Debt Snowball vs. Debt Avalanche Calculator
Use this calculator to compare two popular debt repayment strategies: the Debt Snowball and the Debt Avalanche. Understand which method could save you more money or help you stay motivated.
Comparison Results
Enter your debt details and click "Calculate Comparison" to see the results.
| Strategy |
Time to Pay Off |
Total Interest Paid |
Total Amount Paid |
| Debt Snowball |
|
|
|
| Debt Avalanche |
|
|
|
.calculator-container {
font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Geneva, Verdana, sans-serif;
background-color: #f9f9f9;
padding: 25px;
border-radius: 10px;
box-shadow: 0 4px 12px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1);
max-width: 900px;
margin: 30px auto;
border: 1px solid #e0e0e0;
}
.calculator-container h2,
.calculator-container h3 {
color: #333;
text-align: center;
margin-bottom: 20px;
}
.calc-input-section,
.calc-output-section {
background-color: #ffffff;
padding: 20px;
border-radius: 8px;
margin-bottom: 20px;
border: 1px solid #e9e9e9;
}
.debt-row {
display: grid;
grid-template-columns: repeat(auto-fit, minmax(150px, 1fr));
gap: 15px;
margin-bottom: 15px;
padding: 15px;
border: 1px solid #eee;
border-radius: 5px;
background-color: #fdfdfd;
}
.debt-row label {
font-weight: bold;
color: #555;
grid-column: span 1;
align-self: center;
}
.debt-row input[type="text"],
.debt-row input[type="number"],
.form-group input[type="number"] {
width: 100%;
padding: 10px;
border: 1px solid #ccc;
border-radius: 5px;
box-sizing: border-box;
font-size: 1em;
}
.form-group {
margin-bottom: 20px;
padding: 15px;
border: 1px solid #eee;
border-radius: 5px;
background-color: #fdfdfd;
}
.form-group label {
display: block;
margin-bottom: 8px;
font-weight: bold;
color: #555;
}
.form-group .description {
font-size: 0.9em;
color: #777;
margin-top: 5px;
}
.calculate-button {
display: block;
width: 100%;
padding: 15px 20px;
background-color: #007bff;
color: white;
border: none;
border-radius: 5px;
font-size: 1.1em;
cursor: pointer;
transition: background-color 0.3s ease;
margin-top: 20px;
}
.calculate-button:hover {
background-color: #0056b3;
}
.results-table {
margin-top: 20px;
overflow-x: auto;
}
.results-table table {
width: 100%;
border-collapse: collapse;
text-align: left;
}
.results-table th,
.results-table td {
padding: 12px 15px;
border: 1px solid #ddd;
}
.results-table thead th {
background-color: #eef;
color: #333;
font-weight: bold;
}
.results-table tbody tr:nth-child(even) {
background-color: #f6f6f6;
}
.results-table tbody tr:hover {
background-color: #e9f5ff;
}
#comparisonResult {
margin-top: 15px;
padding: 15px;
border: 1px solid #d4edda;
background-color: #d4edda;
color: #155724;
border-radius: 5px;
font-weight: bold;
text-align: center;
}
#comparisonResult.error {
border-color: #f5c6cb;
background-color: #f8d7da;
color: #721c24;
}
@media (max-width: 768px) {
.debt-row {
grid-template-columns: 1fr;
}
}
function calculateDebtComparison() {
var debts = [];
var numDebts = 5; // Fixed number of debt input rows
for (var i = 1; i 0 && !isNaN(rate) && !isNaN(minPayment) && minPayment >= 0) {
debts.push({
id: i,
name: name || "Debt " + i,
originalBalance: balance,
balance: balance,
rate: rate,
minPayment: minPayment,
totalInterestPaid: 0,
totalPaid: 0
});
}
}
var extraPayment = parseFloat(document.getElementById("extraPayment").value);
if (isNaN(extraPayment) || extraPayment < 0) {
extraPayment = 0;
}
if (debts.length === 0) {
document.getElementById("comparisonResult").innerHTML = "Please enter at least one valid debt to calculate.";
document.getElementById("comparisonResult").className = "error";
document.getElementById("snowballTime").innerHTML = "";
document.getElementById("snowballInterest").innerHTML = "";
document.getElementById("snowballTotalPaid").innerHTML = "";
document.getElementById("avalancheTime").innerHTML = "";
document.getElementById("avalancheInterest").innerHTML = "";
document.getElementById("avalancheTotalPaid").innerHTML = "";
return;
}
// — Debt Snowball Calculation —
var snowballDebts = JSON.parse(JSON.stringify(debts)); // Deep copy
snowballDebts.sort(function(a, b) {
return a.balance – b.balance;
});
var snowballResult = simulateRepayment(snowballDebts, extraPayment, 'snowball');
// — Debt Avalanche Calculation —
var avalancheDebts = JSON.parse(JSON.stringify(debts)); // Deep copy
avalancheDebts.sort(function(a, b) {
return b.rate – a.rate; // Sort by highest interest rate first
});
var avalancheResult = simulateRepayment(avalancheDebts, extraPayment, 'avalanche');
// — Display Results —
document.getElementById("snowballTime").innerHTML = formatMonthsToYearsMonths(snowballResult.months);
