💳 Credit · FCA data

Cards, loans & the real cost of debt

The advertised APR range across the market is enormous. Here's the actual spread — and a calculator that shows what your balance truly costs.

Credit cards
Average APR
18.5%
Market range
6.9–29.9%
Providers
87
Median limit
£2,000
Personal loans
Average APR
9.8%
Market range
2.9–49.9%
Providers
45
Median loan
£5,000

Debt payoff calculator

How long to clear a card balance, and what the interest really costs.

to clear the balance
Total interest
Total repaid

Before you borrow

Three checks that save real money.

1. Use eligibility checkers first. Soft-search tools on comparison sites show your odds without marking your credit file.
2. "Representative APR" only has to go to 51% of accepted applicants. Your offer can legally be far higher.
3. 0% transfer deals beat minimum payments. At an average 18.5% APR, minimum payments mostly service interest.

Ready to switch? Compare live credit deals

We show the official numbers; these sites run live quotes across dozens of providers.

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