Which debt should you tackle first?
Compare avalanche and snowball payoff time, interest and the impact of extra payments.
No email or phone. Inputs stay in this tab. Amounts are USD.Keep up to three named scenarios, then change the calculator for the next one. Saved comparisons stay in this tab and disappear when you leave. To save a file, choose “Save as PDF” in your browser’s print dialog.
Two routes to becoming debt-free
Estimates update as you change the numbers. Review the assumptions below.
See the breakdown
- Total current debt
- $19,200
- Monthly payment budget
- $620
- Avalanche time with no extra payment
- 49 months
- Interest saved by extra payment (avalanche)
- $2,040
Your plan over time
View exact values
| Period | Avalanche balance |
|---|---|
| Start | $19,200 |
| Month 12 | $13,884 |
| Month 24 | $7,729 |
| Month 36 | $675 |
| Month 38 | $0.00 |
How to read this estimate
Avalanche payoff order: Store card (month 10), Credit card (month 30), Car loan (month 38)
Snowball payoff order: Store card (month 10), Credit card (month 30), Car loan (month 38)
The monthly budget stays fixed as debts disappear. Minimum payments are fixed dollar assumptions and freed payments roll to the next debt. Avalanche targets highest APR; snowball targets smallest balance.
Monthly APR/12 interest approximation, no new charges, fees, promotions or rate changes. Actual credit-card daily interest and changing minimums differ. A dash means not paid off within the 600-month model, not a promise of eventual payoff.
Use the same budget for a fair payoff comparison
The sample has a $6,000 card at 22%, a $12,000 car loan at 7% and a $1,200 store card at 27%. The minimums total $520; an extra $100 creates a fixed $620 monthly budget.
What to look for: Both strategies roll freed payments to the next debt. In this example, the highest-rate debt is also the smallest, so the strategies may follow the same order. Change the store-card APR to 3% to see the approaches diverge.
The example figures above stay fixed while you edit your own scenario. Use “Load example” to restore default inputs where available.
Your next steps
- Copy balances, APRs and minimum payments from current statements.
- Confirm how extra payments are applied and check promotional-rate deadlines.
- Choose an extra payment you can sustain while covering essential expenses.
Sources & assumptions
Linked sources explain the methods and considerations. Example rates, costs and future growth assumptions are editable illustrations, not current market quotes. Reviewed September 7, 2026.
These tools provide educational estimates. Confirm terms and inputs before making a financial commitment.