Debt payoff calculator: snowball vs avalanche
List your debts, add anything extra you can pay each month, and compare the two most popular payoff methods side by side: when you would be debt-free, how much interest you would pay, and in what order each debt disappears.
Your debts
Snowball or avalanche?
Both methods pay the minimum on every debt each month and put everything extra towards one target debt. When that debt is gone, its payment rolls over to the next one. They differ only in the order:
- Debt snowball: smallest balance first. You clear whole debts sooner, which many people find motivating.
- Debt avalanche: highest interest rate first. Mathematically this costs the least interest, often noticeably less when one debt has a much higher rate.
The best method is the one you will keep following. If the difference in interest is small, the quick wins of the snowball may be worth it.
How this calculator works
Each month, interest is added to every balance (APR ÷ 12), every debt gets its minimum payment, and the rest of your monthly total goes to the target debt. Your monthly total stays the same until everything is paid off. Real lenders may calculate interest daily and change minimum payments as balances fall, so treat the results as estimates.
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Start a free trial See what each plan includesThis calculator gives an estimate for planning. It is not financial advice.