Debt Snowball vs Avalanche Calculator

Your debts

+ Add a debt

Plan every month, not just the totals

The Debt Payoff Planner spreadsheet handles up to 10 debts, ranks them by snowball or avalanche, and builds a 120-month payment schedule with a debt-free dashboard you can update as balances change. Excel and Google Sheets, instant download.

Questions

What's the difference between debt snowball and debt avalanche?

Snowball pays minimums on everything and puts every extra dollar on the smallest balance first. Avalanche puts the extra on the highest interest rate first. Avalanche usually costs less interest; snowball gives quicker early wins.

How does this calculator work?

Each month it adds interest (APR divided by 12) to each balance, pays every minimum, then sends the rest of your monthly budget to the target debt. When a debt is paid off, its payment rolls into the next one.

Why does it say my budget is too low?

Your monthly budget has to cover at least the sum of the minimum payments, and enough to outpace interest, or the balances never reach zero.

Is this financial advice?

No. It's a free planning tool. Real lenders may compound daily or change rates, so results are estimates.