About the 0% APR Payoff Calculator
This 0% APR payoff calculator works out the exact monthly payment needed to clear a promotional balance — a 0% purchase card, a balance transfer or a store "no interest if paid in full" plan — before the intro period ends. Enter the balance, the months left on the promo, what you plan to pay and the APR that applies afterwards.
It then shows what happens if your planned payment is too small: the balance still owed when the promo expires, how much interest that leftover costs at the regular APR, and how long it takes to finish. Switch on deferred interest for store-card style financing, where missing the deadline means interest is charged back to the start of the promotion.
The tool assumes no new purchases on the promo balance and interest charged monthly at APR ÷ 12 once the promo ends. Deferred interest is estimated on the month-start balance over the promo, which is close to how issuers compute it from the average daily balance.
With the default inputs, the monthly payment to clear it in time is $250.00. Change any value above to recalculate instantly.
How to use the 0% apr payoff calculator
- 1Enter the balance on the 0% offer and how many months are left.
- 2Enter the monthly payment you plan to make.
- 3Enter the APR the card or plan charges after the promo ends.
- 4Turn on deferred interest if it is a "no interest if paid in full" store plan.
- 5Use the required payment, or the shortfall, to set up an automatic payment.
Formula and method
At 0% there is no interest to amortize, so the payment that clears the balance on the last promo month is simply the balance divided by the months remaining. With your planned payment, the leftover at the deadline is the balance minus the payments made during the promo, floored at zero.
Any leftover is then repaid month by month at the post-promo APR ÷ 12 with the same payment. For deferred-interest plans, interest is estimated on each month-start balance during the promo and added to the balance at the deadline if anything is still owed — which is why missing a store-card deadline by a few dollars can be so expensive.
- B
- Promotional balance today
- n
- Months left on the 0% offer
- P
- Your planned monthly payment
- Bₘ
- Balance at the start of promo month m
Worked examples
$3,000 with 12 months left, paying $200
Clearing $3,000 in 12 months takes $250 a month. Paying $200 leaves $600 at the deadline; at 27.99% that takes four more months and about $30 of interest. Adding $50 a month avoids interest entirely.
Deferred-interest store plan, $1,800 over 12 months
Paying $140 instead of $150 leaves $120 at the deadline, so roughly $309 of deferred interest — 29.99% on each month-start balance through the promo — is charged at once. Clearing the resulting $429 balance takes four more months and another $23 or so, for about $332 in total.
Paying enough to finish early
Clearing $4,500 in 18 months needs $250 a month. At $300 a month the balance is gone in month 15, three months before the promo ends, so no interest is ever charged.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate the payment to pay off a 0% balance?+
Divide the balance by the number of full billing cycles left before the promo ends. A $3,000 balance with 12 months left needs $250 a month. Round up slightly and pay a few days before the due date to be safe.
What happens if I do not pay off a 0% APR card in time?+
On most credit cards, only the balance left at the end of the promo starts accruing interest at the regular APR. With deferred-interest store plans, interest for the entire promo period is charged back if any balance remains.
Is the minimum payment enough to clear a 0% balance?+
Usually not. Minimum payments are often 1% of the balance plus fees, or a small fixed amount, which leaves most of the balance unpaid when the promo ends. Card issuers must show how long minimums take on your statement.
What is the difference between 0% APR and deferred interest?+
A true 0% APR charges no interest during the promo, ever. Deferred interest quietly accrues interest from day one and waives it only if you pay the full balance by the deadline — miss it and the whole amount is added.
Can new purchases affect my 0% payoff plan?+
Yes. New purchases may carry a different rate, and payments above the minimum generally go to the highest-rate balance first under US card rules. Keeping the promo balance on its own card makes the plan simpler.
Results are estimates for educational purposes and are not financial advice. Rates, fees and terms vary — confirm with your lender or a licensed advisor before making decisions.