How a credit card billing cycle works
Every credit card has a fixed billing cycle — usually 28 to 31 days — between two statement dates. All purchases in that window appear on one statement, which lists the total due and a minimum amount due. Your payment due date comes 18–21 days after the statement date. If you pay the full statement balance by the due date, you pay zero interest — that's the interest-free period. Pay only the minimum, and interest starts accruing on the unpaid amount from the transaction date itself.
Example: statement date 5 September, due date 25 September, next statement 5 October. A purchase on 6 September appears on the 5 October statement and is due 25 October — that's about 50 days interest-free. A purchase on 4 September is due on 25 September — only about 21 days.
Why your due date matters
- Full payment before due date = no interest, no fees, and a healthy credit score.
- Minimum payment only = interest at 3.5–4% per month (42–48% annualized) on the unpaid amount, plus your grace period is usually lost.
- Missed payment = late fee + interest + a CIBIL hit that can stay on your report for years.
- Set up autopay for at least the minimum — one missed date can undo months of good credit history.
Frequently Asked Questions
A: The fixed period (usually 28–31 days) between two statement dates. Every transaction in that period appears on that statement, and you must pay it by the due date that follows.
A: About 18–21 days later — typically the 23rd–26th of the month, depending on your bank. Your exact due date is printed on every statement.
A: Many banks (HDFC, ICICI, Axis, Kotak and others) allow you to request a different statement date once in a while — via the app, net banking or customer care. See our bank-wise billing cycle guide.
A: You pay a late fee (typically ₹100–₹1,300 depending on outstanding), lose the interest-free period, and the missed payment is reported to credit bureaus, which lowers your CIBIL score.
A>Usually 5% of the outstanding or ₹200, whichever is higher. Paying it keeps the account 'not delinquent' but interest keeps building on the rest.
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