Debt Snowball vs Avalanche Calculator

Anyone juggling multiple debts — credit cards, car loans, student loans — who wants to pay them off in the smartest order. The two most popular methods, snowball and avalanche, can differ by thousands of dollars and several months.

The avalanche method targets your highest-interest debt first, which mathematically minimizes the total interest you pay and usually clears everything soonest.

The snowball method targets your smallest balance first. It may cost a little more interest, but knocking out a whole debt quickly creates momentum and motivation — which, for many people, is what actually keeps them going.

Add each debt's balance, interest rate, and minimum payment, plus any extra you can put toward debt each month. The calculator simulates month by month: it pays every minimum, then throws all remaining money at the target debt. When a debt is cleared, its payment rolls into the next one — the 'snowball' effect — so your total monthly outlay stays constant until you're debt-free.

This assumes fixed interest rates and consistent payments, and doesn't model new charges, fees, or promotional 0% periods. Use it to choose a strategy and see the rough finish line, then adjust as your situation changes.