Debt Avalanche Calculator
The debt avalanche pays every minimum and sends all extra money to the debt with the highest interest rate. When that one is gone, its payment rolls to the next-highest rate. Mathematically this is the cheapest order: every extra dollar goes where it is being charged the most, so total interest is as low as it can be for a given monthly outlay.
The trade-off is patience. If your highest-rate debt is also your largest, the first payoff can take a long time. This calculator locks the order to avalanche, shows the date each debt clears and the total interest, and lists the snowball result next to it so you can see exactly what the faster first win would cost you.
Results
Your plan
Debt-free October 2028
In 2 years 1 month, paying $2,129 in interest.
| Strategy | Debt-free | Months | Total interest | First debt gone (month) | Saved vs minimums |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minimums only | Jul 2031 | 58 | $4,999 | 25 | — |
| Snowball | Oct 2028 | 25 | $2,412 | 10 | $2,588 |
| Avalanche | Oct 2028 | 25 | $2,129 | 25 | $2,870 |
Avalanche saves you $282 versus snowball, but your first debt clears in 25 months instead of 10. If early wins keep you going, snowball costs $282 extra for that.
At minimum payments only, these debts take 4 years 10 months and cost $4,999 in interest. With $150 extra a month you are debt-free in 2 years 1 month after $2,129 in interest.
Enable JavaScript to edit the numbers above and see your own plan, charts, and month-by-month schedule.
Frequently asked questions
How does the debt avalanche method work?
Rank your debts by APR from highest to lowest. Pay at least the minimum on every debt and put all extra money on the highest-rate one. When it reaches zero, add its payment to the next-highest rate. Because interest is charged on the balances with the worst rates first, this order minimizes the total interest you pay.
How much does avalanche save compared with snowball?
On the example above, $282 over 25 months. The saving grows when small balances sit at low rates and large balances sit at high rates, and shrinks to zero when your smallest debt also has the highest rate. The comparison table shows your actual gap, which is usually a few hundred dollars for a typical mix.
What if two debts have the same APR?
The calculator puts the smaller balance first, which gives you a quicker first payoff at no extra cost. Same-rate debts are common when you hold two cards from the same issuer; ordering them small-to-large is the sensible tie-break and matches what the snowball would do.
Is avalanche always the right choice?
It is always the cheapest, but not always the one people finish. If your biggest balance carries the highest rate, you may go a year or more without a single payoff. If that would discourage you, consider snowball or a hybrid: clear one tiny balance first for the win, then switch to avalanche.
Do promotional 0% rates change the order?
Yes. A card at 0% for 12 more months belongs at the bottom of the list until the promo is about to expire, then it jumps to the top. Enter the post-promo APR if the balance will not be gone by then, and revisit the plan when the promo ends; the share link makes it easy to reload your numbers.