DEBT PAYOFF CALCULATOR

Debt sucks, but this can make it better.

I don't want to think about this stuff, who does?
I built this tool so I (and now you!) don't have to. You're welcome.

Fill out the calculator below, and get a personalized, step-by-step payoff plan. All you have to do is follow it, no math necessary.

What do you owe?

For each debt, enter the balance, the interest rate (APR), and what you're paying on it right now.

🔒 Your numbers never leave your browser

What can you put toward your debt each month?

Right now you're paying

$515

across all your debts

How much can you afford in total?

If you can afford a little more, add it! Every dollar matters.

Example Scenarios

Look what a little organizing can do

Your personalized payoff plan

Set this up once. Each step tells you exactly what to pay and when to change something. Between steps, you do nothing but keep paying. Check off each step as you go.

How this calculator works

Interest: Each month, interest is calculated on your remaining balance (your rate divided by 12, multiplied by what you still owe), then subtracted from your payment. The rest reduces your balance. As your balance falls, so does the interest charge, which is why your payoff date accelerates over time rather than staying flat.

Payment allocation: Each month, the calculator covers the minimum payment on every debt first so nothing falls behind. Whatever's left goes entirely toward one debt: the one your chosen strategy targets. When a debt reaches zero, its full payment rolls over to the next debt in line. That's where the payoff speeds up.

Avalanche 🏔️ vs. Snowball ❄️: Both use the same calculation. Avalanche 🏔️ targets your highest interest rate first, which minimizes total interest paid. Snowball ❄️ targets your smallest balance first, so you eliminate accounts faster. Pick whichever one you'll actually stick with.

If a balance is growing: When a payment is smaller than the monthly interest charge (common with deferred loans), the unpaid interest gets added to your balance and starts accruing interest itself. The calculator identifies when this is happening and shows you the minimum payment needed to stop it.

Fine print: The calculation assumes a consistent monthly payment, a fixed interest rate, and monthly compounding. Most credit cards actually compound daily, so real-world numbers may differ slightly. This is a planning tool, not financial advice.

Privacy: The numbers you type stay in your browser. Your balances, rates, and payments are never sent anywhere. The site does use Google Analytics for visitor counts and Google AdSense for ads, and both set cookies; the privacy policy has the details.

What if you got a lower rate?

Maybe you call and negotiate, or move a balance somewhere cheaper. Try a new rate on any debt and see what it saves.

What a purchase actually costs you

While you owe money, every dollar you spend is a dollar that could have been killing your debt. Here's the real price of a purchase, using your own numbers.

This is not here to make you feel guilty about spending money.

Rather, this is for you to use when considering purchases you're actually on the fence about. It's just easier to make a call when you can see the true price. Think: "Should I get that new game console I've been eyeing?" Not: "Should I pay my electric bill?"

Thinking about spending…

It really costs you

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Avalanche 🏔️ or Snowball ❄️: which one is right for you?

The Avalanche 🏔️ method points your spare money at your highest interest rate first. It's the cheapest way out because you kill your most expensive debt fastest. The Snowball ❄️ method goes after your smallest balance first, so you knock out whole debts quickly and build momentum. Plenty of people stick with Snowball ❄️ precisely because those early wins feel good. The best method is the one you'll keep doing, so this calculator lets you flip between them and compare.

Bonus Strategy: The LazyGenius Special ✨

In some cases, the Avalanche 🏔️ and Snowball ❄️ methods both lose to a third method. That's because the balance with the highest interest rate isn't always the one costing you the most. I didn't have a name for it, so I'm calling it The LazyGenius Special ✨. Behind the scenes: The LazyGenius Special ✨ quickly calculates every possible debt payoff order and keeps whichever one costs the least.

If you have a situation where The LazyGenius Special ✨ strategy would save you time, money, or both over Avalanche 🏔️ or Snowball ❄️, the calculator will show it to you.

How long will it take to pay off my debt?

It comes down to your balances, your rates, and how much you can pay each month. This calculator runs your payoff month by month, recalculating interest on your shrinking balance and rolling each cleared debt's payment into the next, so the date you see is realistic.

What if my loan is in deferment, or I'm not making payments right now?

Enter $0 as your current payment. The calculator will handle it from there.

This calculator is for learning and planning, not financial advice.