Credit Card Repayment Calculator UK
See how long it takes to pay off your credit card. Enter your balance, APR and fixed monthly payment to find the payoff time, total interest and total repaid.
Last updated 21 June 2026 · Written and reviewed by Mustafa Bilgic
Credit card payoff calculator
Payoff time + total interest.
Estimate only — figures use the latest published UK rates. Always confirm on GOV.UK.
How long to pay off my credit card?
Credit card interest is charged on your outstanding balance every month, so the faster you clear it the less interest you pay. The two things that decide how long it takes are the card's APR and how much you pay each month. Paying a fixed amount rather than the minimum makes an enormous difference — the minimum is designed to keep you in debt for years.
A £3,000 balance at 24.9% APR paid off at £150 a month clears in about 27 months and costs roughly £915 in interest. Pay just the minimum and it could take over a decade.
Why minimum payments trap you
The minimum payment is usually around 1% of the balance plus that month's interest — so as the balance falls, the minimum falls too, and most of your payment goes on interest rather than clearing the debt. Switching to a fixed monthly payment means more of each payment chips away at the balance, so it clears far faster. This calculator shows exactly how many months a fixed payment takes and the total interest.
Pay off the most expensive debt first
If you have several debts, clearing the one with the highest APR first usually saves the most — this is the "avalanche" method. A 0% balance transfer card can pause interest entirely for a fixed period, letting your whole payment reduce the balance, though watch for the transfer fee and the date the 0% ends.
Get free help if you are struggling
If credit card debt feels unmanageable, free and confidential help is available from Citizens Advice, StepChange and the government-backed MoneyHelper. Build your repayments into a monthly budget so they are sustainable, and compare the cost with a lower-rate personal loan if consolidating makes sense.
Frequently asked questions
How long will it take to pay off my credit card?
It depends on the balance, the APR and your monthly payment. Paying a fixed amount each month clears the card far faster than the minimum. For example, £3,000 at 24.9% APR paid at £150 a month clears in about 27 months.
Why does paying the minimum take so long?
The minimum payment falls as your balance falls, and most of it goes on interest rather than reducing the debt. That is why minimum-only payments on a typical card can take more than a decade to clear the balance.
How is credit card interest calculated?
Interest is charged on your outstanding balance, usually worked out daily and added monthly, based on the card's APR. The higher the balance and the longer it stays unpaid, the more interest you are charged.
Should I use a balance transfer card?
A 0% balance transfer card can pause interest for a set period, so your whole payment reduces the balance. Watch the transfer fee (often 1–3%) and make sure you clear the balance before the 0% deal ends.
Which debt should I pay off first?
Generally pay off the debt with the highest APR first, as it costs you the most. This is called the avalanche method and saves the most interest overall while you keep up minimum payments on the others.