Debt-Free Date Calculator

Find your debt-free date. See how extra payments accelerate payoff using the avalanche method.

By Konstantin Iakovlev · Updated April 2026 · Source: CFPB — Consumer Tools

Your Debts

Credit Card$8000 at 22%
Car Loan$15000 at 6.5%

Add a Debt

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Debt-Free Date

Nov 2029

40 months

Total Interest

$3,973.26

Total Paid

$26,973.26

Speed It Up (Avalanche Method)

Current plan40 months | $3,973.26 interest
With extra $100/mo35 months | $3,279.62 interest
With extra $200/mo31 months | $2,801.96 interest
With extra $500/mo22 months | $1,985.26 interest

Debt Details

Credit Card$8,000.00 at 22%
Car Loan$15,000.00 at 6.5%

Use the Debt-Free Date Calculator above to calculate your results. Enter your values and see instant results — all calculations run in your browser.

Disclaimer: This calculator is for informational purposes only and does not constitute tax, financial, or legal advice. Results are estimates based on the information you provide and current rates. Always consult a qualified tax professional or financial advisor for advice specific to your situation.

How It Works

A repayment plan feels different once it has a finish line attached to it. Feed in your current loan details and you get a projected debt-free date, along with a clear picture of how extra payments pull that date closer, potentially clearing your balances by early 2026 or sooner.

Under the hood, the tool follows the debt avalanche method, which targets the highest interest rates first. It covers the minimum payment on every debt, then throws any additional money at the principal of the costliest one, recalculating month by month until each balance reaches zero.

Interest accrual is easy to overlook, and skipping it produces wildly optimistic timelines, so the projections here build it in from the start. Small extra payments matter more than they look: applied consistently, they can cut months or years off your schedule and save thousands in interest along the way.

Example: Student Loan and Credit Card Debt

  1. 1 Input your loans: Student Loan (remaining balance $20,000, 6.5% interest, $225 minimum payment) and Credit Card (remaining balance $5,000, 24.99% interest, $150 minimum payment). Then, specify an extra payment of $100 per month.
  2. 2 The calculator identifies the Credit Card as the highest interest debt. It applies the $100 extra payment to the Credit Card, reducing its principal faster. Once the Credit Card is paid off, the full $250 ($150 minimum + $100 extra) is then applied to the Student Loan.
  3. 3 Without extra payments, you might be debt-free by December 2029. With the $100 extra payment using the avalanche method, your debt-free date could be accelerated to May 2027, saving you significant interest.
  4. 4 This example demonstrates how strategically applying extra payments, even a modest amount, can dramatically reduce your debt-free date and total interest paid, putting you in a stronger financial position much sooner.

Source: CFPB — Consumer Tools · Last updated: April 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I calculate my debt-free date?
List all debts with balances, rates, and minimum payments. Use the avalanche method (highest rate first) or snowball method (smallest balance first) to determine payoff order. As each debt is paid off, roll its payment into the next debt to accelerate payoff.
Is the avalanche or snowball method better?
The avalanche method (pay highest interest rate first) saves the most money. The snowball method (pay smallest balance first) provides quicker wins for motivation. Mathematically, avalanche wins, but the best method is whichever you will stick to.
How much does an extra $200 per month accelerate debt payoff?
It depends on your debt size and rate. On $30,000 of debt at 7% average interest, an extra $200/month can cut your payoff time by 3-5 years and save thousands in interest. The impact is proportionally larger on higher-interest debt.