Debt Avalanche Calculator
Pay off debts from highest to lowest APR. Enter each debt and your monthly budget. Saves the most interest.
Avalanche (highest APR first) ✓
Payoff order: Card B → Card A
Total interest: $1,394.35
Months: 22
Snowball (smallest first)
Payoff order: Card A → Card B
Total interest: $1,500.90
Months: 22
How It Works
The debt avalanche method: pay minimums on all debts, then put any extra toward the highest APR debt first. When paid off, move to the next highest APR.
This minimizes total interest paid. It is the mathematically optimal strategy. Compare with our Debt Snowball Calculator to see the difference.
Examples
Two credit cards - avalanche order
Same two cards. Avalanche pays Card B (22% APR) first to save interest.
Card A: $2,000 @ 18% • Card B: $5,000 @ 22% • $400/mo
High APR card first
Store card at 28% gets avalanche priority.
Store Card: $1,500 @ 28% • Bank Card: $4,000 @ 16% • $250/mo
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the debt avalanche method?
- The debt avalanche method pays off debts from highest to lowest APR. You pay minimums on all debts and put any extra toward the highest-interest debt first. This minimizes total interest paid over time.
- Why choose avalanche over snowball?
- Avalanche saves the most money in interest because you attack the costliest debt first. If you're disciplined and don't need quick wins for motivation, avalanche is the mathematically optimal strategy.
- Can I combine snowball and avalanche?
- Some people use a hybrid: pay off one small balance for a quick win, then switch to avalanche for the rest. Our calculator shows both strategies so you can see the difference.