Debt Payoff Calculator — Snowball vs Avalanche
Enter up to six debts and an extra monthly amount: months to debt-free, total interest and payoff order for the avalanche and snowball methods side by side, plus the minimums-only baseline.
Your debts (leave unused rows blank)
| Name | Balance | APR % | Minimum payment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total debt | — |
|---|---|
| Avalanche (highest APR first) | — |
| Snowball (smallest balance first) | — |
| Difference | — |
| Minimums only (no extra) | — |
| Monthly outlay | — |
Payoff order
In short
Avalanche pays minimums on every debt and puts the extra on the highest APR first; snowball targets the smallest balance first. Both keep the monthly outlay constant and roll each cleared minimum onto the next debt. Avalanche costs the least interest; snowball clears the first debt sooner, which many people find easier to keep up.
Who this is for: People with several debts choosing between the snowball and avalanche methods.
Avalanche vs snowball
- Avalanche: pay minimums on everything, put all extra money on the highest-APR debt, then roll its payment onto the next. Mathematically cheapest — least interest, usually fastest.
- Snowball: same, but target the smallest balance first. Costs a little more interest; gives quick wins, which is why many people finish it.
- Both keep the total monthly outlay constant — as each debt closes, its minimum is redirected rather than spent. That rollover is what makes either method fast.
- The difference between them is small when APRs are similar and large when a small high-APR card sits next to a big low-rate loan.
- Consolidating several cards into one lower-APR loan can beat both — compare the loan's APR (fees included) with the weighted APR shown.
See also: Credit Card Payoff Calculator.
Assumptions
- Each month: interest added to every open debt, minimums paid, then the extra plus any freed minimums go to the first debt in the chosen order (avalanche: highest APR; snowball: smallest balance).
- Total outlay held constant until every debt is cleared; minimums that exceed a debt's remaining balance roll over immediately.
- Minimums-only baseline uses no extra payment and no rollover acceleration beyond freed minimums.
Worked example
Avalanche clears everything in 31 months with about 3,740 interest, in the order card (month 18) → personal loan (23) → car loan (31). Snowball finishes the personal loan first (month 11) and takes 32 months with about 4,260 interest — roughly 520 more. Minimums only would take 59 months and cost about 9,870.
Frequently asked questions
Which method is better?
Avalanche saves the most money; snowball is easier to stick with. If the difference shown is small, choose snowball — the method you finish is the best one.
Should I include my mortgage?
Usually not — its rate is far lower and the term much longer; focus on cards, personal loans, car finance and overdrafts.
What if a minimum payment is less than the interest?
That debt grows on its own; the calculator asks for an extra amount so the plan can actually close it.
Does it matter if minimums fall as balances drop?
Real card minimums shrink with the balance; this calculator holds your outlay constant, which is the behaviour both methods require.
How much faster is avalanche than snowball?
Often only a month or two; the interest saving is larger when APRs differ widely. The calculator shows both.
Should I consolidate instead?
If a consolidation loan's APR including fees is below your weighted APR, it can beat both methods — check the APR calculator.
Related calculators
Found an error? Report it — tell us the inputs, the result you got, what you expected and the rule or source. Confirmed corrections are published within a week.
Ready to build your next digital solution?
Send the brief and you get a scoped response with approach, milestones and a fixed price range. Not a sales call.
A 30-minute call with the engineer who would run your project
Within 2 business daysA written scope: approach, module breakdown, milestones, fixed price range
Within 5 business daysYou decide. No retainer, no obligation, and the scope document is yours to keep either way
Your timelineSend your brief
Three fields to start. Add project details if you have them.