With many important dates associated with a credit card account, it's easy to wonder if some are more impactful than others. We're going to explain what makes each date distinct, which is important to understand as you manage your credit card.
Your credit card's closing date is the final day of your billing cycle. That makes it the last day that new charges can post and appear on the billing statement that follows the closing date. This should be the same day of each month, even if it falls on a weekend, federal holiday or bank holiday.
What is the difference between a closing date and a due date?
The closing date is the last day in a billing cycle, and the due date is when a payment is due on your credit card, usually about one month after the closing date. As an example, if your closing date is June 5, 2025, your credit card statement may arrive on June 8, 2025. The statement could show a payment due date of July 2, 2025.
Statement closing date
The “statement" closing date is sometimes used to describe the closing date of your billing cycle. The term may be different, but the concept is the same. This is the final day of a billing cycle—the last date that charges can post and be counted in your statement balance calculation.
Payment due date
The payment due date shown on your billing statement is the day that a payment is due. It usually falls on the same day each month, and a minimum amount will be due.
The due date is a firm deadline, and there is often a specific time of day when your card issuer must receive your payment. The exact time can vary depending on your card's terms but should be in your cardmember agreement.
Normally, the time your payment is due uses the time zone where the card issuer processes the payment. That could differ from the time zone you're in. Your card issuer might also set different deadlines for online payments and mailed payments.
Usually, payments received after the due date will be credited on the next business day. That could be considered a late payment, which can result in fees and affect your credit score. With automatic payments, you can choose the day of the month you want your payment to be withdrawn from an eligible account. Automatic payments could also help your credit score.
What happens if I use my credit card on the closing date?
Transactions that post to your credit card on your closing date may be included in your balance calculation. Yet, a transaction that is still pending at the end of your closing date will probably not be included. In general, transactions take one business day to complete.
Let's say you buy a shirt on your credit card's closing date, and the transaction completes the next day. In this case, your statement balance of that cycle likely will not include the transaction.
Should I pay off my credit card before the closing date?
Paying your credit card balance before the closing date can affect your statement balance and credit reporting. That's true whether you pay part of the balance or all of it. In this way, paying your credit card before or on the closing date is like making a purchase around the same time. If transactions complete by the end of the closing date, they are factored into your statement balance calculation.
Your statement balance can affect your credit utilization ratio, as your credit is considered utilized when a credit card has a high balance. That negatively affects your credit score. A way you can avoid this is to pay your balance, in part or in full, before or on the closing date. That decreases the unpaid balance used to calculate your statement balance.
How do I know my credit card closing date?
Your card's next closing date should be easy to view when accessing your account online or in your bank's mobile app. Look for the label "Statement Closing Date" or "Next Closing Date," followed by the date.
For instance, if you view your account on June 15, 2025, your next closing date will appear as an exact date, such as July 5, 2025. The next closing date will usually also appear on print and digital copies of your monthly billing statement.
The closing date usually falls on the same day of each month, which can make it easy to remember and plan for.
When is the best time to pay your credit card?
Generally, the best time for you to make a payment on your credit card is by the due date. You may be able to make other payments, but this depends on your budget, situation and goals.
A minimum payment will be due each billing cycle, and you could choose to make that payment or pay more before or on the due date. Meeting the due date helps you maintain positive payment history, which could also improve your credit score.
Besides the minimum amount due each month, you can choose several times to make payments toward your credit card balance. Automatic payments can help make sure your account is paid on time each month. Beyond that, consider the advantages of the timing in relation to your budget as you decide when to pay your credit card.
