Debt calculator
Calculations run in your browser
List your debts, add what you can pay each month, and compare paying the highest interest rate first (avalanche) with paying the smallest balance first (snowball).
– to debt-free
– total interest
– to debt-free
– total interest
Debt payoff guide
Both methods pay every minimum and send all extra money to one target debt. Avalanche targets the highest interest rate, which usually minimizes total interest. Snowball targets the smallest balance, which clears individual debts sooner and can help motivation. This calculator runs both plans month by month with the same budget so you can see the real difference for your debts.
Educational estimate only. Assumes fixed APRs, no new charges, and payments made monthly.
Promotional or variable APRs, new purchases, late fees, balance-transfer fees, and minimum payments that change as balances fall are not modeled. Card issuers usually lower minimums as balances drop; this calculator keeps each minimum fixed, which is closer to a steady payoff plan.
Avalanche usually costs less interest because it attacks the most expensive debt first. Snowball can cost more but pays off individual debts sooner, which some people find easier to stick with. If the gap shown here is small, pick the method you are most likely to follow.
Its minimum payment is added to the extra payment and sent to the next target debt. This rollover is what makes both methods speed up over time.
If minimum payments plus the extra amount are not enough to outpace interest, the balance may never reach zero. The calculator flags this so you can raise the payment or look at lowering the interest rate.
It depends on the interest rate, expected returns, and your safety cushion. The Pay Debt vs. Invest calculator compares those paths directly.
Related: Pay Debt vs. Invest calculator, debt avalanche vs. snowball guide, and CFPB on credit card APR.
