Find the savings from moving a card balance to a 0% promotional offer.
Please do not make financial decisions based on these results.
What is the Balance Transfer Calculator?
Find the savings from moving a card balance to a 0% promotional offer. To use the Balance Transfer Calculator, enter balance, current apr, transfer fee, promo months, monthly payment; it returns net savings, transfer fee, balance left when promo ends, and shows them instantly as you type.
Where the Balance Transfer Calculator fits
Find the savings from moving a card balance to a 0% promotional offer. The main figure it returns is the Net savings, worked out from the values you enter.
It belongs with the other loans & debt tools. If you are comparing options or checking a result from another angle, try the Loan Balance Calculator, Credit Cards Payoff Calculator or the Partially Amortized Loan Calculator.
How to use the Balance Transfer Calculator
- Enter your numbers. Start with Balance ($), Current APR (%), Transfer fee (%), then fill in Promo months, Monthly payment ($). Take the rate and term from your loan offer. Fees and the rate type change the result. Fields marked optional can stay at zero.
- Read the result. The highlighted box gives the Net savings, and the cards below show Transfer fee, Balance left when promo ends. Tables and charts break it down further.
- Test other scenarios. Results update as you type. Change one value at a time to see what drives the answer, and press Reset to go back to the defaults.
Formula and how it works
Example with real numbers
Here is the Balance Transfer Calculator using the default values shown in the calculator above:
Inputs
| Balance ($) | 6,000 |
|---|---|
| Current APR (%) | 24 |
| Transfer fee (%) | 3 |
| Promo months | 15 |
| Monthly payment ($) | 400 |
Results
| Net savings | $977.84 |
|---|---|
| Transfer fee | $180.00 |
| Balance left when promo ends | $180.00 |
With these inputs the calculator returns Net savings: $977.84. Change any value in the calculator to see how the result moves.
What if you change one input?
Sensitivity check: raising Balance ($) from 6,000 to 7,200 (about 20% higher) and leaving everything else as in the example above changes the results like this:
| Result | Example | After the change | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Net savings | $977.84 | $1,356.89 | +38.8% |
| Transfer fee | $180.00 | $216.00 | +20% |
| Balance left when promo ends | $180.00 | $1,416.00 | +686.7% |
The input that moves the result most is the one to check twice. Change it in the calculator above to test your own case.
What the results tell you
The results panel of the Balance Transfer Calculator reports Net savings, transfer fee and balance left when promo ends. Compare these figures while changing one input at a time, and use the related calculators below to look at the same situation from another angle.
Method and limits. This calculator applies the formula in the section above to your inputs, in your browser; nothing you enter is stored on our servers. Your lender’s offer is the final word: fees, rate type and rounding differ between lenders. It is for information, not financial, tax or legal advice.
Frequently asked questions
Is a balance transfer always worth it?
Only if the fee is smaller than the interest saved and you repay before the promo ends.
What is APR and why does it matter?
APR is the yearly cost of a loan including fees. Use it, rather than the interest rate alone, to compare offers.
Can I enter the term in years and months?
Yes. Enter years and months together, for example 6 years and 2 months.
Are the results guaranteed?
No. Results depend entirely on the numbers you enter and the formulas shown on this page. Please do not make financial decisions based on them alone; confirm important figures with a licensed professional.
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