Multiple-debt payoff planning

Debt Payoff Strategy Calculator

Compare the debt avalanche and debt snowball using the same monthly payment budget, then see how the payoff order changes interest, timing, and the first balance eliminated.

Enter at least two debts

Use a short nickname rather than an account number. The regular payment can be the required minimum or another fixed amount you expect to keep paying until that debt is gone.

Debt 1
Debt 2
Debt 3
Debt 4
Added to the regular payments and redirected as debts are eliminated.

Results will appear after valid values are entered.

What changes between the two strategies

Both plans use the same total monthly budget. Avalanche sends the extra money to the highest APR first. Snowball sends it to the smallest starting balance first. When a debt is paid off, its regular payment stays in the budget and rolls to the next debt.

Monthly debt budget — Regular payments plus the extra amount
Interest difference — Estimated comparison
Debt-free timing — Difference between the strategies
First payoff — Which plan clears a balance sooner

Highest APR first

Debt avalanche

Extra-payment priority: —

Estimated debt-free
—
—
Estimated interest
—
Estimated total paid
—
First balance eliminated
—

Estimated payoff sequence

    Smallest balance first

    Debt snowball

    Extra-payment priority: —

    Estimated debt-free
    —
    —
    Estimated interest
    —
    Estimated total paid
    —
    First balance eliminated
    —

    Estimated payoff sequence

      How this calculator works

      Monthly debt budget Regular payments + extra monthly payoff amount
      Estimated monthly interest Current balance × APR ÷ 12

      Each simulated month adds estimated interest, makes the entered regular payment on every active debt, then sends the remaining monthly budget to the next debt in the strategy's priority order. Any unused payment from a debt that has already been eliminated is redirected rather than removed from the budget.

      The priority order is based on the starting values. Avalanche sorts by APR from highest to lowest. Snowball sorts by starting balance from smallest to largest. If values tie, the original entry order breaks the tie.

      Real creditors may calculate interest daily, change minimum payments as balances fall, use variable or promotional rates, apply payments differently, or charge fees. This calculator uses fixed APRs and fixed regular payments so the two payoff strategies can be compared on the same assumptions.

      Related guide

      Choose the payoff order deliberately

      See when the interest savings from avalanche are meaningful, when snowball produces a much earlier first payoff, and which debt terms can make a simple ranking less useful.

      Debt Avalanche vs. Debt Snowball: Which Payoff Strategy Makes Sense?

      Compare the math, the payoff sequence, real-world exceptions, and two examples where the size of the tradeoff is very different.

      Read the debt payoff strategy guide →

      For educational purposes only. Results use fixed APRs, fixed regular payments, monthly interest estimates, no new borrowing, and a constant total monthly debt budget. Actual interest, minimum payments, fees, payment allocation, payoff dates, and creditor rules may differ. Review the Calculator Methodology for shared assumptions, rounding, payoff timing, and privacy-conscious analytics details.