What is your credit card APR really costing you?
Turn your APR into real dollars per day, month, and year. See whether the rate is the problem — or the balance is — and get the next move that saves the most.
Your card
Accuracy & data — what this tool can and can’t predict
- These results are an educational estimate based on the inputs you provided — not financial advice.
- Real issuer math can vary slightly (rounding, fees, promotional periods, statement timing).
- We do not have access to your real account, statements, or credit report. Numbers update only when you edit inputs.
- Your inputs stay on this device. We don't store or transmit them unless you choose to share the link or email your results.
APR diagnosis
Your APR is expensive, but the damage is limited by your balance.
At this rate, every $1,000 you carry costs about $250 per year. Worth lowering — but don't panic.
Per day
$3.08
Per month
$92
Per year
$1,125
Daily rate
0.0685%
Grace period is broken
Because a balance is rolling over, interest is being charged daily — and your grace period on new purchases is usually gone too. Until you pay a full statement balance, every dollar on this card is costing you APR.
Best next move
Ranked by estimated yearly savings for your situation. The top action is usually where to start.
Add $100 more to your monthly payment
Highest impactExtra above the minimum goes straight to principal. Over the life of this balance, the interest savings are usually large.
Est. savings: $1,435/year
Get back to paying the full statement balance
This is the single biggest lever. Once the statement is paid in full, your grace period returns and new purchases generally stop accruing interest.
Est. savings: $1,125/year
Consider a 0% intro-APR balance transfer
If you qualify, moving the balance to a 0% intro card buys you months of interest-free payoff. Watch for the transfer fee (usually 3–5%).
Est. savings: $843/year
Move to a card 5 points lower in APR
Call your issuer to request a lower rate, or apply for a lower-APR card. Even a few points compound over a year on a carried balance.
Est. savings: $225/year
Compare better scenarios
Each row shows what happens if one thing changes. Savings are vs. your current path over one year.
Your APR is on the high end. Lowering it — by calling your issuer or moving the balance — is one of the highest-leverage moves you can make.
Sometimes the fastest win isn't a better APR — it's changing the balance or payment habit.
APR, in plain English
How to use this tool
- Enter your balance
Use the balance you typically carry from cycle to cycle, not your highest spend month.
- Type your purchase APR
It's on your statement under 'Interest Charge Calculation' — usually 18–29%.
- Add your average monthly payment
What you actually send, not the minimum due. If you only pay the minimum, enter that.
- Read the daily/monthly/yearly cost
Then run the comparison APR to see what dropping 3–5 points would save you.
Expected timeline: About 2 minutes to enter inputs; results are instant. Most people make one APR-reduction move within 7 days (balance-transfer offer or a rate-reduction request).
- Promo 0% APR ends — the rate jumps to the go-to APR on the remaining balance.
- Cash advances and balance transfers have their own (higher) APR and no grace period.
- Variable APRs move with the prime rate; recheck quarterly.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good APR on a credit card?
It depends on your credit. As of recent data, average credit card APRs run roughly in the low-20s percent range. Anything under about 18% is considered relatively good; over 25% is on the high end. If you pay in full every month, the rate matters far less than fees and rewards.How do I calculate what my APR is costing me?
Divide your APR by 365 to get the daily periodic rate (DPR). Multiply DPR by the balance you carry each day to get daily interest. Multiply by the days in your billing cycle for your monthly interest charge. This tool does all of that for you and translates it into yearly dollars.Does APR matter if I pay in full every month?
Much less. When you pay your full statement balance by the due date, the grace period generally prevents interest on new purchases. In that case, fees, rewards, and benefits usually matter more than the APR number.What is a daily periodic rate?
It's your APR converted to a daily number. Most issuers divide APR by 365 (some use 360). That tiny daily percentage is what gets applied to your balance every single day you carry one.Is APR the same as the interest rate on a credit card?
For credit cards, yes — they're effectively the same number. That's different from many loans, where APR can also include certain fees.
Get your results — and the next steps to act on them.
We'll send your APR cost summary (potential savings: $1,125/yr), plus a short checklist for lowering it. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
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This calculator provides educational estimates based on the values you enter and common credit card interest conventions (APR ÷ 365 daily periodic rate applied to balance). Actual issuer math may vary slightly. Not financial advice.
Your APR cost
$1,125/yr