Debt payoff calculator: snowball or avalanche

Enter your debts and how much extra you can pay each month, and see how long it takes to be debt-free, what it costs in interest and which method saves more.

Months to be debt-free

26 months

2 years 2 months · $2,756 in interest

Avalanche method
Interest $2,756
Saves $3,925 vs minimums only

Paying $740.00 a month ($440.00 of minimums plus $300.00 extra) with the avalanche method, you clear 3 debts in 26 months (2 years 2 months) and pay $2,756.10 in interest, $18,756.10 in all.

Paying only the minimums would take 52 months and cost $6,680.85 in interest. The snowball method would take 26 months and cost $3,022.51: $266.41 more.

The method decides where the extra money goes: the avalanche pays the highest rate first and always costs the least interest or the same; the snowball pays the smallest balance first and clears a debt sooner, which many people find easier to stick to.
This is an estimate with fixed minimum payments and no new borrowing. Real minimums usually fall as balances fall, and cards charge interest on the daily balance.

What you pay back in total

Balances$16,00085%
Interest$2,75615%

I’m not an accountant or a financial advisor. This is an estimate, for information only. Check with a professional before you decide.

Your numbers

example: change the numbers

Debt 1: balance

What you owe on the first debt, for example a credit card. Leave 0 for the debts you do not have.

Debt 1: interest rate (APR)

The yearly rate on this debt. The examples are not market rates: use your own.

Debt 1: minimum payment

The smallest amount you must pay each month on this debt. It stays fixed in this calculation.

Debt 2: balance

The second debt. Leave 0 if you have only one.

Debt 2: interest rate (APR)

The yearly rate on the second debt.

Debt 2: minimum payment

The monthly minimum on the second debt.

Debt 3: balance

The third debt, for example a personal loan or a car loan. Leave 0 if you have only two.

Debt 3: interest rate (APR)

The yearly rate on the third debt.

Debt 3: minimum payment

The monthly minimum on the third debt.

Extra you can pay each month

The amount above all the minimums that you can put toward your debts every month. Enter 0 if you can pay only the minimums.

Method

The avalanche pays the highest interest rate first and saves the most interest. The snowball pays the smallest balance first, which gives quicker wins.

Avalanchehighest rate firstSnowballsmallest balance first

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The order in which the debts are cleared

Order	Debt	Paid off in	That is
1	Debt 1	month 9	9 months
2	Debt 2	month 23	1 year 11 months
3	Debt 3	month 26	2 years 2 months

How it works

List your debts with their balance, interest rate and minimum payment. Decide how much extra you can add to the minimums each month.
Each month, pay the minimum on every debt and put all the extra money, plus the minimums of debts already cleared, on one debt: the one with the highest rate (avalanche) or the smallest balance (snowball).
When that debt is gone, move its whole payment to the next one. Repeat until every debt is cleared. The calculator counts the months and the interest charged along the way.

Worked example

Three debts: $3,000 at 24% (minimum $90), $8,000 at 18% (minimum $200) and $5,000 at 9% (minimum $150), with $300 extra. Avalanche: debt-free in 26 months, $2,756.10 of interest. Snowball: also 26 months but $3,022.51 of interest. Minimums only: 52 months and $6,680.85.

Sources

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau — How to reduce your debt (the highest interest rate method and the snowball method)

Text checked on October 12, 2026

Good to know

The avalanche method always costs the least interest, or the same as the snowball. The snowball can cost a little more, but clearing the smallest debt first gives an early win that helps many people keep going.
Whatever the method, the real engine of the plan is the extra money: with 300 a month more, this example cuts the time in half and saves thousands in interest.
When a debt is cleared, keep paying the same total each month and move its payment to the next debt. That “rolling” is what makes the plan speed up.
A lower rate helps as much as a higher payment: look at balance transfers or a consolidation loan, but check the fees, the promotional period and whether the new rate is really lower.
Keep a small emergency fund while you pay the debts, so a surprise bill does not go back on a card.
This is an estimate. Your lenders’ statements have the real balances, rates and minimums.

Frequently asked questions

What is the debt snowball method?

Pay the minimum on every debt and put all the extra money on the debt with the smallest balance. When it is cleared, move its payment to the next smallest. It clears debts one by one, quickly at first.

What is the debt avalanche method?

Pay the minimum on every debt and put all the extra money on the debt with the highest interest rate. When it is cleared, move to the next highest rate. It costs the least interest.

Which is better, snowball or avalanche?

The avalanche saves the most money. The snowball gives faster wins, which some people need to keep going. In this example the difference is a few hundred dollars. Pick the one you will stick to.

How do I pay off debt faster?

Pay more than the minimums, put every extra dollar on one debt at a time, keep the payments of cleared debts rolling to the next, and look for a lower rate.

How many debts can the calculator handle?

Three. Leave the balance at 0 for the debts you do not have.