Is APR of 24% high?

Asked by: Roderick Sawayn DDS  |  Last update: February 4, 2026
Score: 4.6/5 (8 votes)

Generally, an APR below 21% is relatively low. Anything over 24% is more expensive. If you pay off your credit card balance in full every month, the APR won't be as important as you won't be paying interest. But if you forget and the APR is high, the interest charges will quickly rack up.

Is a 24 APR good or bad?

Yes, a 24% APR (Annual Percentage Rate) on purchases is considered high for a credit card. As of my last knowledge update in August 2023, average credit card interest rates typically ranged from about 15% to 20%, depending on the individual's creditworthiness and the specific card.

What does 24% APR on a credit card mean?

APR stands for Annual Percentage Rate. APR gives you an estimate of how much your credit card borrowing will cost over a year – as a percentage of the money borrowed. The higher it is, the more expensive it'll be for you to borrow. The lower it is, the cheaper it'll be for you to borrow.

Is 24 APR high for a personal loan?

A 24.99% APR is a decent personal loan rate for people with fair credit. Applicants with a credit score of 580+ could qualify for a personal loan with a 24.99% APR if they choose the right lender and have enough income to afford the loan.

Is 24.99 APR good for a credit card?

Yes, a 24.99% interest rate for a credit card is considered high. Most credit card interest rates typically range from about 15% to 25%, depending on factors like the cardholder's creditworthiness and the type of card.

Car Loans - What's the difference between an Interest Rate & APR?

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Why is my APR so high with good credit?

Even people with good credit scores make mistakes, and a bank may charge a penalty APR on your credit card without placing a negative mark on your credit report. Penalty APRs typically increase credit card interest rates significantly due to a late, returned or missed payment.

Is APR charged monthly?

Your credit card's APR is the interest rate you are charged on any unpaid credit card balances you have every month. Your monthly statement may break down your credit card APR yearly, but you can break it down to a monthly APR yourself.

Is 24% a lot of APR?

A high APR for a credit card is one that's above the national average. Currently, the average APR is around 25%, so an APR that exceeds that is considered high.

How much is 26.99 APR on $3000?

How much is 26.99 APR on $3,000? An APR of 26.99% on a $3,000 balance would cost $67.26 in monthly interest charges.

Does APR matter if I pay on time?

Your credit card's APR will not impact you if you pay your credit card balance in full and never pay interest. However, other costs associated with credit cards, such as annual fees, should still be taken into account.

Why is my APR 24?

Some credit cards offer 0% APR on purchases and balance transfers for a number of months, which means you won't pay any interest at all during that time. However, if you haven't paid off your credit card balance before the 0% deal ends, the APR will usually jump to around 21% to 24%.

What is 24 APR monthly?

A credit account's APR shows how much you have to pay to borrow money. If you have a credit card with a 24% APR, that's the rate you're charged over 12 months, which comes out to 2% per month. Since months vary in length, credit cards break down APR even further into a daily periodic rate (DPR).

What is a good APR rate?

According to a Federal Reserve report (PDF) , the average credit card Annual Percentage Rate (APR) was 14.75 percent in February 2021. Generally speaking, any interest rate below that figure would be considered “good."

Is 24% interest rate high?

A 24% APR on a credit card is higher than the average interest rate for new credit card offers. A 24% APR means that the credit card's balance will increase by approximately 24% over the course of a year if the cardholder carries a balance the whole time.

What is a good credit score?

There are some differences around how the various data elements on a credit report factor into the score calculations. Although credit scoring models vary, generally, credit scores from 660 to 724 are considered good; 725 to 759 are considered very good; and 760 and up are considered excellent.

Can your APR go down?

Key takeaways

Annual percentage rate (APR) refers to the yearly interest rate you'll pay if you carry a balance on your credit card. Some credit cards have variable APRs, meaning your rate can go up or down over time.

How do I lower my credit card interest rate?

How to score a lower interest rate on a credit card
  1. Improve your credit score. An improvement in your credit score is critical if you want to start reducing the APR you're being offered by lenders on credit card applications. ...
  2. Consider a balance transfer. ...
  3. Pay off your balance. ...
  4. Learn your credit issuer's policy.

Does Affirm build credit?

When you borrow with Affirm, your positive payment history and credit use may be reported to the credit bureaus. This can help you build credit with the credit bureaus as long as you make all of your payments on time and do not max out your credit.

How do I avoid APR charges?

How can I avoid paying interest on my credit card?
  1. Pay your full statement balance each month. ...
  2. Leverage 0% APR balance transfer offers. ...
  3. Take advantage of 0% APR introductory rates. ...
  4. Research your debt relief options.

How much will it cost in fees to transfer a $1000 balance to this card?

Balance transfer fee. This fee will typically be 3% to 5% of the amount transferred, which translates to $30 to $50 per $1,000 transferred. The lower the fee, the better, but even with a fee on the high end, your interest savings might easily make up for the cost.

Do you pay APR if you pay in full?

Your credit card's annual percentage rate (APR) is your credit card's interest rate. If you carry a balance on your credit card, you'll need to pay interest until it's paid off in full. If you pay off your monthly statement balance in full and on time, you likely won't need to pay interest on purchases.

How high is too high for an APR?

Key takeaways

A good credit card APR is a rate that's at or below the national average, which currently sits above 20 percent. While there are credit cards with APRs below 10 percent, they are most often found at credit unions or small local banks.

What percent APR is bad?

Avoid loans with APRs higher than 10% (if possible)

"That is, effectively, borrowing money at a lower rate than you're able to make on that money."

What is a good APR rate for bad credit?

A bad or low credit score will keep you from getting the lowest APR (annual percentage rate) and limit your loan amount and repayment term choices. Bad credit loan APRs currently range between 17.80 percent and 35.99 percent.