Debt payoff & credit calculators
Every tool here answers one question with a date and a dollar figure: when does this debt end, and what does the choice in front of me change? The tables publish the APRs and the decision thresholds the calculators use, so you can check the math instead of trusting it.
Calculators in this cluster
Months to zero, total interest, and what one extra payment changes.
Run itSee the real interest and time gap between the two payoff orders.
Run itNet savings after the transfer fee — and what happens if you miss the window.
Run itCompare one fixed loan against the cards you're carrying now.
Run itOverall and per-card utilization, plus the paydown to hit your target.
Run itModel the score impact of paydown, time, and clean payment history.
Run itFront-end and back-end DTI, plus the payment room left for a mortgage.
Run itBuild a realistic lump-sum or payment-plan offer on a collection account.
Run itEstimate the maximum withholding from a paycheck under federal limits.
Run itInterest saved, payment change, and the federal protections you give up.
Run itCompare a hospital plan, a prompt-pay discount, and paying by card.
Run itSplit spare cash between savings and debt without guessing.
Run itWhat you actually keep after settlement fees, taxes, and credit damage.
Run itCitable reference tables
These are the exact numbers the calculators above default to. Updated 2026-09-04. Free to quote, republish, or feed to an AI assistant under CC BY 4.0 with attribution to RevenueLab.fyi.
Typical US APR by credit tier, 2026
Rates offered to a borrower with clean recent history at each score band. Your offer moves with income and term too.
| Tier | Score range | Credit card | Personal loan | Used auto | 30-yr mortgage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deep subprime | 300–579 | 30.9% | 32% | 21.5% | 9.4% |
| Subprime | 580–619 | 29.4% | 26.5% | 18.6% | 8.3% |
| Near prime | 620–659 | 27.8% | 21% | 14.2% | 7.5% |
| Prime | 660–719 | 24.2% | 15.5% | 10.4% | 6.9% |
| Super prime | 720–779 | 20.4% | 11.8% | 8.1% | 6.5% |
| Exceptional | 780–850 | 18.2% | 9.4% | 6.9% | 6.2% |
Worked example: moving from near prime to super prime on a $28,000 used-car loan over 60 months saves roughly $50 a month, about $3,000 over the term.
Decision thresholds behind the tools
The cut-points each calculator scores your situation against.
| Rule | Threshold | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Credit utilization | Under 30% overall, under 10% for top scores | Utilization is ~30% of a FICO score and resets every statement cycle. |
| Debt-to-income for a mortgage | 36% conventional, 43% typical cap, 50% with compensating factors | Above 43% most automated underwriting systems stop approving. |
| Balance transfer breakeven | Worth it if interest saved > 3–5% transfer fee | A 0% window only pays if the balance clears before the promo ends. |
| Consolidation loan test | New APR at least 5 points under the blended current APR | A longer term at a small rate cut raises total interest paid. |
| Collections settlement range | 40–60% of balance on charged-off debt | Agencies buy paper for pennies; the first offer is never their floor. |
| Wage garnishment cap | 25% of disposable pay, or pay above 30× federal minimum wage | Federal CCPA limit; several states cap lower. |
| Emergency fund vs extra payoff | One month of expenses first, then attack debt above ~8% APR | Without a buffer, the next surprise goes straight back on the card. |
| Avalanche vs snowball | Avalanche saves money; snowball wins if a quick payoff keeps you going | The gap is usually a few hundred dollars — completion rate matters more. |
Cite this data
Machine-readable version, same numbers, no key required:
https://www.revenuelab.fyi/api/public/debt-credit-benchmarks.jsonSuggested citation:
RevenueLab — US debt and credit benchmarks 2026 (https://www.revenuelab.fyi/debt-payoff-calculators), updated 2026-09-04.Licensed CC BY 4.0 with attribution to RevenueLab.fyi. Planning estimates for budgeting and quote-checking — not quotes, legal advice, or lending offers.
Questions people ask
How long will it take to pay off my credit card?
At a minimum payment of 2% of the balance and a 24% APR, a $6,000 balance takes over 20 years and costs more in interest than the original balance. Any fixed payment above the minimum collapses that dramatically — the payoff calculator shows the exact month and the total interest for the payment you pick.
Avalanche or snowball?
Avalanche — highest APR first — always costs less in interest, usually by a few hundred dollars on typical balances. Snowball clears the smallest balance first and wins when the visible progress is what keeps you paying. Run both; if the gap is small, pick the one you'll finish.
Is a balance transfer worth the fee?
Only if the interest you avoid during the promotional window exceeds the 3–5% transfer fee, and only if the balance actually clears before the window ends. A balance left over when the promo expires reprices at the standard APR, usually higher than the card you left.
What credit score do I need for a good rate?
The table below shows where rates break. The largest single jump is crossing into prime at 660, and the second largest is 720. Between 780 and 850 the pricing barely improves — chasing the last 40 points rarely pays.
Can a collector really garnish my wages?
Only with a court judgment, and federal law caps it at 25% of disposable pay or the amount above 30× the federal minimum wage, whichever is less. Several states cap lower and a few effectively prohibit garnishment for consumer debt.
Should I settle a charged-off debt?
Charged-off accounts commonly settle for 40–60% of the balance because agencies bought the paper for a fraction of face value. Get any agreement in writing before paying, and remember forgiven debt over $600 can arrive as a 1099-C.