Balance Transfer Calculator: True Cost of 0% APR + Fees vs Staying Put

Reviewed by Soft Crown Editorial Team. Last verified May 2, 2026.

The headline 0% APR is not the number that decides whether a balance transfer is worth it. The numbers that matter are the transfer fee (3-5%), the post-promo APR if you do not finish in time, and your honest answer about whether you can pay it off inside the promo window. This calculator does that math.

Plan

TL;DR in 90 seconds

A balance transfer is worth it when:

1. The transfer fee is less than the interest you would pay on your current card during the promo period, AND
2. You have a credible plan to retire the balance before the promo expires, OR
3. You are willing to balance-transfer again at expiry and pay the second fee.

For most balances of $5,000+ at standard APRs (22.30% per CFPB 2025 data), an 18-month 0% APR transfer with a 3% fee saves money. Below $2,000, the fee math gets tighter. Above $20,000, you may exceed the new card's credit limit.

In our 10,000-profile simulation, a typical 18-month balance transfer with 3% fee saved an average of $2,134 vs status quo when the user paid off inside the promo window. It cost the user money in profiles where the post-promo APR was within 1.5 points of the original AND payoff extended past month 18.

The math, on a real example

Devon has $11,400 on a card at 22.30% APR. $400 a month available. Standard avalanche payoff: 36 months, $3,051 in interest.

Now Devon transfers to an 18-month 0% APR card with a 3% transfer fee. The fee is $342 and is added to the new balance ($11,742 starting balance).

Two paths from here:

Path A: Devon hits payoff inside 18 months. That requires paying $652 a month. Total cost: $11,742. Savings vs status quo: $3,051 - $342 = $1,651 saved. Worth it.

Path B: Devon stays at $400 a month. That gets $7,200 paid in 18 months, leaving $4,542 at the end of the promo. The post-promo APR (let's say 24.99%) takes that $4,542 down at $400 a month over 14 more months for ~$697 in additional interest. Total cost: $11,742 + $697 = $12,439. Savings vs status quo: $3,051 - $697 - $342 = $2,012 saved. Still worth it.

Path C: Devon stops paying after 18 months and only makes minimums. That blows up. Post-promo balance $4,542 at 24.99% with minimum-only payments runs 200+ months and costs $5,000+ in additional interest. Total cost approaches $17,000. Worse than not transferring.

The lesson: a balance transfer is a tool, not a magic trick. The "is it worth it" answer depends entirely on what you do during and after the promo.

When balance transfer is the obvious answer

• Balance is $3,000+ and current APR is 18%+ and you have a credible $X/month plan that gets you to zero in 12-21 months.
• You qualify for the new card. Most 0% transfer cards require 690+ FICO. Some require 720+.
• You will not run up the original card again after transferring.

When balance transfer is the wrong answer

• You will not change spending. Transferring frees up the original card's available credit, and many people charge it back up. Now you have two cards.
• You cannot finish in the promo window AND the post-promo APR is higher than your current card.
• The transfer fee plus expected interest is more than the interest you would pay just running avalanche on the current card.

Calculator

What the calculator computes

Three inputs:

1. Current balance and APR. What you have now.
2. Transfer fee percentage (typically 3% or 5%) and promo length in months (typically 12, 15, 18, or 21 months). Optional: the post-promo APR if you know it.
3. Monthly payment you can sustain.

Three outputs:

1. Break-even month. The month in which the interest savings catch up to the transfer fee. Before that month, you are net negative on the transfer.
2. Total cost under transfer vs total cost staying put. Side by side, in dollars.
3. Verdict. "Save $X if you finish by month Y" or "Costs $Z extra unless payoff finishes in N months."

The math runs in your browser. No card data leaves your device.

How transfer fees work

The fee is calculated on the amount you transfer. On a $10,000 transfer with a 3% fee, you pay $300. The fee is added to your new balance: you now owe $10,300 on the new card. The fee is paid via interest accrual on the new balance over the promo period (which is 0%), so effectively you pay it via the slightly higher monthly minimum needed to clear the balance.

A few cards advertise 0% transfer fees, but those promos are shorter (typically 12 months) and the qualification bar is higher. Run the math both ways: a 0%-fee 12-month promo can lose to a 3%-fee 18-month promo on the same balance.

Strategies

The post-promo APR trap

The biggest mistake we see: people transfer, pay aggressively for 6 months, get a sense of relief, and ease up. The promo runs out and they wake up to a 24-29% APR on whatever balance is left.

Two ways to avoid the trap:

1. Set the calendar reminder. Three months before the promo ends, look at your remaining balance. If you cannot finish in three months, pre-shop another transfer offer. (See 0% APR card stacking strategy for the math on chaining transfers.)
2. Always pay above minimum. The minimum payment formula on a 0% balance is essentially "balance / months remaining in promo + small floor." Many cards instead use the standard 1% formula, which leaves a huge balloon at the end. Calculate your own monthly target: balance + fee, divided by promo months. That is the floor.

When stacking 0% APR transfers is the move

If you cannot retire the full balance in 18 months and your credit profile supports applying for a second card, transferring again at expiry can save real money. The math: each transfer costs another fee (3% typically), but you avoid post-promo interest at 24-29%.

A second transfer makes sense when expected post-promo interest > 3% transfer fee on remaining balance. On a $5,000 remaining balance at 25%, that math says: 12 months of interest at 25% on $5,000 is ~$695. The 3% fee on $5,000 is $150. Stack the transfer; save $545.

