Enter your debts below and this calculator runs both payoff strategies against them — snowball (smallest balance first, for momentum) and avalanche (highest interest rate first, for math) — and tells you exactly what the difference costs in dollars and months, so you can choose between them with complete information.
| Debt name | Balance ($) | APR (%) | Min. payment ($) |
|---|---|---|---|
Snowball vs. avalanche: the trade-off
Avalanche is mathematically optimal — it always produces equal or lower total interest. Snowball’s advantage is behavioral: clearing an entire account early is what sustains many people through a multi-year payoff. The calculator above prices the difference for your actual debts. If avalanche saves only a small amount, the earlier first payoff may be worth more to you; if it saves hundreds or thousands of dollars, avalanche is the stronger choice.
Increasing the amount you roll forward
Both strategies work by rolling freed-up payments into the next debt. Two ways to increase that amount: reduce the interest (debt consolidation with bad credit can combine several high-APR cards into one lower rate, and balance transfer with bad credit options exist even below prime), or measure what a single card is costing you with the card interest calculator.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better, debt snowball or avalanche?
Avalanche always costs equal or less in total interest; snowball delivers the first paid-off account sooner. Run your own numbers above; the dollar gap between them is often smaller than people assume, and either beats doing nothing.
Should I include my car loan or just credit cards?
Include every debt you intend to pay beyond its minimum. Many people exclude low-rate loans (mortgages, some auto loans) and focus the extra payment on double-digit APR debt.
What if I can’t pay anything extra?
The strategies still order your payoffs, but the rollover effect is small until a first debt clears. Focus on lowering rates instead — that’s the lever that works without new money.