document.getElementById("snowballInterest").innerHTML = "$" + snowballResult.totalInterestPaid.toFixed(2);
document.getElementById("snowballTotalPaid").innerHTML = "$" + snowballResult.totalPaid.toFixed(2);
document.getElementById("avalancheTime").innerHTML = formatMonthsToYearsMonths(avalancheResult.months);
document.getElementById("avalancheInterest").innerHTML = "$" + avalancheResult.totalInterestPaid.toFixed(2);
document.getElementById("avalancheTotalPaid").innerHTML = "$" + avalancheResult.totalPaid.toFixed(2);
var comparisonText = "";
if (avalancheResult.totalInterestPaid < snowballResult.totalInterestPaid) {
comparisonText = "The
Debt Avalanche method saves you $" + (snowballResult.totalInterestPaid – avalancheResult.totalInterestPaid).toFixed(2) + " in interest and pays off your debt " + formatMonthsToYearsMonths(snowballResult.months – avalancheResult.months) + " faster.";
document.getElementById("comparisonResult").className = ""; // Remove error class if present
} else if (snowballResult.totalInterestPaid < avalancheResult.totalInterestPaid) {
comparisonText = "The
Debt Snowball method saves you $" + (avalancheResult.totalInterestPaid – snowballResult.totalInterestPaid).toFixed(2) + " in interest and pays off your debt " + formatMonthsToYearsMonths(avalancheResult.months – snowballResult.months) + " faster.";
document.getElementById("comparisonResult").className = ""; // Remove error class if present
} else {
comparisonText = "Both methods result in similar total interest paid and time to pay off.";
document.getElementById("comparisonResult").className = ""; // Remove error class if present
}
document.getElementById("comparisonResult").innerHTML = "" + comparisonText + "";
}
function simulateRepayment(debts, extraPayment, strategyType) {
var currentDebts = JSON.parse(JSON.stringify(debts)); // Work with a copy
var totalMonths = 0;
var totalInterestPaid = 0;
var totalPaid = 0;
var totalOriginalBalance = currentDebts.reduce(function(sum, debt) { return sum + debt.originalBalance; }, 0);
var activeDebts = currentDebts.filter(function(debt) { return debt.balance > 0; });
while (activeDebts.length > 0 && totalMonths < 1200) { // Max 100 years to prevent infinite loops
totalMonths++;
var monthlyPaymentPool = extraPayment;
var minPaymentsDue = 0;
// Calculate total minimum payments due for active debts
for (var i = 0; i < activeDebts.length; i++) {
minPaymentsDue += activeDebts[i].minPayment;
}
monthlyPaymentPool += minPaymentsDue;
// Apply payments based on strategy
var paidThisMonth = 0;
var debtsPaidOffThisMonth = [];
for (var i = 0; i < activeDebts.length; i++) {
var debt = activeDebts[i];
var monthlyRate = debt.rate / 100 / 12;
var interestThisMonth = debt.balance * monthlyRate;
totalInterestPaid += interestThisMonth;
debt.balance += interestThisMonth;
var paymentToApply = 0;
if (strategyType === 'snowball' || strategyType === 'avalanche') {
// For snowball/avalanche, the extra payment is applied to the first debt in the sorted list
// and minimum payments are applied to all others.
if (i === 0) { // This is the target debt for extra payment
paymentToApply = Math.min(debt.balance, debt.minPayment + extraPayment);
} else { // Other debts get their minimum payment
paymentToApply = Math.min(debt.balance, debt.minPayment);
}
} else {
// Fallback or other strategy (e.g., pro-rata, though not used here)
paymentToApply = Math.min(debt.balance, debt.minPayment);
}
// Ensure we don't overpay the debt
paymentToApply = Math.min(paymentToApply, debt.balance);
debt.balance -= paymentToApply;
paidThisMonth += paymentToApply;
debt.totalPaid += paymentToApply;
if (debt.balance <= 0.01) { // Debt is paid off (allow for floating point inaccuracies)
debt.balance = 0;
debtsPaidOffThisMonth.push(debt);
}
}
// Roll over minimum payments from paid-off debts
for (var j = 0; j 0; });
if (strategyType === 'snowball') {
activeDebts.sort(function(a, b) { return a.balance – b.balance; });
} else if (strategyType === 'avalanche') {
activeDebts.sort(function(a, b) { return b.rate – a.rate; });
}
totalPaid += paidThisMonth;
}
return {
months: totalMonths,
totalInterestPaid: totalInterestPaid,
totalPaid: totalOriginalBalance + totalInterestPaid // Total paid is original balance + total interest
};
}
function formatMonthsToYearsMonths(totalMonths) {
if (totalMonths === 0) return "0 months";
var years = Math.floor(totalMonths / 12);
var months = totalMonths % 12;
var parts = [];
if (years > 0) {
parts.push(years + (years === 1 ? " year" : " years"));
}
if (months > 0) {
parts.push(months + (months === 1 ? " month" : " months"));
}
return parts.join(" and ");
}
Understanding Debt Snowball vs. Debt Avalanche: Which Strategy is Right for You?
