2026 Data
Average Credit Card Minimum Payment Percentage in 2026
The average is 2% of the statement balance with a $25 to $35 floor. The percentage has held steady. The dollar cost has not, because APRs are higher than they were five years ago.
Federal Reserve, WalletHub July 2026, public agreement language · Industry ranges only
Lead answer
The average credit card minimum payment in 2026 is approximately 2% of the statement balance, with a minimum floor of $25 to $35. Most major US bank issuers use either a flat 2% of total balance or a formula of 1% of principal plus all accrued interest and fees. At the 2026 average US credit card balance of $6,659, a 2% minimum equals approximately $133 per month.
Range
The 1% to 5% range
Major US bank issuers cluster between 1% and 3% of the statement balance. A small number of subprime and store-branded cards push as high as 4% to 5%. The interest-plus-1% method produces an effective percentage of roughly 2% to 3% depending on the APR, because the interest component scales with rate.
For methodology and worked examples of each formula, read how minimum payments are calculated.
2026 Context
Has the percentage changed?
The minimum percentage itself has been stable at around 2% for years. What has shifted is the rate environment around it. Average APRs sat near 16% in 2019. They sit near 21% to 22% today, easing from a 2024 peak after the Federal Reserve cut rates in late 2025 (Fed G.19: 20.94% across all accounts, 22.15% on accounts assessed interest). The interest portion of every minimum payment is therefore larger than it was five years ago, leaving less of each payment to chip principal. Same percentage, more pain.
For the editorial on what this means for time-to-payoff, see the minimum payment trap.
By Tier
Industry tiers, US issuers (2026)
Verify against your cardholder agreement. Specific terms (exact percentage, exact floor amount, fee handling) vary by individual card and change over time. The table below shows industry tiers from publicly available agreement language for orientation only.
| Tier | Formula type | Percentage | Floor (range) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tier A: Major bank issuers | Interest charge plus 1% of statement balance | 1% of balance | $25 to $35 |
| Tier B: Major bank issuers | Flat percentage of balance | 2% of balance | $10 to $35 |
| Tier C: Major bank issuers (with fees) | Interest plus 1% of principal plus fees | 1% of principal | $25 to $35 |
| Tier D: Subprime / store-branded cards | Flat percentage, higher band | 3% to 5% of balance | $25 to $40 |
Source: publicly available agreement language compiled April 2026. Industry ranges only. Always check your own cardholder agreement for your card's exact terms.
In Dollars
What 2% means at common balances
| Balance | 2% flat min | Interest + 1% (22% APR) |
|---|---|---|
| $1,000 | $25 | $28 |
| $2,500 | $50 | $71 |
| $5,000 | $100 | $142 |
| $7,500 | $150 | $213 |
| $10,000 | $200 | $283 |
| $15,000 | $300 | $425 |
Floor of $25 applied. Below balances of about $1,250, the floor takes over from the percentage on the 2% method.
Questions