Debt Snowball Calculator
List your debts with their balances, APRs and minimum payments, add what extra you can pay each month, and see your payoff order, debt-free date and total interest. The snowball (smallest balance first) and avalanche (highest rate first) methods are compared side by side.
Separate values with a comma and space, a | or a tab. Example: Visa, 2400, 24.99, 75
On top of all the minimums.
How to use the Debt Snowball Calculator
- List your debts, one per line: name, balance, APR and minimum payment, e.g. “Visa, 2400, 24.99, 75”.
- Enter the extra amount you can pay each month on top of the minimums, and the month you start.
- Pick snowball or avalanche. Both are always calculated so you can compare them.
- Read your debt-free date, total interest and the savings versus paying only the minimums.
- Follow the payoff order table: pay minimums on everything and put the rest on the first debt listed until it is gone.
Debt snowball vs. debt avalanche
Both methods use the same fixed monthly budget: all your minimum payments plus an extra amount. You pay the minimum on every debt and send everything left over to one target debt. When the target is paid off, its minimum payment is added to the next target, so the amount you throw at each debt keeps growing.
- Debt snowball targets the smallest balance first. You clear whole debts sooner, which many people find motivating.
- Debt avalanche targets the highest interest rate (APR) first. It always costs the same or less in total interest and is often a little faster.
Each month the calculator adds interest as balance × APR ÷ 12, subtracts the minimums, then applies the rest of the budget in the chosen order.
Example with the default debts
Four debts totalling $20,800 with $560 of minimum payments and $200 extra a month ($760 in total):
| Method | Time to debt-free | Total interest |
|---|---|---|
| Snowball (smallest balance first) | 34 months | $4,651 |
| Avalanche (highest APR first) | 34 months | $4,415 |
| Minimum payments only, no rollover | 104 months | $14,157 |
The snowball clears the 0% medical bill and the store card first; the avalanche attacks the 26.99% credit card first and saves about $237 in interest. The gap is largest when a big balance carries the highest APR; when your smallest debts also have the highest rates, both methods give the same plan.
Tips for a faster payoff
- Keep the total monthly payment fixed; don't lower it when a debt disappears. The rollover is what makes the plan work.
- Stop adding new charges to the cards you are paying off.
- Put windfalls (tax refunds, bonuses) on the current target debt.
- Ask card issuers about a lower APR or consider a 0% balance transfer, then rerun the plan with the new rate.
Frequently asked questions
What is the debt snowball method?
You pay the minimum on every debt and put all extra money on the smallest balance. When it is paid off, you add its payment to the next smallest, so your payment 'snowballs' as each debt is cleared. The total monthly amount stays the same until you are debt-free.
What is the difference between snowball and avalanche?
The snowball orders debts by balance (smallest first), the avalanche by interest rate (highest first). The avalanche never costs more interest; the snowball pays off individual debts sooner, which can keep you motivated.
Which method saves the most money?
The avalanche, because the most expensive debt shrinks first. The difference is often small when your smallest debts also have the highest rates, and larger when a big balance carries the top APR. The comparison table shows the exact gap for your debts.
What should I enter as the minimum payment?
Use the minimum due from each latest statement. Card minimums fall as balances drop, but the snowball plan keeps paying the same amount, which is what speeds things up, so a fixed figure is the right input here.
Why does the calculator say my payments don't cover the interest?
If your total monthly payment is less than the interest charged in the first month, the debt grows. Increase the extra payment until it is above the first month's total interest shown in the message.
Does this include new charges or rate changes?
No. It assumes fixed APRs, no new borrowing and no fees. Promotional 0% rates that later expire are not modeled; rerun the plan when a rate changes.
Is my debt information saved or uploaded?
Nothing is uploaded. The calculation runs in your browser; your inputs are only remembered in your own browser's local storage so they are there next visit.