Debt Snowball & Avalanche Calculator
Enter your debts to see your debt-free date, how much interest you'll pay, and how the snowball and avalanche methods compare.
Total balance over time
Payoff order
Month-by-month schedule
Want this plan in a spreadsheet you can update every month? Get the Debt Snowball & Avalanche Planner: $9.
See the templateHow this calculator works
Every month, the calculator adds interest to each balance (APR ÷ 12), pays the minimum on every debt, and sends everything left in your monthly budget to one target debt. Your monthly budget stays the same the whole time: the sum of all your minimum payments plus your extra payment. So when a debt is paid off, its minimum rolls over to the next target.
- Snowball targets the smallest starting balance first.
- Avalanche targets the highest interest rate first.
- Minimums only pays just the minimum on each debt, with no extra and no rollover, for comparison.
Results are estimates. Real lenders may calculate interest daily, charge fees, or change rates, so your actual numbers may differ slightly.
Want the full explanation? Read our guide: Debt Snowball vs. Debt Avalanche: Which Payoff Method Is Right for You?.
This calculator is for education and planning only. It isn't financial advice, and results are estimates based on the numbers you enter.
Questions & answers
Which is better, snowball or avalanche?
Avalanche always costs the same or less in interest. Snowball gives you quicker wins, which helps many people stay on track. The best method is the one you'll stick with. The calculator shows both so you can decide.
What does 'freed-up minimums roll over' mean?
When a debt is paid off, you keep paying the same total each month. The minimum you were paying on the finished debt is added to the next target, so payments grow as you go.
Why does it say minimum payments will never pay off a debt?
If a debt's minimum payment is less than the interest it charges each month, the balance grows or never shrinks with minimum payments alone.
Is my information saved or shared?
No. Everything is calculated in your browser and nothing you type is sent anywhere.