Best fit
This calculator is most useful when
- +Card-heavy borrowers trying to see whether one installment loan lowers payment and total interest
- +Applicants comparing the new loan against a long minimum-payment path on revolving debt
Debt Consolidation Calculator
Updated August 14, 2026
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By Credit N Lending Editorial Team
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Reviewed by Credit N Lending Policy Review Team
Add each credit card balance and APR, then set a target consolidation loan APR and term to see how much monthly payment and total interest you could save.
Debt Consolidation Calculator
See what one loan saves vs. your cards
Enter your card balances and APRs, then compare paying minimums forever to consolidating into one fixed-rate loan.
12.99%
48 months
For example only. Card payoff time estimates assume you pay only the typical monthly minimum and never charge again. Your consolidation loan APR and term will depend on your credit profile and are set by our lending partners.
Decision Guide
What this calculator helps you decide
Model the payment first, then use these checkpoints to decide whether this product structure still fits the situation.
- Best for
- Card payoff math
- Hidden variable
- Origination fee + term
- What to compare next
- Balance transfer alternative
- Use another tool when
- Single new expense, not old debt
This tool is strongest when you want to compare revolving minimums against one fixed consolidation payment.
A lower monthly payment can still be the worse deal if fees or a long term erase the interest savings.
The next decision is usually whether a promo card beats the installment loan for your payoff window.
If there are no existing card balances to replace, the personal-loan calculator is usually the cleaner fit.
Consider instead
You may need a different comparison if
- !Use the personal-loan calculator when there are no current card balances to compare
- !Use the comparison guides when the real choice is consolidation loan versus 0% transfer card
How the savings estimate works
The current path assumes you pay only the typical monthly minimum on each card and never charge again. The consolidation path assumes you pay off every card in full on day one using a fixed-rate personal loan.
The gap between the two is the structural cost of revolving vs. installment debt.
The break-even test
Add any origination fee to the loan total interest cost, then compare that combined figure to the total interest you would pay under your current minimum-payment path.
If the new loan fee-plus-interest total is lower, consolidation saves money.
Debt Consolidation Calculator FAQ
- How much can debt consolidation actually save me?
- The saving is the gap between the interest you would pay making minimum payments on cards at 22% to 29% APR and the interest on one fixed-rate loan at your quoted APR.
- Does debt consolidation hurt my credit score?
- Usually it helps within a few months. Paying off cards drops your utilization sharply, though there may be a small temporary dip from the new account.
- Is a consolidation loan better than a balance transfer card?
- A 0% balance transfer card wins if you can clear the full balance inside the promotional window. If you cannot, a fixed-rate consolidation loan is often safer.
Next Step
Turn the estimate into a live borrowing plan
Once the payment fits, move into rates, product guides, or the soft-pull application flow that matches this calculation.
Ready to replace the estimate with a real rate?
Checking your rate takes about 60 seconds and uses a soft credit pull only.
Credit N Lending is an online lending marketplace, not a lender.