Debt Payoff Calculator
Compare the debt snowball and avalanche methods to see which pays off your debts faster and cheaper.
Debt-free in
—
Total interest paid
—
Total interest paid: avalanche vs. snowball
Payoff order (avalanche)
| Order | Debt | Paid off | Interest paid on this debt |
|---|
Avalanche vs. snowball
Both methods have you pay the minimum on every debt, then throw any extra budget at one target debt at a time — the difference is which debt you target first. The avalanche method targets the highest interest rate first, which minimizes the total interest you pay and is mathematically optimal. The snowball method targets the smallest balance first, which pays off individual debts faster and can build momentum — often worth the (usually small) extra interest cost if it's what keeps you motivated to stick with it.
Add each debt with its balance, interest rate, and minimum payment, set how much extra you can put toward debt each month, and this calculator simulates both strategies month by month — including rolling each paid-off debt's minimum payment into the next target, which is what makes both methods accelerate over time.
A note on the numbers
This assumes you stop adding new charges to any debt you're paying down and that your minimum payments and extra budget stay consistent every month. Real-world payoff can vary if rates change, minimums change as balances drop, or your budget shifts.