Balance Transfer Calculator

See whether moving your balance to a 0% intro card actually saves money after the transfer fee. This balance transfer calculator compares the cost of keeping your current card against transferring the balance – right in your browser, with nothing saved.

How the balance transfer calculator works

The balance transfer calculator compares two paths. On the first, you keep your current card and pay it down at its APR, and the tool totals the interest. On the second, it adds the transfer fee to your balance, applies 0% during the intro period, then charges the regular rate on whatever remains. The difference between the two totals is your saving.

Estimates for general information only; not financial or tax advice. Card terms, fees, and post-intro rates vary; confirm the offer’s details before transferring.

A worked example

Imagine $8,000 at 21% APR with a $400 monthly payment. Keeping the card, you would pay about $1,933 in interest over roughly 25 months. Now transfer it to a card with a 3% fee and 15 months at 0%.

The 3% fee adds $240 to the balance, but 15 interest-free months let your payments hammer the principal. By the time the intro period ends, most of the balance is gone, and the total cost – fee plus a little post-intro interest – is about $378. That is roughly $1,555 saved.

When a balance transfer is worth it

A transfer pays off when you can clear most or all of the balance during the 0% window and the fee is smaller than the interest you would otherwise pay. If the balance lingers past the intro period, the reverted rate can erase the benefit, so a realistic payment plan matters more than the headline 0%.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau explains how to weigh consolidating card debt, and its guide to how card interest is calculated helps you see exactly what the intro period saves. Avoid new purchases on the transfer card, which may not get the 0% rate.

Comparing routes? Use the free Debt Payoff Spreadsheet and our other debt and loan calculators to check the math.

Frequently asked questions

How is the transfer fee handled?

The calculator adds the fee – usually 3% to 5% of the balance – to what you owe on the new card, then counts it as part of your total cost so the comparison is fair.

What happens after the 0% period?

Any balance left when the intro window closes starts accruing interest at the card’s regular APR. The tool applies that rate to the remainder to estimate the final cost.

Does a balance transfer hurt my credit?

Opening a card adds a hard inquiry and a new account, which can dip your score briefly. Lower utilization from paying down the balance often helps over time.

Can I transfer more than one balance?

Often yes, up to the new card’s limit. Enter your combined balance to estimate the total cost, and check each transfer’s fee.

Is a transfer better than a loan?

For balances you can clear during the intro period, usually yes. For larger balances needing years, a fixed consolidation loan may cost less – our consolidation calculator compares them.

See the full toolkit in our debt and loan calculators, or start with the debt payoff calculator.