Credit Card Interest Equation:
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Credit card interest is calculated on unpaid balances using a daily periodic rate derived from the annual percentage rate (APR). This calculator helps estimate the interest that will accrue on an unpaid credit card balance over a specific period.
The calculator uses the credit card interest equation:
Where:
Explanation: The equation calculates daily interest by dividing the annual rate by 365 days, then multiplies by the number of days the balance remains unpaid.
Details: Understanding how credit card interest accrues is crucial for financial planning, debt management, and making informed decisions about credit card usage and payments.
Tips: Enter the unpaid balance in dollars, the annual interest rate as a decimal (e.g., 0.18 for 18%), and the number of days the balance remains unpaid. All values must be positive numbers.
Q1: How is the daily interest rate calculated?
A: The daily rate is calculated by dividing the annual percentage rate (APR) by 365 days in a year.
Q2: Does this calculation account for compound interest?
A: This is a simple interest calculation. Actual credit card interest may compound daily, which would result in slightly higher interest charges.
Q3: What if my credit card has a grace period?
A: This calculator assumes interest is accruing. If you pay your balance in full during the grace period, no interest would be charged.
Q4: Are there any fees included in this calculation?
A: This calculation only estimates interest charges. It does not include any potential late fees, annual fees, or other credit card charges.
Q5: How accurate is this calculator?
A: This provides a good estimate, but actual interest charges may vary slightly based on the card issuer's specific calculation methods and compounding frequency.