Free Debt Avalanche Calculator
Calculate how fast you can pay off debts using the avalanche method -- targeting the highest interest rate first.
Months to Pay Off
56 months
Months to Pay Off vs Total Monthly Payment
Debt Avalanche Method
The avalanche method pays off debts from highest interest rate to lowest, regardless of balance size.
How It Works
1. Make minimum payments on all debts 2. Put all extra money toward the highest-rate debt 3. When that is paid off, roll the payment to the next highest rate 4. Repeat until debt-free
Why Avalanche Wins Mathematically
This method minimizes total interest paid. The formula uses the standard amortization equation solved for number of payments:
n = -ln(1 - B*r/P) / ln(1+r)
Example Calculation
$30,000 total debt at 18% average rate, paying $800/month.
- 01Monthly rate = 18% / 12 = 1.5%
- 02Months = -ln(1 - $30,000 x 0.015 / $800) / ln(1.015)
- 03Months = -ln(0.4375) / ln(1.015) = 55.5 months (round to 56)
- 04Total paid = $800 x 56 = $44,800
- 05Total interest = $44,800 - $30,000 = $14,800
Frequently Asked Questions
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