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Statement Closing Date vs. Due Date

4 min read

Last Updated: October 9, 2025

Table of contents

Key Takeaways

Your statement closing date is the last day of your credit card billing cycle.
Your payment due date is the last day you may pay your bill before incurring late fees or other penalties.
If you pay your credit card bill early, you may save on interest charges and protect your credit score.

Keeping track of your credit card billing cycle may be tricky, especially if you’re new to managing credit. Two important dates to remember are your statement closing date and payment due date. Understanding the differences between these dates may help you make informed decisions about paying your credit card bill, avoiding late fees, and even saving on interest.

What is a statement closing date?

Your statement closing date is the final day of your credit card billing cycle. The length of your statement period depends on your credit card issuer, but most billing cycles are about 30 days.

Your monthly credit card statement includes all charges from the current statement period, plus any unpaid balances and interest from previous billing cycles. Transactions that occur after the closing date appear on the following credit card bill.

The credit card company generates your monthly bill, calculates your interest charges, and determines your minimum payment amount on your statement closing date. You may find your statement balance, billing period, closing date, and billing date on your monthly credit card statement.

What is a credit card due date?

Your credit card due date is when your payment must arrive to keep your account in good standing. If you pay your credit card bill by mail, send your payment at least a few days in advance so it arrives by the due date.

If you don’t make at least the monthly minimum payment by the due date, you may owe late fees.

Your credit card payment is usually due 21 to 25 days after your statement date. The due date typically falls on the same day each month. So, if you have to pay your bill by April 10, your next payment will be due on May 10, then June 10, and so on.

But what if your due date falls too far between paychecks, or right after your rent is due? Some credit card companies might let you adjust your due date to a more convenient day. You may ask for a new due date by calling your credit card issuer’s customer service number or submitting a request online.

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What is a grace period?

The grace period is the time between your statement closing date and your payment due date during which you won’t be charged interest—if you pay off your entire bill on time. Credit cards typically charge interest daily, starting at the end of the statement period. However, if you pay your bill in full during the grace period, that interest is waived.

But be warned—if you carry a balance or pay your bill late, you may lose the grace period and owe interest.

To see whether your credit card issuer offers a grace period, check your credit card agreement.

Should you pay your credit card statement balance before the due date?

As long as you pay your credit card bill by the monthly due date, you may avoid late penalties and keep your account in good standing. But paying sooner may offer advantages.

A high credit card balance may hurt your credit score by increasing your credit utilization ratio. Your credit utilization ratio is the amount of debt you have compared to the amount of available credit you have. Carrying too much debt at a time may lower your credit score.

Your card issuer typically reports your balance to credit bureaus every month. So, by paying down your debt before your card issuer reports to the credit bureaus, you may protect your credit score. The reporting date varies by card issuer, but it’s often close to the end of your billing cycle.

If you have an outstanding balance, paying your bill early may help you save on interest charges, especially if you pay more than the monthly minimum. Interest usually accrues daily, so the longer you wait to make a payment, the more interest you might accrue.

The bottom line

Late or missed payments may seriously hurt your credit score, so it’s crucial to keep track of your payment due date. Understanding your overall billing cycle, including your statement date, may help you manage your card more strategically.

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