Debt Snowball Calculator

Enter all your debts and see exactly which to pay off first, your payoff timeline, and how much interest you will save using the snowball or avalanche method.

Your Debts

Debt Name	Balance	APR %	Min Payment

Extra monthly payment toward debt:

How the debt snowball works

Enter all your debts

Add every debt — credit cards, car loans, student loans, personal loans. Include the balance, APR, and minimum payment for each.

Choose your strategy

Snowball pays smallest balances first for quick wins and motivation. Avalanche pays highest interest rates first to minimize total interest paid.

Follow the plan

Pay minimums on all debts, then put every extra dollar toward the first debt on your list. When it is paid off, roll that payment to the next debt.

Frequently asked questions

What is the debt snowball method?

The debt snowball method, popularized by Dave Ramsey, involves paying off debts from smallest to largest balance regardless of interest rate. As each debt is paid off, you roll that payment into the next one, creating a growing snowball of payments.

What is the debt avalanche method?

The debt avalanche method focuses on paying off the highest interest rate debt first, then rolling payments to the next highest rate. It saves the most money in interest and is mathematically optimal, but may take longer to see progress on large high-rate debts.

Which method should I choose?

Choose snowball if you need motivation from quick wins. Choose avalanche if you want to minimize total interest paid. The best method is whichever one you will actually stick to — both are dramatically better than paying minimums only.

Is this calculator free?

Yes — completely free with no account or signup required.