Avalanche vs. snowball calculator
The avalanche method targets your highest-APR debt first — minimizing total interest paid over time. The snowball method targets your smallest balance first — giving you early wins that can build momentum. Enter your debts below and an optional extra monthly payment to see both strategies side by side: time to debt-free, total interest, and the order each debt gets cleared.
Your debts
Enter each debt you want to pay off. All rates are annual (APR).
This extra amount is applied to the target debt each month — it's the engine of both strategies.
Avalanche — highest APR first
- Time to debt-free
- 3 yrs 9 mos
- Total interest
- $7,800
- Total paid
- $26,300
Payoff order
- 1Card 2
- 2Card 1
- 3Card 3
Snowball — smallest balance first
- Time to debt-free
- 3 yrs 9 mos
- Total interest
- $7,800
- Total paid
- $26,300
Payoff order
- 1Card 2
- 2Card 1
- 3Card 3
This calculator runs entirely in your browser — nothing you enter is sent, stored, or shared. Results are estimates for education only, not an offer, quote, or guarantee of any rate, term, or savings. Actual figures depend on your credit and the lender.