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About Debt Snowball Calculator Online
This tool builds a debt-snowball payoff plan: a strategy where you list your debts smallest balance first and target the smallest one with every extra dollar while paying minimums on the rest. When the smallest is paid off, you roll its payment into attacking the next-smallest, and so on. The total amount snowballs.
The snowball method prioritises behavioural wins over mathematical optimality. Paying off small balances quickly delivers visible progress, which research suggests helps people stick with the plan longer than the mathematically-superior "avalanche" method (which targets highest interest rate first).
The tool projects your full payoff timeline given a chosen extra monthly payment. Try several amounts to see how each level of commitment shortens the time to debt-free.
How to use this tool
How to size a single debt-snowball payoff target
Enter the debt
"Smallest debt balance" is the principal of the SMALLEST balance you want to attack first. Snowball strategy targets the smallest debt regardless of interest rate, then rolls the freed-up payment into the next debt.
Enter the monthly attack
"Monthly snowball payment" is what you plan to throw at this debt every month — at minimum the minimum payment, ideally more (the minimums you'd be paying on other debts plus any surplus from your budget).
Press Run
Result returns `monthsToClear` = `Math.ceil(balance / monthlyPayment)`. Interest accrual is NOT modelled — this is a planning estimate, not an amortization schedule. Real payoff takes longer than this suggests.
Why snowball vs avalanche
Mathematically, avalanche (target highest APR first) saves more interest. Snowball (smallest balance first) gives quicker wins, which is psychologically motivating. Pick whichever you'll actually stick to.