We cover the multi-card stacking strategy in detail on 0% APR card stacking strategy.

The credit-utilization side effect

Opening a new balance transfer card temporarily lowers your credit score by 5-15 points (new account, hard inquiry). Then it usually raises your score by more once the new card's credit limit is added to your total available credit, dropping your overall utilization ratio.

Net effect: a small dip for 60-90 days, then often a bigger boost than your starting point. (Consumer Financial Protection Bureau credit reports guide.)

Why we do not link to specific balance transfer cards

The balance transfer card market is structured around affiliate revenue. NerdWallet, Bankrate, CardRatings, and similar sites earn $200-500 per approved application. That revenue creates a structural pull on which cards get the top "Best of" placement.

Our position: the calculator runs the math. You pick the card. We will not earn a commission for steering you to one issuer.

For a non-affiliate ranking of current 0% APR offers, see our static comparison: Best balance transfer cards 2026. It is updated quarterly, ranks by months of 0% APR per dollar of fee, and discloses every methodology choice.

Resources

Spokes in this hub

• 0% APR balance transfer calculator , the focused break-even tool
• 0% APR card stacking strategy , chaining transfers to avoid post-promo APR
• Best balance transfer cards 2026 , ranked by months per dollar of fee

Related hubs

• Credit card payoff calculator (home) , pillar tool with all three strategies
• Avalanche vs snowball method , the strategies you compare against transferring
• Debt consolidation calculator , when a personal loan beats a balance transfer

When balance transfer is not the answer

If your balance is large enough that no single card will accept the full transfer amount, or if your credit profile cannot support an approval, the next-best option is a debt consolidation personal loan. Rates on those are typically 9-15% (vs 22%+ on credit cards), with no promo expiration. We compare the math on Refinance credit card debt with a personal loan.

If your math shows that no balance transfer or consolidation makes the payoff feasible at your current income, that is a sign to talk to a non-profit credit counselor at NFCC. They can renegotiate APRs with creditors directly, often securing rate reductions a balance transfer cannot match.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is a balance transfer worth a 3% fee?

Yes if your current APR is 18%+ and you can pay off the balance within 12-18 months. The 3% fee is a one-time cost; the avoided interest at 22%+ APR is recurring monthly. On a $5,000 balance, the fee is $150 and the avoided interest over 12 months at 22% would be $1,100. Net savings: $950.

What credit score do I need for a 0% APR balance transfer card?

Most 0% APR cards require 690+ FICO score. Some premium offers (longest promo periods) require 720+. Below 690, you may qualify for shorter-promo or higher-fee cards but the math becomes tighter. (CFPB credit score guide.)

Can I balance transfer multiple cards onto one new card?

Yes, but the total transfer cannot exceed the new card's credit limit. If you have $15,000 across three cards and the new card approves you for $10,000, you transfer the highest-APR portion first. The remainder stays on the original cards under avalanche or snowball.

What happens if I do not pay off the balance during the promo?

The remaining balance accrues interest at the post-promo APR (typically 19-29%). On most cards, the interest does not retroactively apply to the promo period (you do not get charged interest on the months you held the 0% balance), but always check the card's terms because a few cards do have retroactive-interest clauses if you miss a payment during the promo.

Should I close my old card after transferring?

Generally no. Closing the old card reduces your total available credit, which raises your utilization ratio on the remaining cards and can hurt your credit score. The risk of closing comes when keeping the card means you will run it up again. Honest self-assessment: if you will not, keep it open at zero.

What is the difference between 0% intro APR on purchases and 0% on balance transfers?

Two different promotional offers, sometimes both on the same card. "0% on purchases" applies to new spending. "0% on balance transfers" applies to debt moved from another card. The promo periods can be different lengths. For payoff strategy, you only care about the balance-transfer promo.

Can I transfer from a personal loan or HELOC to a 0% credit card?

No. Balance transfers move debt between credit cards. Personal loans and HELOCs cannot be transferred to a 0% APR card.

What is "stacking" 0% APR cards?

Sequential balance transfers across multiple cards, timed so each promo starts before the previous one expires. Used by people who cannot retire a balance in 18 months but can sustain payments. We model the math on 0% APR card stacking strategy.

Does the transfer fee count as interest?

No. The fee is treated as principal (added to your transferred balance), not interest. You do not receive any interest deduction for paying it. It is a one-time origination cost.

How long does a balance transfer take to process?

Typically 7-21 days. During processing, you continue making minimum payments on the original card. If the original payment is due during the transfer window, pay it on time. Late payments during transfer can void the promo APR on the new card.

Sources

1. CFPB 2025 Consumer Credit Card Market Report, accessed 2026-05-03.
2. Federal Reserve G.19 Consumer Credit, accessed 2026-05-03.
3. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Credit Reports and Scores, accessed 2026-05-03.
4. National Foundation for Credit Counseling, accessed 2026-05-03.
5. Soft Crown 2026 Debt Payoff Strategy Index, simulation date 2026-05-03.

Not financial advice. Calculations are estimates based on the inputs you provide. Consult a non-profit credit counselor (NFCC member) or licensed financial advisor before making major debt-management decisions.

This is a syndicated post. Original article + interactive calculator: https://llcformationcost.com/balance-transfer-calculator//