Calculate how much you save by transferring a credit card balance to a 0% intro APR card. Compare transfer fee vs interest avoided.
Current Card
Transfer Card (0% Intro)
✅ Transfer is worth it
The Balance Transfer Calculator estimates how much you'd save by moving a balance from a high-APR card to a card with a 0% (or low) introductory APR, after accounting for the one-time balance transfer fee — typically 3-5% of the amount transferred.
During the intro period, your transferred balance accrues no interest (or very little), so every payment goes straight to principal. This calculator compares the interest you'd pay if you stayed on your current card against the upfront transfer fee, showing your net savings and how much balance — if any — would remain once the intro rate expires and the regular APR kicks in.
Net Savings = Interest Avoided − (Balance × Transfer Fee %)Interest avoided is the total interest you'd otherwise pay on your current card during the intro period, calculated month by month as balance × current APR ÷ 12. The transfer fee is a one-time charge — usually 3-5% — taken when the balance moves to the new card. If interest avoided exceeds the fee, the transfer is a net win.
Example 1: $6,000 balance at 22.99% APR, 15-month 0% intro, 3% fee, $400/mo
Staying put, you'd pay roughly $750 in interest over 15 months while paying down the balance with $400 monthly payments. The transfer fee on $6,000 at 3% is $180.
Net savings ≈ $570 — and the balance would be fully paid off within the intro period, leaving nothing to revert to a higher rate.
Example 2: $10,000 balance at 26.99% APR, 18-month 0% intro, 5% fee, $450/mo
Interest avoided over 18 months on the current card is roughly $2,100. The transfer fee at 5% of $10,000 is $500.
Net savings ≈ $1,600 — but at $450/mo you'd still owe about $1,900 when the intro period ends, which would then accrue interest at the new card's regular APR.
Example 3: Small balance, low fee — $1,500 at 19.99% APR, 12-month intro, 0% fee
Some cards waive the transfer fee entirely for a limited time. Interest avoided over 12 months at $150/mo is roughly $155.
Net savings ≈ $155 with zero fee — a clear win, though the dollar amount is modest on smaller balances.
Methodology
Interest avoided = sum of monthly interest on current card during intro period (balance × APR/12 each month). Net savings = interest avoided − transfer fee. Break-even = months until fee is offset by savings.
A balance transfer saves money when the interest you avoid during the intro 0% period exceeds the transfer fee. This calculator shows you the exact break-even and net savings so you can decide.
Most cards charge 3–5% of the transferred amount as a one-time fee. Some cards offer no-fee transfers but shorter intro periods. Always compare total cost: fee vs interest saved.
After the intro period ends, the remaining balance reverts to the card's regular APR — often 20–25%. If you can't pay it off in time, ensure the new card's regular rate is lower than your current card.
Disclaimer: Calculations are for informational purposes only and do not constitute professional financial advice. Please consult with a certified professional before making financial decisions.