{
  "slug": "balance-transfer-savings-calculator",
  "title": "Balance Transfer Savings Calculator",
  "heading": "Balance Transfer Savings Calculator",
  "category": "financial",
  "url": "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/balance-transfer-savings-calculator",
  "summary": "Net savings after the transfer fee — and what happens if you miss the window.",
  "description": "A 0% balance transfer only saves money if the interest you avoid exceeds the transfer fee, and if you clear enough of the balance before the promotional rate expires. Most people model the first half and skip the second, which is how a 'free' transfer turns into a leftover balance at a go-to rate that can be higher than the card they left. This calculator compares staying put against transferring: it charges the fee up front, applies 0% during the promo, then applies the go-to APR to whatever remains, and reports net savings plus the monthly payment you would need to finish inside the promo window.",
  "formula": "Savings = interest on the current card − (transfer fee + post-promo interest on the remaining balance).",
  "dateModified": "2026-09-06",
  "run_url": "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/api/public/calc?tool=balance-transfer-savings-calculator",
  "inputs": [
    {
      "id": "balance",
      "label": "Balance to transfer",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 7000,
      "unit": "$",
      "min": 0,
      "max": 200000
    },
    {
      "id": "currentApr",
      "label": "Current APR",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 23.9,
      "unit": "%",
      "min": 0,
      "max": 40
    },
    {
      "id": "fee",
      "label": "Transfer fee",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 3,
      "unit": "%",
      "min": 0,
      "max": 10
    },
    {
      "id": "promoMonths",
      "label": "0% promo length",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 18,
      "unit": "months",
      "min": 0,
      "max": 36
    },
    {
      "id": "goToApr",
      "label": "Go-to APR after promo",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 26.9,
      "unit": "%",
      "min": 0,
      "max": 40
    },
    {
      "id": "payment",
      "label": "Monthly payment",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 300,
      "unit": "$",
      "min": 0,
      "max": 20000
    }
  ],
  "outputs": [
    {
      "id": "savings",
      "label": "Net savings from transferring",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": true
    },
    {
      "id": "stayInterest",
      "label": "Interest if you stay put",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    },
    {
      "id": "fee",
      "label": "Transfer fee",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    },
    {
      "id": "remaining",
      "label": "Balance left when promo ends",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    },
    {
      "id": "postInterest",
      "label": "Interest after promo ends",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    },
    {
      "id": "needed",
      "label": "Payment needed to finish in promo",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    }
  ],
  "worked_example": {
    "inputs": [
      "Balance to transfer: 7000 $",
      "Current APR: 23.9 %",
      "Transfer fee: 3 %",
      "0% promo length: 18 months",
      "Go-to APR after promo: 26.9 %",
      "Monthly payment: 300 $"
    ],
    "outputs": [
      "Net savings from transferring: $2,100",
      "Interest if you stay put: $2,600",
      "Transfer fee: $210",
      "Balance left when promo ends: $1,810",
      "Interest after promo ends: $290",
      "Payment needed to finish in promo: $401"
    ]
  },
  "how_to": {
    "title": "How to use this",
    "steps": [
      "Enter balance to transfer ($).",
      "Enter current apr (%).",
      "Enter transfer fee (%).",
      "Enter 0% promo length (months).",
      "Enter go-to apr after promo (%).",
      "Enter monthly payment ($).",
      "Read your net savings from transferring on the right — it updates as you type.",
      "Hit Share to keep the scenario or send it to someone."
    ]
  },
  "scenarios": [
    {
      "name": "Conservative",
      "description": "Lower-end numbers — what if things land soft?",
      "values": {
        "balance": 4200,
        "currentApr": 14.339999999999998,
        "fee": 1.7999999999999998,
        "promoMonths": 11,
        "goToApr": 16.139999999999997,
        "payment": 175
      }
    },
    {
      "name": "Typical",
      "description": "Defaults — the most common real-world setup.",
      "values": {
        "balance": 7000,
        "currentApr": 23.9,
        "fee": 3,
        "promoMonths": 18,
        "goToApr": 26.9,
        "payment": 300
      }
    },
    {
      "name": "Ambitious",
      "description": "Higher-end numbers — what if things really pop?",
      "values": {
        "balance": 11200,
        "currentApr": 38.24,
        "fee": 4.800000000000001,
        "promoMonths": 29,
        "goToApr": 40,
        "payment": 475
      }
    }
  ],
  "limitations": [
    "Results are estimates before tax, fees, and inflation unless an input explicitly covers them.",
    "Rates are treated as fixed for the whole period — variable-rate products will drift from this projection.",
    "This is educational maths, not financial advice. Check anything contractual with the lender or your accountant."
  ],
  "faq": [
    {
      "q": "Is the transfer fee charged on day one?",
      "a": "Yes, almost always. It is added to the transferred balance immediately, which is why it is modelled up front here."
    },
    {
      "q": "Does a transfer hurt my credit score?",
      "a": "The new account adds a hard inquiry and lowers average account age, usually a small short-term effect. Lower utilization often helps more over time. Effects vary."
    },
    {
      "q": "Can I transfer again later?",
      "a": "Sometimes, but repeat transfers stack fees and issuers often decline transfers between their own cards. Plan to finish inside one window."
    },
    {
      "q": "What if I keep spending on the old card?",
      "a": "Then you have two balances. The savings shown here assume the transferred balance is paid down and the old card is not re-run."
    }
  ],
  "related": [
    "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/credit-card-payoff-time-calculator",
    "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/debt-consolidation-loan-calculator"
  ],
  "license": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "citation": "RevenueLab — Balance Transfer Savings Calculator (https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/balance-transfer-savings-calculator)"
}