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Debt Payoff Calculator

Put every balance in one place, set what you can pay each month, and see the avalanche and snowball methods run side by side with the real dollar difference between them.

Quick answer

Both pay every minimum and put all spare money into one target debt, then roll that payment into the next debt as each one clears. Avalanche targets the highest interest rate and always costs less in total interest. Snowball targets the smallest balance and clears individual debts sooner, which more people stick with.

Your debts

Debt free in
2y 5m
Avalanche method
Total interest
$2,793
On $17,450 of debt
Avalanche saves
$0
Same either way here
Avalanche order
  1. Store card
  2. Credit card
  3. Car loan
2y 5m, $2,793 interest
Snowball order
  1. Store card
  2. Credit card
  3. Car loan
2y 5m, $2,793 interest

Total debt remaining, both methods

01234567891011121314151617181920212223242526272829Months$0k$5k$9k$14k$18k
  • Avalanche
  • Snowball

Both lines start at the same place and end at the same place. Avalanche bends lower in the middle because less of every payment is lost to the highest rate.

How the two methods differ

Both pay the minimum on everything so nothing goes delinquent, then send every spare dollar to a single target. When that target clears, its whole payment rolls into the next one. That rollover is why both methods accelerate, and it is the only thing they have in common.

Avalanche targets the highest APR

This is always the cheaper answer, because it kills the most expensive interest first. If the only thing you care about is total cost, there is no argument to have.

Snowball targets the smallest balance

It costs more, sometimes only slightly. What it buys is whole debts disappearing sooner, which is the reason more people finish with it. The number above tells you exactly what that costs for your debts.

Frequently asked questions

Both pay every minimum and put all spare money into one target debt, then roll that payment into the next debt as each one clears. Avalanche targets the highest interest rate and always costs less in total interest. Snowball targets the smallest balance and clears individual debts sooner, which more people stick with.

Avalanche is mathematically cheaper, always. Snowball is psychologically easier because you eliminate whole debts faster. This calculator shows the real dollar gap between them for your specific debts, so you can decide whether the difference is worth it rather than guessing.

The calculator flags it rather than producing a schedule. If you cannot cover the minimums, no payoff strategy applies and the situation calls for a hardship program, a consolidation loan, or nonprofit credit counseling instead.

Paying down revolving balances lowers credit utilization, which is one of the largest scoring factors and updates as soon as the lower balance is reported. Paying off an installment loan has a much smaller effect. Closing a card after paying it off can actually raise utilization by removing its limit.
AK

Written by

Alexander Katsman

Founder, Credit Booster & Credit Booster AI

Alexander Katsman has spent more than 15 years in credit and finance, helping thousands of people and small business owners dispute inaccurate reporting, rebuild their scores, and get approved for funding they were once denied. His latest project, Credit Booster AI, puts that entire toolkit in everyone's hands, using AI to make fixing, building, and funding your credit accessible to all.

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