Debt Consolidation Calculator
Compare the true cost of a consolidation loan against your DIY payoff plan.
Debt consolidation rolls several debts into a single loan with one monthly payment — ideally at a lower rate. But a lower headline APR is not always cheaper once you factor in fees and a longer term. This calculator compares the all-in cost of a consolidation offer against your DIY snowball/avalanche plan, so you can see the real difference before you sign anything.
Your debts
Pre-filled with an example — edit the numbers to match your own.
Minimums total £325 / month.
Applied in month 1 (e.g. a bonus or tax refund).
Debt-free date
July 2029
3 yr 1 mo
Total interest paid
£3,645.62
avalanche method
Total amount paid
£18,145.62
principal + interest
Interest you could save
£91.61
avalanche vs other method
Snowball vs Avalanche — side by side
Snowball
- Time to debt-free
- 3 yr 1 mo
- Total interest
- £3,737.23
- First debt cleared
- Credit Card B
Avalanche
Lowest interest- Time to debt-free
- 3 yr 1 mo
- Total interest
- £3,645.62
- First debt cleared
- Credit Card A
Total balance over time
How your combined debt falls under each strategy.
Payoff order
The order your debts clear under the avalanche method.
- 1Credit Card A
- 2Credit Card B
- 3Personal Loan
Payoff schedule
37 months total| Month | Interest | Remaining balance | Credit Card A | Personal Loan | Credit Card B |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | £198.54 | £14,198.54 | £4,010.15 | £8,403.54 | £1,784.85 |
| 2 | £193.66 | £13,892.2 | £3,816.68 | £8,306.08 | £1,769.45 |
| 3 | £188.7 | £13,580.9 | £3,619.51 | £8,207.6 | £1,753.79 |
| 4 | £183.65 | £13,264.56 | £3,418.58 | £8,108.1 | £1,737.88 |
| 5 | £178.52 | £12,943.07 | £3,213.82 | £8,007.56 | £1,721.7 |
| 6 | £173.29 | £12,616.37 | £3,005.15 | £7,905.97 | £1,705.25 |
| 7 | £167.98 | £12,284.35 | £2,792.5 | £7,803.32 | £1,688.53 |
| 8 | £162.58 | £11,946.92 | £2,575.79 | £7,699.61 | £1,671.53 |
| 9 | £157.08 | £11,604 | £2,354.95 | £7,594.81 | £1,654.25 |
| 10 | £151.49 | £11,255.49 | £2,129.89 | £7,488.92 | £1,636.68 |
| 11 | £145.8 | £10,901.28 | £1,900.53 | £7,381.93 | £1,618.82 |
| 12 | £140.01 | £10,541.29 | £1,666.8 | £7,273.83 | £1,600.67 |
Should you consolidate?
Compare a single consolidation loan against your DIY avalanche plan.
Your DIY plan (avalanche)
- Time to clear
- 3 yr 1 mo
- Total interest
- £3,645.62
- Total cost
- £18,145.62
Consolidation loan
- Monthly payment
- £378.07
- Total interest
- £3,212.52
- Total cost (incl. fee)
- £18,147.52
Ready to lower your interest rate?
If your plan shows consolidation could save you money, compare real, regulated lenders and 0% balance-transfer cards before you apply. Always check the representative APR, fees, and eligibility.
Affiliate disclosure: these are sponsored comparison links. We may earn a commission at no cost to you. This is not financial advice — check each provider's terms before applying.
Frequently asked questions
When does debt consolidation make sense?
Consolidation usually helps when the new loan rate is meaningfully lower than the weighted average APR of your current debts, the fees are modest, and the term is not so long that it cancels out the rate saving. Our tool computes the all-in cost so you can judge it on your numbers.
How is the consolidation cost calculated?
We treat the consolidation as a standard amortising loan. The loan amount equals your total balance plus any origination fee. The monthly payment is derived from the annuity formula using the new APR and term, and total interest is the sum of all payments minus the loan amount.
Does consolidating hurt my credit?
Applying involves a credit check, and opening a new loan can temporarily affect your score. Over time, reliably paying down a consolidated balance can help. This tool models cost only — it is not financial advice. Consider speaking to a regulated adviser or a free debt charity.
More calculators
Debt Snowball Calculator
Knock out your smallest balance first and build unstoppable momentum.
Open →Debt Avalanche Calculator
Target your highest interest rate first to pay the least interest possible.
Open →Credit Card Payoff Calculator
See exactly how long your cards take to clear — and what minimum payments really cost.
Open →Loan Payoff Calculator
Work out your payoff date, total interest, and how much you save by paying extra.
Open →