Debt Snowball vs. Avalanche Calculator
Enter up to 5 debts and see exactly how much time and interest each payoff strategy costs, side by side.
Your debts
Leave a balance at $0 to skip that slot. Up to 5 debts.
How this calculator works
Both strategies pay the minimum on every debt, then throw every extra dollar at one target debt at a time. When that target debt is paid off, its minimum payment and the extra amount "roll forward" to the next target, so your total monthly payment never changes, only where it's aimed. The debt snowball targets your smallest balance first (for quick wins and momentum); the debt avalanche targets your highest interest rate first (for the lowest total cost). This calculator simulates both month by month on your exact numbers so you can see the real trade-off instead of guessing.
Worked example
Two cards: a $6,000 balance at 24% APR (minimum $150) and a $2,000 balance at 10% APR (minimum $50), with $200 extra a month. Snowball pays off the $2,000 card first (smallest balance), finishing both in about 26 months for $2,147 total interest. Avalanche pays off the $6,000 card first (highest rate), finishing both in about 25 months for $1,735 total interest, a saving of roughly 1 month and $412 compared to snowball. The avalanche method almost always costs less in interest; snowball can feel more motivating because a balance disappears sooner.
Frequently asked questions
Why does avalanche usually save more money?
Because it attacks the debt charging you the most interest first, so less total interest has a chance to build up while you're paying down the rest. Snowball can occasionally tie or come close if the smallest balance also happens to carry a high rate.
Why would anyone choose snowball if it costs more?
Momentum. Clearing a whole balance early, even a small one, is a visible win that keeps some people motivated to stick with the plan. This calculator shows you the real cost difference so you can decide if that trade-off is worth it for you.
What if my minimum payment doesn't even cover the interest?
If a debt's required minimum is too small to ever bring the balance down (common with some high-rate cards), this calculator flags it instead of showing a runaway number. Add more to that debt's minimum or to your extra monthly amount and run it again.
Assumptions & sources
- Payoff order is fixed at the start (by original balance for snowball, by APR for avalanche), the standard way payoff calculators present both strategies.
- Interest accrues monthly on the remaining balance (APR ÷ 12); no new charges, fees, or missed payments are modeled.
- Freed-up minimum payments from a paid-off debt roll into the extra amount starting the following month.
Educational estimates, not financial advice.