When facing multiple debts, it can feel overwhelming to decide where to focus your repayment efforts. Two popular and effective strategies, the Debt Snowball and the Debt Avalanche, offer structured approaches to becoming debt-free. While both aim for the same goal, they differ significantly in their methodology and the benefits they offer.
What is the Debt Snowball Method?
The Debt Snowball method is a debt repayment strategy where you prioritize paying off your smallest debt first, regardless of its interest rate. Here's how it works:
- List all your debts from the smallest balance to the largest.
- Make minimum payments on all debts except for the smallest one.
- On the smallest debt, pay as much extra as you possibly can.
- Once the smallest debt is paid off, take the money you were paying on that debt (its minimum payment plus any extra you were adding) and apply it to the next smallest debt.
- Repeat this process, "snowballing" your payments, until all debts are paid off.
Example: Imagine you have a $500 credit card, a $2,000 personal loan, and a $5,000 car loan. With an extra $100 per month, you'd pay the minimums on the personal and car loans, and put the $100 extra towards the $500 credit card. Once the credit card is gone, you'd take its minimum payment + $100 and add it to the minimum payment of the $2,000 personal loan, and so on.
Key Benefit: Psychological Momentum. The primary advantage of the Debt Snowball is the quick wins. Paying off smaller debts quickly provides a psychological boost, keeping you motivated and committed to the process. This method is often recommended for individuals who need encouragement and visible progress to stick with their debt repayment plan.
What is the Debt Avalanche Method?
The Debt Avalanche method focuses on paying off debts with the highest interest rates first, regardless of their balance. This strategy is mathematically superior because it minimizes the total amount of interest you pay over time. Here's how it works:
- List all your debts from the highest interest rate to the lowest.
- Make minimum payments on all debts except for the one with the highest interest rate.
- On the debt with the highest interest rate, pay as much extra as you possibly can.
- Once the highest-interest debt is paid off, take the money you were paying on that debt (its minimum payment plus any extra you were adding) and apply it to the debt with the next highest interest rate.
- Repeat this process until all debts are paid off.
Example: Using the same debts: a $500 credit card (22% interest), a $2,000 personal loan (10% interest), and a $5,000 car loan (5% interest). With an extra $100 per month, you'd pay minimums on the personal and car loans, and put the $100 extra towards the $500 credit card (because it has the highest interest rate, even though it's the smallest balance). Once that's paid, you'd roll its payment + $100 into the personal loan, and then the car loan.
Key Benefit: Financial Savings. The main advantage of the Debt Avalanche is that it saves you the most money in interest over the long run. By tackling the most expensive debts first, you reduce the overall cost of your debt. This method is ideal for individuals who are highly disciplined and prioritize financial efficiency.
How to Use the Calculator
Our Debt Snowball vs. Debt Avalanche Calculator makes it easy to compare these two strategies side-by-side:
- Enter Your Debts: For each of your debts (up to 5), input the debt name (e.g., "Credit Card 1", "Student Loan"), its current balance, its annual interest rate (as a percentage, e.g., 18 for 18%), and its minimum monthly payment. If you have fewer than 5 debts, leave the remaining fields blank.
- Add Your Extra Payment: Enter the additional amount you can consistently afford to pay towards your debts each month, beyond your minimum payments. This extra payment is crucial for accelerating your debt repayment.
- Click "Calculate Comparison": The calculator will then simulate both the Debt Snowball and Debt Avalanche methods based on your inputs.
Interpreting the Results
The results table will show you:
- Time to Pay Off: How many years and months it will take to become debt-free under each strategy.
- Total Interest Paid: The total amount of interest you will pay over the entire repayment period for each strategy.
- Total Amount Paid: The sum of your original debt balances plus the total interest paid for each strategy.
The calculator will also provide a summary statement indicating which method saves you more money and/or time, helping you make an informed decision.
Which Strategy is Right for You?
- Choose Debt Avalanche if: You are highly motivated by saving money, disciplined enough to stick to a plan that might not offer immediate gratification, and want to minimize your total interest paid.
- Choose Debt Snowball if: You need psychological wins to stay motivated, tend to get discouraged easily, or find the idea of quickly eliminating smaller debts empowering. While it may cost slightly more in interest, the increased motivation can be invaluable for long-term success.
Ultimately, the "best" strategy is the one you can stick with. Both methods are superior to making only minimum payments on all debts. Use this calculator to see the tangible differences and choose the path that aligns best with your financial personality and goals.