Reference · updated June 2026
Average debt interest rates (2026)
Typical current US interest rates (APR) by type of debt. Use these if you don't know your exact rate — but your real rate depends on your credit score, loan term, and lender, so enter your own number when you have it.
| Debt type | Typical APR | Typical range |
|---|---|---|
| Credit card | 22.00% | 20–24% |
| Store / retail card | 30.00% | 28–36% |
| Auto loan | 8.00% | 5–18% |
| Personal loan | 12.50% | 6–36% |
| Student loan | 6.40% | 6–9% |
| Medical bill | 0.00% | 0–6% |
| Home equity (HELOC / loan) | 7.75% | 6.5–9.5% |
Use these rates in the debt payoff calculator →
What these rates are based on
Each figure is a current US average drawn from authoritative trackers, not a guess. Methodology varies between publishers, so treat each as an editable default rather than a precise truth:
- Credit card: Fed G.19 ~21–21.5% (Q1 2026); advertised rates run ~24%. 22% leans to what a balance-carrier pays.
- Store / retail card: Bankrate 2025 Retail Credit Card Survey: average 30.1%.
- Auto loan: Blended new (~7%) and used (~11.5%) — Edmunds/Bankrate/Experian (2026). Varies widely by credit score.
- Personal loan: Bankrate average ~12.3% (June 2026); 6% (excellent credit) to ~36% (subprime).
- Student loan: Federal undergraduate Direct loan 6.39% (2025–26). Grad/PLUS and private loans run higher.
- Medical bill: Provider bills and in-house payment plans are usually 0% (NerdWallet/CFPB). If financed on a card, use that rate.
- Home equity (HELOC / loan): Bankrate (June 2026): HELOC 7.47% (variable), home equity loan 8.13% (fixed).
Sources include the Federal Reserve G.19 Consumer Credit report, Bankrate, Edmunds and Experian, and Federal Student Aid (studentaid.gov). Rates move with Federal Reserve policy and are reviewed periodically. Last updated June 2026.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average credit card interest rate in 2026?
The average credit card APR is about 22% in 2026. The Federal Reserve's G.19 report puts the average across all accounts near 21% (and ~21.5% for accounts actually carrying a balance), while advertised rates on new cards run closer to 24%. Store and retail cards are much higher — around 30% on average.
What is the average auto loan interest rate?
Around 8% on average, blending new and used. New-car loans average roughly 7% and used-car loans roughly 11–12%, and your actual rate swings widely with your credit score (from under 5% for excellent credit to the high teens for subprime).
What is a typical personal loan APR?
About 12.5% on average, but personal loan rates range from roughly 6% for excellent credit to about 36% for subprime borrowers, so your credit profile matters a lot.
How often do these rates change?
These are averages, not your personal rate, and they move with Federal Reserve policy. We review them periodically against authoritative sources; this page was last updated in June 2026.
DebtPathway is an educational tool, not financial advice. See how the calculator works or compare the snowball vs. avalanche methods.