Snowball vs. avalanche, payoff timeline, and the interest each strategy costs you.
Each month every minimum gets paid, the extra goes to the target debt, and when a debt is gone its payment rolls into the next one (the "debt snowball" effect — both strategies use it; they differ only in which debt gets targeted first).
| # | Debt | APR | Paid off in |
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This debt payoff calculator compares the snowball method (smallest balance first) against the avalanche method (highest rate first), showing how long each takes to clear your debts and how much interest each one costs along the way.
The calculator simulates paying every debt's minimum each month and throwing all extra money at one target debt until it's gone, then rolling that freed-up payment to the next. Avalanche targets the highest interest rate first to minimize total interest; snowball targets the smallest balance first for faster psychological wins. It reports the payoff date and total interest for each so you can see the trade-off.
Snowball pays the smallest balance first for quick wins; avalanche pays the highest interest rate first to minimize total interest. Avalanche is cheaper, snowball is more motivating.
The avalanche method saves the most money mathematically, but the snowball method's early wins help many people stay motivated enough to finish.
Any payment above the minimum goes to principal, shrinking the balance interest is charged on and pulling your debt-free date forward.
Avalanche saves the most money by clearing high-rate debt first. Snowball clears small balances first for motivating early wins. The cheapest method only helps if you stick with it.
Every dollar above the minimums goes straight to principal, compounding your progress. Even modest extra payments can cut years off the timeline — the calculator shows exactly how much.
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