Calculators / Debt Snowball vs. Avalanche Calculator
Debt Snowball vs. Avalanche Calculator
Plan your debt payoff: see the order, payoff dates and total interest with the snowball (smallest balance first) and avalanche (highest rate first) methods.
Example using typical numbers. Change any value to see your own.
Avalanche saves $177.25 in interest. Snowball pays off your first debt in 6 months.
| Snowball | Avalanche | Minimums only | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paid each month | $1,155.00 | $1,155.00 | $855.00 |
| Debt-free in | 3 years 2 months | 3 years 2 months | 9 years 10 months |
| Debt-free by | Jan 2030 | Jan 2030 | Sep 2036 |
| Total interest | $5,633.71 | $5,456.46 | $12,438.81 |
| Total paid | $42,933.71 | $42,756.46 | $49,738.81 |
| Balance | APR | Paid off in | Paid off by | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Debt 3 | $1,800.00 | 17.99% | 6 months | May 2027 |
| Debt 1 | $8,000.00 | 24.99% | 1 year 9 months | Aug 2028 |
| Debt 2 | $12,500.00 | 7.9% | 2 years 3 months | Feb 2029 |
| Debt 4 | $15,000.00 | 5.5% | 3 years 2 months | Jan 2030 |
| Balance | APR | Paid off in | Paid off by | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Debt 1 | $8,000.00 | 24.99% | 1 year 6 months | May 2028 |
| Debt 3 | $1,800.00 | 17.99% | 1 year 8 months | Jul 2028 |
| Debt 2 | $12,500.00 | 7.9% | 2 years 3 months | Feb 2029 |
| Debt 4 | $15,000.00 | 5.5% | 3 years 2 months | Jan 2030 |
Avalanche always costs the least interest. Snowball clears small debts first, and many people find those early wins keep them going. Either beats paying minimums.
Minimum payments are kept at today's amounts. Card minimums usually fall as balances do; paying today's amount anyway is part of what makes these plans work.