List each debt with its balance, APR and minimum payment, add whatever extra you can pay each month, and get a debt avalanche plan: the order to attack your debts (highest interest rate first), the month each one is paid off, your debt-free date and total interest, compared side by side with the snowball method.
Last updated:
$/ mo
Enter your values to see the result.
Advertisement
Advertisement
How to use the Debt Avalanche Calculator
List your debts, one per line: name, balance, APR %, minimum monthly payment.
Enter the extra amount you can pay each month on top of the minimums.
Pick the month you start so payoff dates are shown as real months.
Read your debt-free date, total interest and the order to pay debts off.
Compare with the snowball method in the table and chart, and download the plan as CSV.
How the debt avalanche is calculated
Sort your debts by APR, highest first.
Each month, add interest to every balance: interest = balance × APR ÷ 12 ÷ 100.
Pay the minimum on every debt.
Send the rest of your budget (extra payment + minimums freed up by paid-off debts) to the highest-APR debt still open.
Repeat until every balance is zero. Total monthly payment = sum of the original minimums + extra.
Example with the default debts: the avalanche sends every extra dollar to the credit card (26.99%) first, then the personal loan (13.5%), the car loan (6.9%) and finally the 0% medical bill. The snowball method would start with the $1,500 medical bill and the $3,500 car loan because their balances are smallest, while the expensive card keeps charging interest, so it costs noticeably more.
Avalanche vs snowball at a glance
Debt avalanche
Debt snowball
Order
Highest interest rate first
Smallest balance first
Total interest
Lowest possible
Same or higher
First debt paid off
Can take longer
Usually fastest
Best for
Saving the most money
Quick wins and motivation
Biggest difference when
High-APR debts also have large balances
Frequently asked questions
What is the debt avalanche method?
You pay the minimum on every debt and put all extra money toward the debt with the highest interest rate. When it is paid off, its payment rolls over to the next-highest rate, and so on. Because the most expensive debt goes first, it minimises the total interest you pay.
Avalanche or snowball: which is better?
Mathematically the avalanche method always costs the same or less interest. The snowball method (smallest balance first) can pay off the first debt sooner, which some people find motivating. The calculator shows both so you can see the actual difference for your debts; often it is small, sometimes it is large.
How does the calculator handle paid-off debts?
It keeps your total monthly payment constant. When a debt reaches zero, its minimum payment is added to the extra payment and goes to the next debt in the avalanche order. This rollover is what speeds up the payoff.
Is interest calculated monthly?
Yes. Each month the balance of each debt grows by APR ÷ 12, then payments are applied. Credit cards actually compound daily, so real interest may be slightly higher, but the order and comparison are reliable.
What if my minimum payment barely covers the interest?
Then that debt shrinks very slowly. If the combined payments cannot cover the monthly interest at all, the calculator tells you the debts would never be paid off and you need to add an extra payment.
Should I include my mortgage?
Usually not. The avalanche method is aimed at consumer debts such as credit cards, personal loans and car loans. Low-rate mortgages normally come last anyway because their APR is lowest.
Is my debt information stored?
Only in your own browser so it is there next time. Nothing is uploaded to a server.
Are all the tools on FreeToolCabin tested for quality and accuracy?
Yes! Every tool on our site undergoes automated Q/A testing in real browser environments to ensure high precision, correct output, and zero errors. If you happen to spot a bug or have a suggestion, please contact us at [email protected] and our team will review it right away.