Debt Snowball Calculator

Add each debt's balance, APR and minimum payment, plus any extra you can pay each month. The snowball method targets the smallest balance first for quick wins, then rolls that payment into the next debt. See your debt-free date and total interest.

Enter your debts and extra payment, then press Build snowball plan.

How the snowball works

The debt snowball orders your debts from the smallest balance to the largest, ignoring interest rate. You pay the minimum on every debt and throw all your spare cash at the smallest one. When it is gone, its whole payment "rolls" onto the next-smallest - the snowball grows.

new attack payment = min payment + every freed payment + extra

Each month, interest accrues on each balance at APR ÷ 12, the minimums are applied, and the focus debt gets everything left over. The calculator simulates this month by month until every balance hits zero.

Worked example

Three debts of $500, $2,500 and $6,000 with $150 extra each month:

Target the $500 first - it clears in a couple of months, an early win that keeps you motivated.
Roll its $25 minimum + the $150 extra onto the $2,500 debt, then onto the $6,000.
Result: the calculator shows the exact debt-free month and the total interest paid along the way.

Snowball vs avalanche

The snowball is about behaviour: quick wins build momentum and most people stick with it. The avalanche method instead targets the highest APR first, which always pays the least total interest mathematically. If your smallest balance also happens to be your highest rate, the two methods agree. Compare both here and pick the one you will actually finish. All figures are computed in your browser.

Tip: see the interest-optimal order with the debt avalanche calculator, or model one card with the credit card payoff calculator.

Frequently asked questions

What order does the snowball use?

Smallest balance first, regardless of interest rate. You clear the small debts quickly for motivation, then roll each freed payment onto the next-smallest balance.

Does the snowball save the most interest?

Not usually - the avalanche method (highest APR first) pays less total interest. The snowball wins on motivation and completion rates, which for many people matters more.

What counts as the extra payment?

Any amount above the combined minimums that you can commit each month. The bigger the extra, the faster every debt clears and the less interest you pay overall.

Are my numbers sent anywhere?

No. The entire simulation runs in your browser. Nothing you enter about your debts is uploaded, logged or stored.

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Mustafa Bilgic · Editor, Calcool
Simulates the snowball month by month with monthly interest at APR ÷ 12, smallest-balance-first ordering and rolled payments. Everything runs in your browser - nothing you enter is uploaded, logged or stored.

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