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Credit utilization calculator
Add your cards to see your overall credit utilization and how much you'd need to pay down to reach 30% or 10%.
Credit utilization calculator
Runs in your browser. Nothing is stored.- Pay down to reach 30%
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- Pay down to reach 10%
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What credit utilization is
Credit utilization is the share of your available revolving credit that you're using. It falls under "amounts owed," which makes up about 30% of a FICO score.
utilization = total card balances ÷ total credit limits × 100Scoring models look at both your overall ratio and each card's ratio, so one maxed-out card can hurt even if your overall number is low.
What's a good ratio?
| Utilization | What it usually means |
|---|---|
| Under 10% | Excellent. People with the highest scores tend to be here. |
| 10% to 29% | Good. The common guideline is to stay under 30%. |
| 30% to 49% | Fair. Likely weighing on your score. |
| 50% and above | High. Paying it down can raise your score noticeably. |
How to lower it
- Pay before the statement closing date, since that's usually the balance reported to the bureaus.
- Ask for a credit limit increase on a card you pay on time.
- Keep old no-fee cards open; closing them removes their limit from the total.
Building credit from scratch? Read our 12-month plan.
Sources
Frequently asked questions
What is a good credit utilization ratio?
Under 30% is the common guideline, and under 10% is typical of people with excellent scores.
Does utilization matter if I pay in full every month?
Yes. The balance on your statement is usually what's reported, even if you pay it off by the due date. Paying before the statement closes lowers it.
Is 0% utilization best?
Not quite. Showing a small balance on at least one card usually scores slightly better than showing none at all.