Credit Card Cash Advance Calculator
See the full cost of a credit card cash advance: the fee, interest that starts the same day, and what it works out to per year.
Updated · Published · Built by Ali Ahmad, Founder
Calculation method: This calculator applies simple daily interest (cash advance APR ÷ 365) from the day you take the cash, with no grace period and no compounding. Issuers' exact methods vary (daily compounding, how the fee is billed, payment allocation), so your actual statement may differ. See our methodology.
Cash Advance Calculator
A credit card cash advance usually costs a fee of 3–5% of the amount (often with a $10 minimum) plus interest at the cash advance APR from the same day, with no grace period. For example, a $500 cash advance with a 5% fee at 29.99% APR, repaid after 30 days, costs about $40.94 including a $3 ATM fee — roughly 100% a year.
A cash advance looks like a simple withdrawal, but it is one of the most expensive ways to use a credit card. This calculator adds up the fee, the interest, and any ATM fee so you can see the real cost before you take the cash.
How the Calculator Works
Enter the amount, your card's cash advance APR, the fee terms, how many days you expect to keep the money, and any ATM fee. The calculator then:
- Works out the fee as the fee percentage of the amount, or the minimum fee if that is higher.
- Adds the fee to the balance, since issuers usually add it to what you owe.
- Charges daily interest on that balance at the cash advance APR ÷ 365 for every day until you repay it.
- Adds the ATM operator fee, if any, and shows the total and the annualized cost.
Formula
Interest = (Amount + Fee) × (Cash Advance APR ÷ 365) × Days
Total Cost = Fee + Interest + ATM Fee
Annualized Cost = (Total Cost ÷ Amount) × (365 ÷ Days)
This is a simplified estimate using simple daily interest with no compounding, not an issuer-specific statement calculation.
Example: $500 cash advance, repaid after 30 days
The card charges a 5% fee with a $10 minimum and a 29.99% cash advance APR, and the ATM charges $3. The fee is $25 (5% of $500 is more than $10), so the balance becomes $525, which builds about $0.43 of interest a day.
| Repaid after | Fee | Interest | ATM fee | Total cost | Annualized |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 days | $25.00 | $12.94 | $3.00 | $40.94 | 99.6% |
| 90 days | $25.00 | $38.82 | $3.00 | $66.82 | 54.2% |
Repaying faster cuts the interest, but the $25 fee is charged either way. That is why a small, short cash advance has the highest annualized cost: $100 for 30 days with a $10 minimum fee costs about $15.71, or about 191% a year.
When the Result May Differ
Treat the results as a planning estimate. Your real numbers can differ because of:
- Compounding and billing cycles: issuers may compound interest daily and add it to your balance each cycle, which raises the cost slightly on longer advances.
- Interest on the fee: most cards add the fee to the cash advance balance, as this calculator does; some may treat it differently.
- Payment allocation: if you also carry purchases, your minimum payment may go to the lower-APR balance first, which can keep the cash advance accruing longer.
- Cash-like transactions: convenience checks, money transfers, and some gift card or cryptocurrency purchases can be treated as cash advances.
- Cash advance limits: many cards set a separate, lower limit for cash advances.
Your statement and cardholder agreement are the final word. See our methodology for how every calculator on this site works.
Cheaper Ways to Get Cash
Before taking a cash advance, compare it with a debit card withdrawal from your own account, a small personal loan or credit union loan, or simply using the card for the purchase itself so it gets a grace period. To see how a card's APR adds up on a balance you carry, use the Credit Card APR Calculator or the Daily Periodic Rate Calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a credit card cash advance cost?
Usually a fee of about 3-5% of the amount (often with a $10 minimum), plus interest at the cash advance APR from the day you take the money, plus any ATM operator fee. In this calculator's example, $500 repaid after 30 days costs about $40.94 in total.
Is there a grace period on a cash advance?
Generally no. According to the CFPB, interest on a cash advance usually starts as soon as you take the money out, unlike purchases, which often have a grace period if you pay your statement balance in full.
Why is the annualized cost so much higher than the APR?
Because the one-time fee is charged up front. A 5% fee on money you repay in 30 days works out to roughly 60% a year on its own, before any interest. The shorter the time you keep the cash, the higher the annualized cost of the fee.
Does paying it back quickly help?
Yes, but only for the interest. Interest stops growing once the cash advance is repaid, but the fee is already charged and doesn't shrink.
How are payments applied if I also have purchases on the card?
In the U.S., the amount you pay above the minimum generally must go to the balance with the highest APR first, which is often the cash advance. The minimum payment itself can be applied as the issuer chooses.
Do convenience checks and cash-like purchases count as cash advances?
Often yes. Convenience checks, some money transfers, and buying gift cards or cryptocurrency can be treated as cash advances, with the same fee and APR. Check your cardholder agreement.
This calculator provides estimates for educational purposes only and is not financial, tax, or legal advice. Most results use a simplified monthly-interest model (APR ÷ 12); your card issuer may use a daily periodic rate and average daily balance, plus its own fees and grace period rules, so your actual figures may differ — always confirm against your official statement.
Sources
- Can I withdraw money from my credit card at an ATM? — Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Checked September 25, 2026.
- Regulation Z § 1026.53 – payments above the minimum go to the highest-APR balance first — Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Checked September 25, 2026.