Paying off several cards at once
Carrying balances on more than one card raises a question single-card calculators cannot answer: which card should get your extra money? This tool models up to three cards together. Every card receives its minimum payment each month, and any extra payment you have is funneled to one target card until it is cleared, then the freed-up money cascades to the next card.
Which card is the target depends on the strategy you pick. Avalanche aims at the highest APR first to minimise interest; snowball aims at the smallest balance first to clear individual cards quickly. The simulation accrues interest on every card each month, applies the payments, and continues until all balances reach zero.
Understanding the output
The total months figure is how long it takes to clear every card under your chosen strategy. Total interest is the combined interest you pay across all cards, and the payoff order shows the sequence in which the cards are eliminated.
To leave a card out of the plan, set its balance to zero — cards with no balance are ignored.
Getting out of card debt faster
With high card APRs, a few moves make a real difference:
- Increase the extra monthly payment; this shortens the timeline and cuts total interest more than switching strategies does.
- Use avalanche if your goal is to pay the least interest possible.
- Use snowball if quick, visible wins help you stay committed to the plan.
- Consider a 0% balance-transfer offer to pause interest, but factor in any transfer fee and the promo deadline.
- Stop adding new charges to the cards while paying them down.
Assumptions and limits
The model uses fixed APRs, the minimum payments you enter, a constant extra payment and no new purchases. Real card minimums shift as balances fall and rates can be variable, so treat the timeline as a close estimate. If payments cannot cover the interest, the calculator will tell you to raise them.
Formula
each month: add interest, pay minimums + extra to target card; avalanche = highest APR, snowball = smallest balanceFrequently asked questions
- How do I leave out a card?
- Set its balance to zero. Cards with no balance are ignored in the plan.
- Which strategy is best?
- Avalanche pays the least interest overall. Snowball can be more motivating because you clear individual cards faster.