Credit card fees are nearly unavoidable – every card has some. A better understanding of these fees, however, can help you select the right credit card for your needs and save money.

The 2019 U.S. News Consumer Credit Card Fee Study analyzed the fees of hundreds of credit cards active in the U.S. News card database, identifying average annual percentage rates, annual fees, and late and transaction fees.

Study highlights:

• Nearly 70 percent of credit cards don’t charge an annual fee.
• Of the cards that charge an annual fee, the average fee is almost $110.
• The average APR is between about 17 and 24 percent.
• The average maximum late fee is about $36.
• Ninety-six percent of cards charge a balance transfer fee of usually 3 to 5 percent, and the minimum fee ranges from $5 to $10.
• Almost 40 percent of cards waive foreign transaction fees.