Debt Avalanche Calculator – Minimize Interest, Finish Faster
Pay highest‑APR debts first to save the most interest. Model payoff time, interest, and scheduling with our avalanche calculator.
Published on 9/15/2025
Debt Avalanche Calculator – Minimize Interest, Finish Faster
How the avalanche works
- Sort debts by APR (high → low)
- Pay minimums on all
- Put all extra toward the highest APR
- Snowball payment to next highest APR
Calculator inputs
- Balances, APRs, minimums
- Extra payoff budget
- Optional: expected APR changes or promo periods
Outputs
- Months to debt‑free
- Interest paid vs minimums
- Interest saved vs snowball
- Optimal payment ordering
Best for
- Large APR spread across debts
- Disciplined savers focused on math-optimal path
Tactics
- Use balance transfers carefully (fee vs savings)
- Refinance high‑APR loans when possible
- Keep emergency buffer to avoid new debt
Example: APR‑heavy portfolio
Debts:
- Card X: $7,000 @ 28% (min $210)
- Card Y: $5,000 @ 19% (min $125)
- Loan Z: $8,000 @ 8% (min $160)
- Extra: $350/mo
Avalanche path
- Card X → Card Y → Loan Z
- Interest saved vs snowball: ~$1,900
- Debt‑free date: ~N months earlier than minimums‑only
Related
- Snowball vs Avalanche Calculator: /calculator/snowball-vs-avalanche-calculator
- Debt Snowball Calculator: /calculator/debt-snowball-calculator
- Emergency Fund Calculator Tool: /calculator/emergency-fund-calculator-tool
Related keywords we cover
- highest apr first method, interest optimization
- balance transfer calculator pitfalls, refinance vs avalanche
- variable apr scenarios and strategy switching
debt avalanche calculatordebt payoffinterest savingspersonal finance