Snowball vs. avalanche calculator

Which debt payoff method should you choose?

The debt snowball directs extra money toward the smallest balance first. The debt avalanche targets the highest interest rate first. Both cover the entered minimum payments on all debts. Compare the estimated costs and the early payoff milestones to see the tradeoff.

What happens when you pay extra?

Change the extra monthly payment and compare again. The calculator keeps the same budget for both strategies so you can compare them on equal terms. Money left after a debt is paid off moves to the next priority within that month.

How these estimates work

Interest is added monthly at the annual rate divided by 12 and rounded to cents, followed by payments at month-end. Rates and the entered dollar minimums remain fixed. The first payment month labels the schedule; it does not change interest accrual. The final payment is capped at the remaining amount owed. These estimates exclude fees, new purchases and lender-specific payment rules and may differ from actual statements.

This simple comparison treats each entry as a separate debt. It does not model shared credit-card minimums, changing rates or deferred-interest deadlines. Read our deferred-interest guide before comparing promotional balances. Projections longer than 100 years are not shown as successful payoff results.

Keep your full payoff plan in one place

Use DebtLiftoff to track your debts, compare plans and record your progress.

No card required.