How long to pay off $5,000 in credit card debt?
Paying only the minimum (about $154 a month at 24.99%), a $5,000 credit card takes about 4.5 years and costs $3,418 in interest. Adding $300 a month cuts that to 1 year and $739 in interest.
| You pay | Per month | Debt-free | Takes | Interest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum only | $154 | Mar 2031 | 4.5 years | $3,418 |
| +$100 a month | $254 | Oct 2028 | 2 years | $1,501 |
| +$200 a month | $354 | Jan 2028 | 1.5 years | $983 |
| +$300 a month | $454 | Sep 2027 | 1 year | $739 |
| +$500 a month | $654 | May 2027 | 9 months | $504 |
At 24.99% APR, starting Sep 2026. The minimum is estimated the way most cards set it: 1% of the balance plus that month's interest. Your card's real rate and minimum are on your statement.
Why the minimum takes so long
A card minimum is mostly interest. On $5,000 at 24.99%, about $104 of the first $154 payment is interest, so only about $50 touches the balance. That's why every extra dollar matters: all of it goes to the balance.
Snowball or avalanche?
With more than one card, the snowball pays the smallest balance first for a quick win; the avalanche pays the highest rate first to save the most interest. The difference is often smaller than people expect, and a first card paid off early is what keeps people going.
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