Debt Payoff Calculator UK
✓ Compare 5 UK debt payoff strategies side-by-side (Snowball, Avalanche, Hybrid & more)
✓ Private by design - no account. Your debt details stay on your device
✓ Preview your debt-free date and first 3 months free
✓ Pay once - generate updated plans anytime (PDF + CSV download)
Enter your debts once and see projected timelines and estimated interest costs based on the numbers you enter.
Compare Snowball, Avalanche & 3 More Strategies Instantly
Start your riot against debt
DebtRiot is an information and planning tool - not regulated debt advice. Results are estimates based on what you enter.
If you're struggling with payments, free help: StepChange | National Debtline
The Smiths — Example payoff snapshot
| Month | Overdraft | Cards | Car | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month 1 | £484 | £216 | — | £700 |
| Month 2 | £270 | £430 | — | £700 |
| Month 3 | — | £520 | £180 | £700 |
Example only — the calculator estimates outcomes based on the numbers entered. Try the demo below to explore.
Need a budget first? Not sure how much you can overpay each month? Use the free Cash Stuffing Calculator to build a simple envelope budget and estimate your monthly leftover cash.
Monthly Budget
Tell us how much you can put towards debt each month.
Option A: Enter your income and expenses — we'll calculate what's left for debt.
Option B: If you already know how much you can put towards debt, enter that directly.
Important: If you're struggling to cover essentials or minimum payments, free help is available: StepChange / National Debtline
Add Your Debts
List each debt you want to pay off. Drag rows to set a custom priority order.
0% promotional rates: If you have a 0% deal (e.g. balance transfer), enter the promotional rate and months remaining so the schedule accounts for when it expires.
| NameWho you owe | BalanceTotal amount you owe today | Rate %APR shown on your statement | TypeAPR for cards/loans, EAR for overdrafts | Promo %Current 0% or low rate (leave blank if none) | Promo MonthsHow many months until promo ends | Min PaymentMinimum monthly payment required |
|---|
How it works: Enter the amount and select which month you expect to receive it. The simulation will show how this extra payment affects your projected debt-free date.
Compare Repayment Strategies
See how different repayment methods compare for your situation.
Results are projections — actual outcomes may vary based on rate changes, fees, or payment variations.
Strategy for PDF: Select which repayment method to use in your personalised plan. Review the comparison cards above to see how each method affects your projected timeline and estimated interest.
Hybrid: Switch after: For Hybrid strategies only — set how many debts to clear before switching methods.
Payday: The day you plan to make payments — used to generate your payment calendar.
Prioritise expiring promos: When enabled, debts with promotional rates (e.g. 0% balance transfers) expiring within 3 months are placed earlier in your payment order, before the standard rate applies.
Your Debt Payoff Journey
Your Milestones
If you're struggling to cover essentials or minimum payments, free confidential help is available: StepChange • National Debtline
How DebtRiot Works
Four simple steps to your personalised debt-free plan
Set your monthly debt budget
Either enter your income + essentials to estimate what's left, or choose "I know my budget for debt" and enter one number. Add an optional emergency buffer if you want breathing room.
Add your debts (UK rates supported)
Enter each balance, interest rate (APR or EAR), and minimum payment. If you have a 0% deal, add the promo rate + months remaining so the model switches to the standard rate when it ends.
Compare 5 repayment strategies
See estimated timelines, interest costs, and milestones across Snowball, Avalanche, Hybrid, and Cash Flow Index — then choose what fits you.
Download your plan (PDF + CSV)
Preview the first 3 months free. When you're ready, download the full plan as a personalised PDF with payment schedule, calendar, what-if scenarios, and milestone celebrations. CSV exports included.
Built for the UK
APR vs EAR support, overdraft modelling, 0% promo rate handling
Privacy-first
Calculator runs locally in your browser. No data sent to any server.
Pay once, update forever
£9.99 one-off. Generate updated plans anytime your situation changes.
Ready to see your estimated debt-free date?
Try the calculator above — free to compare all 5 strategies
Jump to the CalculatorThe 5 Debt Payoff Strategies Explained
Not sure which debt repayment method to use? DebtRiot compares all five strategies using your actual numbers so you can see which one gets you debt-free fastest - or saves the most in estimated interest. Here's how each works.
Avalanche
Saves Most InterestPays off the debt with the highest interest rate first, regardless of balance. Mathematically, this costs you the least in estimated interest over the full repayment period. Once the highest-rate debt is cleared, the freed-up payment rolls into the next highest rate.
Snowball
Quick WinsPays off the smallest balance first, regardless of interest rate. You eliminate individual debts quickly, building momentum and motivation. May cost slightly more in total interest than Avalanche, but many people find it easier to stick with.
Hybrid: Snowball → Avalanche
BalancedStarts with the Snowball method to clear your first 1–3 debts for quick wins, then switches to Avalanche for the remaining debts to minimise interest. You choose how many debts to clear before switching. Combines motivation with maths.
Hybrid: Avalanche → Snowball
BalancedThe reverse — starts with Avalanche to tackle the most expensive debts first, then switches to Snowball for the remainder. Useful when your highest-rate debts also happen to be among your smaller balances.
Cash Flow Index
Frees Up CashCalculates each debt's balance ÷ minimum payment ratio and targets the debt that frees up the most monthly cash flow first. Doesn't optimise for interest — it optimises for breathing room. Particularly useful if your minimum payments are eating into your budget.
Simple Pricing
FAQ
-
Yes. Calculations run locally in your browser and we don’t receive the figures you type into the calculator. We only run basic, anonymised analytics if you consent in the cookie banner.
-
You can either enter your full monthly budget (take-home pay, essentials and an emergency buffer) or enter a single monthly “budget for debts” if you already know what you can afford. For each debt, use your latest lender statement/app for balance, rate type (APR/EAR) and minimum payment.
-
Yes. Select APR or EAR for each debt (overdrafts often use EAR). If a 0% deal ends after a set number of months, enter the promo details so the model can switch to the standard rate.
-
Yes. Unlike most calculators built for the US market, DebtRiot understands the difference between APR (used for credit cards and loans) and EAR (used for UK overdrafts). Just select the rate type and we calculate the interest correctly.
-
Snowflakes are one-off extra payments you can make when you have spare cash — like a bonus, tax refund or gift money. Choose the month you expect it and the plan will show the impact on your timeline.
-
Comparing strategies and previewing your plan is free. Downloading the full personalised PDF plan is a one-time payment (£9.99) — no subscription. After purchase, you can generate updated plans using your Recovery Code (fair-use and device limits apply).
-
No. DebtRiot is an information and planning tool — not regulated debt advice. If you need personalised help, free and confidential support is available from StepChange or National Debtline.