💰 SmartMoneyCalcs

Loan Payoff Calculator 💳

See your debt-free date.

Your loan

How to use this calculator

1

Enter your current loan balance.

2

Add the loan's annual percentage rate (APR).

3

Enter the monthly payment you're making (or plan to make).

4

See how many months until you're debt-free, plus total interest.

5

Bump the payment up to see how fast the timeline shrinks.

Calculation method

Months until payoff = log(M ÷ (M − r·B)) ÷ log(1 + r), where B is the current balance, M is the monthly payment, and r is the monthly interest rate (APR ÷ 12). If r = 0, simply B ÷ M. Total interest is monthly payment × months − balance.

Data source: Standard amortization formula.

Last data update: May 24, 2026

Worked examples

Credit card minimum trap

$8,000 · 18% · $200/mo

57 months, ~$3,367 interest

Paying just the minimum keeps you stuck for years.

Same balance, +$50/mo

$8,000 · 18% · $250/mo

41 mo, ~$2,277 interest

Add $50 and save $1,090 in interest.

Auto loan

$15,000 · 7% · $350/mo

49 months, ~$2,000 interest

Frequently asked questions

When your monthly payment is less than the interest accruing each month, the balance grows instead of shrinking. The calculator flags this and shows the minimum.

Avalanche (highest APR first) saves the most money. Snowball (smallest balance first) gives quicker wins and helps motivation. Both work; the best one is the one you stick with.

Generally: pay anything above ~6–8% APR first, get any 401(k) employer match, then invest. Below ~5% it usually makes sense to invest in parallel.

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Personal finance disclaimer. Personal finance calculations are educational tools. Actual financial outcomes depend on many factors. SmartMoneyCalcs is not a financial advisor — consult with a Certified Financial Planner for personalized advice.
Last updated: May 24, 2026