Read the consolidation guide → · Guía en español →
How the estimate works
For each card, monthly interest is estimated as the remaining balance × APR ÷ 12. Interest and payments are rounded to cents each month. The selected fixed payment continues until payoff, with a smaller final payment if needed. Payments freed by a paid-off card are not moved to another card in this baseline. An avalanche strategy that reallocates them may cost less.
Loan payment = principal × monthly interest rate ÷ [1 − (1 + monthly interest rate)−term]. At 0% interest, payment is principal ÷ term. For a fee deducted from proceeds, estimated principal = card balances ÷ (1 − fee percentage). We round the monthly loan payment up to cents; the final payment may differ.
Total repayment includes principal, interest and the entered origination fee. Estimated savings = current-card total repayment − loan total repayment. A negative result means consolidation costs more in this model. A second loan scenario keeps your current combined payment, assumes no prepayment penalty and shows the effect of paying extra.
What could change the result?
Actual cards often accrue interest daily and may have several APRs, promotional periods and different payment-allocation rules. This model assumes fixed rates, one APR per card, end-of-month payments, no new spending and no missed payments. It excludes future card fees, other loan charges and prepayment penalties. Add those to your decision and compare actual lender disclosures. Results are estimates, not approval, a quote or guaranteed savings.
If a payment does not cover estimated interest, or payoff exceeds 50 years, we do not show a misleading finite savings amount. Lowering interest helps only if the loan’s complete terms and your repayment behavior make sense.
Compare alternatives before borrowing
You can keep paying the cards, increase payments toward the highest APR, ask your issuer about a hardship plan, investigate nonprofit credit counseling, or compare a balance-transfer offer including its fee, promotion end date and post-promotion rate. This first calculator models a fixed-rate consolidation loan, not a balance transfer.
Debt consolidation repays existing debts with a new loan. Debt settlement is a different service; do not treat a settlement advertisement as a consolidation-loan quote.
About links and your information
There are no lender applications or paid loan referrals in this tool. We do not collect account numbers, income, Social Security numbers or credit reports. Calculator-use counts may be recorded under our privacy policy; the numbers you enter stay in your browser memory. An exported file contains your inputs and estimated schedule—keep it private.
Sources and review
Method and educational sources reviewed September 9, 2026. CFPB: consolidation and alternatives · CFPB: installment-loan fees · CFPB: interest rate versus APR.
Considering a new card? Understand the costs before chasing its bonus →