Debt payoff calculator: snowball vs avalanche
Enter your debts to see when you'll be debt-free and how much interest you'll pay with the snowball and avalanche methods. No sign-up, and nothing leaves your browser.
Your debts
Add up to 6 credit cards, loans or overdrafts. We've filled in an example to start.
On top of the minimums. Optional.
Only changes formatting.
Results
Avalanche
Highest interest rate first
- Debt-free in
- 29 months
- …
- Total interest
- $2,359.99
- 2 years 5 months
Snowball
Smallest balance first
- Debt-free in
- 29 months
- …
- Total interest
- $2,442.06
- 2 years 5 months
Avalanche saves $82.07 in interest compared with Snowball. Snowball still gives you quicker early wins if motivation matters more. Both plans pay $560.00 a month in total.
Total balance over time
How your combined balance falls under each strategy. Hover or tap the chart for exact figures.
- Avalanche
- Snowball
Show as a table
| When | Avalanche | Snowball |
|---|---|---|
| Today | $13,350.00 | $13,350.00 |
| Month 6 | $10,930.47 | $10,944.81 |
| Month 12 | $8,289.00 | $8,327.60 |
| Month 18 | $5,398.18 | $5,460.28 |
| Month 24 | $2,234.99 | $2,314.56 |
| Month 29 | $0.00 | $0.00 |
Avalanche payoff order
- 1Credit card… (month 22)
- 2Store card… (month 23)
- 3Car loan… (month 29)
Snowball payoff order
- 1Store card… (month 4)
- 2Credit card… (month 23)
- 3Car loan… (month 29)
Share your result
The link opens this calculator with your numbers — only share what you're happy for others to see.
I'll be debt-free in 29 months 💪 and save $82 in interest. Work out yours free 👉https://www.calmcoins.com/tools/debt-payoff-calculator?c=USD&x=150&d=4800_27.9_140_Credit+card&d=650_19.9_25_Store+card&d=7900_7.4_245_Car+loan
How it works
Each month, the calculator sets aside a fixed monthly budget: the minimum payments on all of your debts plus any extra amount you choose. That budget stays the same for the whole plan.
Every month, interest is added to each balance (its APR divided by 12), then every debt gets its minimum payment. Whatever is left over goes to one focus debt. When the focus debt is cleared, its minimum payment rolls on to the next debt in line, so your payments snowball as you go.
The two strategies differ only in which debt is the focus. Snowball targets the smallest balance first, giving you quick wins. Avalanche targets the highest interest rate first, which keeps total interest as low as possible. The calculator runs both month by month and compares how long each takes and how much interest each costs.
It assumes your interest rates stay the same and that you don't add new spending to these debts. Real lenders may calculate interest daily or charge fees, so treat the results as a close estimate rather than an exact statement.
Frequently asked questions
Is the snowball or avalanche method better?
Avalanche (highest interest rate first) almost always costs less in interest, so it is usually the cheapest on paper. Snowball (smallest balance first) clears individual debts sooner, and those early wins help many people stick with the plan. The calculator shows you exactly how much the difference is for your own debts — often it is small enough that motivation should decide.
What happens when a debt is paid off?
Its minimum payment doesn't disappear from your budget — it rolls over to the next debt in line. Your total monthly payment stays the same until everything is cleared, which is what makes both methods speed up over time.
Why does it say “50+ years”?
If your payments are smaller than the interest added each month, the balance never shrinks. The calculator stops after 50 years and tells you, rather than showing a misleading date. Raising a minimum payment or adding an extra monthly amount fixes it.
Is my data saved or shared?
No. Everything is calculated in your browser and nothing you type is sent anywhere. If you want Calm Coins to keep track of your debts and update the plan as you pay, create a free account.
Track this automatically — Calm Coins is free
Add your debts once and Calm Coins keeps your payoff plan up to date as you pay, alongside a payday-to-payday budget that shows what's safe to spend.