount, so you pay interest on it too if it is not cleared during the promo. This tool adds the fee to the starting balance.