Debt Avalanche vs Snowball Comparison
Enter your total monthly payoff budget and up to three debts to compare how much interest the avalanche method can save versus the snowball approach.
CalcSimpler Examples
- $1,200 budget with debts of $5,000@18%, $3,500@12%, $2,000@9% ⇒ $684 saved
- $900 budget with debts of $6,800@22%, $2,400@14% ⇒ $1,012 saved
FAQ
What if I only have one debt?
With a single balance both methods are identical, so the calculator returns zero savings.
How are minimum payments handled?
The simulation first applies monthly interest to every debt, then allocates your full budget according to the chosen strategy.
Why would the result be zero?
If the budget is too small to reduce balances after interest or if inputs are missing, both strategies perform the same and no savings are shown.
Additional Information
- Avalanche ordering targets the highest APR first while covering interest on all balances.
- Snowball ordering targets the smallest balance first for faster psychological wins.
- Large interest gaps or tight budgets magnify the difference between strategies.
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