Debt Payoff Calculator
Compare snowball vs avalanche strategies across all your debts — time to debt-free and total interest for each.
Everyday Uses
Your debt-free roadmap
Enter every debt once and get an actual date you'll be free — a plan beats vague worry.
Snowball vs avalanche, settled
See both strategies' timelines and interest side by side — pick with numbers, not internet arguments.
Motivation fuel
Watching the payoff date jump closer when you add $50/month makes the sacrifice concrete.
Consolidation decisions
Before taking a consolidation loan, see what your current debts cost on their own.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the debt snowball method?
The snowball method pays minimums on everything, then puts all extra money toward the smallest balance first. When that debt is gone, its payment "snowballs" into the next smallest. It is rarely the mathematically cheapest route, but the quick early wins are powerful motivation — and studies of real borrowers show people who feel progress are more likely to stick with a payoff plan.
What is the debt avalanche method?
The avalanche method targets the highest interest rate first while paying minimums on the rest. This minimizes total interest paid and is the mathematically optimal strategy. The trade-off: if your highest-rate debt also has a large balance, the first payoff milestone can take a long time to reach.
Which strategy should I choose?
If you are motivated by numbers, choose avalanche — it always costs the least in interest. If you have struggled to stick with payoff plans before, choose snowball — the momentum of clearing debts quickly matters more than the interest difference, which this calculator shows you explicitly. Often the difference is smaller than people expect; the best strategy is the one you will actually follow.
Why does my minimum payment need to cover the monthly interest?
If a payment is smaller than the interest the balance generates each month, the debt grows even while you pay — negative amortization. The calculator flags this because no payoff date exists under those terms. The fix is increasing the payment, negotiating a lower rate, or consolidating at better terms.