Debt Snowball vs. Avalanche: Which Pays Off Debt Faster?

The avalanche method (cheapest)

Pay minimums on everything, then throw every extra dollar at the debt with the highest interest rate. Once it's gone, roll that money to the next-highest rate. This minimizes total interest paid and gets you debt-free fastest mathematically.

The snowball method (most motivating)

Pay minimums on everything, then attack the smallest balance first regardless of rate. Knocking out a whole debt quickly creates momentum and a psychological win that keeps many people going. It may cost slightly more in interest but has a higher success rate for sticking with it.

Which should you pick?

• Choose avalanche if you're disciplined and want to save the most money.
• Choose snowball if you've struggled to stay motivated and need quick wins.
• Either way, the most important step is paying more than the minimum.

See your payoff date

Our Debt Payoff Calculator shows how long it takes to clear a balance and how much interest you'll pay at different monthly payments. The Budget Calculator helps you find extra money to put toward it.