DebtWise
DebtWise
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Debt Avalanche Calculator

Enter your debts and monthly budget. We'll rank them by APR, project every payment, and show you exactly when each balance dies — plus how much interest you save vs. minimums only.

Your debts

$

Total you can put toward all debts combined each month.

Debt-free in
2 yr 6 mo
January 2029
Total balance
$19,500
Total interest paid
$3,762.18
Interest saved vs. minimums
$5,209.63

Track payments, log wins, and unlock 7 more payoff methods.

Your avalanche attack order

Highest APR first. Pay minimums on everything else; every extra dollar goes here.

  1. 1
    Credit Card A
    $6,500 · APR 22.9%
  2. 2
    Credit Card B
    $3,200 · APR 18.5%
  3. 3
    Personal Loan
    $9,800 · APR 11.2%

How the debt avalanche works

The debt avalanche is the mathematically optimal debt payoff strategy. You pay the minimum on every debt, then throw every extra dollar at whichever debt has the highest APR. When it dies, that entire payment rolls into the next-highest APR debt. Interest compounds fastest at the top, so killing high-APR balances first minimizes what you pay overall.

  1. List every debt with its balance, APR, and minimum payment.
  2. Sort by APR, highest first.
  3. Pay the minimum on every debt each month.
  4. Send every extra dollar to the debt at the top of the list.
  5. When it's gone, roll its full payment into the next debt down.
  6. Repeat until every balance hits zero.

Avalanche vs. Snowball

The snowball method pays smallest balance first, giving you a quick early win. The avalanche saves the most money by attacking the debt that grows fastest. If you can stay disciplined without the psychological wins of snowball, avalanche is cheaper — often by hundreds or thousands of dollars over a multi-year payoff.

Frequently asked questions

+What is the debt avalanche method?
Pay minimums on every debt and direct every extra dollar to the debt with the highest APR. Once it's paid off, its payment rolls to the next-highest APR debt. It minimizes total interest.
+Does the avalanche always beat the snowball?
On pure math, yes. On behavior, only if you stick with it. If quick wins keep you motivated, snowball may finish faster in practice.
+How is my payoff date calculated?
Each month interest accrues at APR/12, minimums are paid, and any remaining budget is applied to the top-APR debt. That loop runs until every balance is zero.
+Is this calculator free?
Yes — 100% free and no account required. Sign up if you want to save your plan, track payments, and unlock 7 more strategies.

Ready to actually finish this?

DebtWise saves your plan, logs every payment, and celebrates every debt you kill. Free to start.