Debt Snowball vs Avalanche Calculator
Compare two popular strategies for paying off multiple debts: the Avalanche method (always attack the highest interest rate first) and the Snowball method (always attack the smallest balance first). Enter two debts and see exactly how many months and how much interest each strategy takes.
Leave at 0 if you only have two debts.
How to pay off debt faster
Both methods pay the minimum on every debt every month. Any extra money you can put toward debt beyond the minimums goes entirely to one target debt at a time: the highest-APR debt under Avalanche, or the smallest-balance debt under Snowball. Once that target is paid off, the extra payment rolls onto the next one.
Avalanche target = highest APR among remaining debts | Snowball target = smallest balance among remaining debtsExample. A 150,000 balance at 32% APR and a 50,000 balance at 18% APR, with 5,000 extra per month, pay off in 27 months under Avalanche vs 29 months under Snowball - saving about 20,749 in interest - because Avalanche attacks the higher-rate 150,000 debt first even though it's the larger balance.
Which one should you actually use?
Avalanche always saves the same or more interest mathematically, since it always targets the most expensive debt. Snowball can still be worth it if paying off a whole debt quickly (even a small one) keeps you more motivated to stick with the plan - the "best" method is the one you'll actually follow through on.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better, the debt avalanche or the debt snowball?
Avalanche always costs less. It attacks the highest interest rate first, so less interest accrues overall. Snowball clears the smallest balance first, which costs slightly more but removes a whole debt sooner - and the research on actual behaviour is fairly consistent that people stick with snowball more often. The cheapest plan you abandon in month four beats nothing, but so does the slightly dearer one you finish.
What happens to a minimum payment once that debt is cleared?
It rolls onto the next debt. That is the mechanic both methods are named for, and it is why the last debt disappears so much faster than the first: your total monthly outlay stays flat while the number of debts shrinks. This calculator models that rolling budget rather than letting the freed-up money disappear.
Should I pay off debt or invest instead?
Compare the interest rate against the return you would realistically earn after tax. Clearing a 24% credit card is a guaranteed 24% return and beats almost any investment. A 6% home loan is a much closer call, and there the answer usually depends on liquidity and how much the debt bothers you rather than on arithmetic alone.
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