Debt payoff calculator
Snowball or avalanche? Enter your debts and what you can pay each month. See your debt-free date, the payoff order, and what each method costs.
Your debts
minimums $685/mo| Method | Debt-free in | Interest |
|---|---|---|
| Avalanche highest rate first | 2 yr 4 mo | $3,565 |
| Snowball smallest balance first | 2 yr 4 mo | $3,867 |
| Minimums only no extra, no roll-over | 4 yr 11 mo | $7,287 |
Avalanche saves $302 over snowball on these debts.
Avalanche order
- Store card
- Visa
- Personal loan
- Car loan
Snowball order
- Store card
- Personal loan
- Visa
- Car loan
Watch the two plans race
month 0Bars show total balance left. Avalanche shrinks the costliest debt first, so less interest is added each month; snowball clears whole accounts sooner.
Ask about these numbers
An AI analyst reads your inputs and results above and explains them. The calculator works without it.
How the two methods work
Both methods pay every minimum, put all spare money on one target debt, and roll a paid-off debt's payment into the next target. That roll-over is what makes them powerful. The only difference is the order: avalanche targets the highest rate, snowball the smallest balance.
Maths favours avalanche, because interest is charged as rate × balance and the highest rate costs most per dollar. Psychology often favours snowball: seeing an account hit zero in the first few months keeps people on the plan. Pick the one you'll actually stick to; the difference above tells you what that choice costs.
If your rates are high across the board, a consolidation loan or balance transfer can lower the rate first, then you pay it down the same way.