What is the difference between the daily balance method and the average daily balance method of calculating interest?
Matthew Harrington
Updated on February 12, 2026
Average daily balance method: Uses the balance on each day of the billing cycle, rather than an average balance throughout the billing cycle, to calculate finance charges. Previous balance method: Interest charges are based on the amount owed at the beginning of the previous month’s billing cycle.
How is the daily balance method different from?
How is the daily balance method different from compounding interest daily? Unlike daily compound interest, the daily balance method only applies charges at the end of the month. Ruth’s credit card has an APR of 10.91%, and it computes finance charges using the previous balance method on a 30-day billing cycle.
What is average daily balance method with a grace period?
The daily balances are summed for the billing cycle, and the total is then divided by the number of days in the billing period. The result is the “average daily balance.” New purchases increase your finance charges. And, if you carry a balance from last month, you don’t have a grace period on anything that month.
What is average daily balance bank?
Average Daily Balance is the total amount of daily balances in your account divided by the number of days in the month. To avoid incurring any service charges, a Minimum Average Daily Balance needs to be maintained in your account.
What are three dangers of using a credit card?
Perhaps you’ve heard horror stories of credit card debt and ruined credit scores.
- Getting into credit card debt.
- Missing your credit card payments.
- Carrying a balance and incurring heavy interest charges.
- Applying for too many new credit cards at once.
- Using too much of your credit limit.
When do credit card companies use average daily balance?
Many credit card companies use the Average Daily Balance Method when calculating how much interest they charge their customers during a particular billing cycle. I have created a free-to-download spreadsheet that will help you calculate –
How is the average daily balance method calculated?
What is ‘Average Daily Balance Method’. The average daily balance totals each day’s balance for the billing cycle and divides by the total number of days in the billing cycle. Then, the balance is multiplied by the monthly interest rate to assess the customer’s finance charge.
How much does average daily balance finance charge?
Based on the details listed above, your finance charge using the average daily balance method would be: If you continue making minimum payments and no additional charges on this account, you’d pay $18 in finance charges over the course of a year. Why Does the Billing Cycle Matter?
How can I check my credit card balance each day?
While your credit card statement won’t list each day’s credit card balance, you can use your statement (or your online transaction log) to figure out the balance. Start with the balance at the beginning of the billing cycle. Then, add or subtract from the balance each day you have a new transaction.