Cash Advance Calculator: the Cost, Before You Commit

A cash advance priced in dollars: the charge, the repayment date, and the APR behind them.

A cash advance is a payday loan under another name, and it prices the same way: a flat fee per $100 borrowed, repaid once on your next payday. Feed the calculator your amount, your state’s fee, and the term, and it returns the dollar cost plus the annualized APR behind it.

The defaults show a $300 advance at a 15% fee over two weeks: a $45 charge and a $345 total. That sits mid-market, since per-$100 fees run roughly $10 to $30 by state, and thirteen states do not license the product at all.

App-based advances change the pricing model, not the economics: Chime, Cash App, Varo and similar products charge tips or subscriptions instead of per-$100 fees and cap amounts far below storefront limits. For small needs at a participating bank the app route usually costs less; our guides on Chime and Cash App cover the mechanics.

Loan amount ($100-$1,000) Fee per $100 ($10-$30) Term in days (7-31)

Finance charge

Balance on payday

Annualized APR

In California the fee is 15% of the check itself: a $300 check costs $45 and delivers $255 net. See your state page.

When the fee clears your budget, the request form returns offers in minutes, free to submit. For the slower, cheaper routes, begin with the alternatives ranking.

Common questions

Is a cash advance a different product from a payday loan?

Functionally no: a small-dollar advance repaid once on your next payday. Lenders and regulators use the labels interchangeably, and the cost structure is identical.

How does this differ from a cash advance app?

App products (Chime, Cash App, Varo and similar) price through tips and subscriptions instead of per-$100 fees, and cap amounts near $500. Our guides cover Chime cash advances and Cash App in detail.

What does a $300 cash advance cost?

At a typical 15% fee, $45, so $345 total on payday. At the highest legal fee regimes the same advance costs up to $53. The calculator turns your state's number into the exact figure.

Can a cash advance be repaid early?

Yes. Reputable lenders attach no prepayment penalty to single-cycle advances, and paying early never adds cost. Confirm the payoff figure with the lender before sending it.

Gerald Pratt, Reviewer, former credit counselor, checked every fee, cap, and formula on this page against the published state rules.

Review date: 2026-10-05