Work out total and per-card credit utilization across up to 8 cards, see how much to pay down, and find safe balances for the 10% and 30% thresholds.
Pick a scenario to fill in a sample wallet.
Credit utilization is one input to your score, not the whole picture. The under-30% (ideally under-10%) guideline is a rule of thumb — scoring models weigh your overall and per-card usage. This is educational information, not financial or credit advice.
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Credit utilization is the percentage of revolving credit you are using. It is one of the biggest factors in credit scoring, and many lenders prefer to see it below 30%. This calculator shows total utilization, per-card utilization, how much to pay down, and how much you could spend while staying under 10% or 30% — across up to 8 cards.
Credit utilization compares your credit card balances to your credit limits. It is calculated two ways at once: per card and across all revolving accounts combined. Only revolving credit counts — credit cards, lines of credit and HELOCs — so a car loan or student loan never enters the ratio no matter how large it is. Because issuers usually report balances at the statement closing date, the timing of your payment matters just as much as the amount.
Formula
Check whether your revolving balances are likely to help or hurt a loan or card application.
Utilization feeds the credit score a lender pulls, and a score band can move your interest rate. Paying cards down before the statement closes is one of the few score levers that works in weeks.
See what a single high-usage card is doing to your profile even when the total across every card looks fine.
Track your utilization each month so you can keep balances in a range that supports your score.
A higher limit lowers the ratio the moment it posts. Enter the new limit to see exactly how much room it bought you.
See exactly how much money you need to free up to move from a high-utilization band into a safer one.
Amounts owed determine 30% of a FICO Score, and utilization is the largest part of it. Seeing the exact percentage helps you estimate how your balances may affect approval odds.
The calculator shows how much to pay on each card to reach 10% or 30%, so you can prioritize the single most effective payment instead of spreading money thinly.
Scoring models weigh your highest single-card ratio alongside the total. A wallet at a comfortable 21% can still hide a card at 92%, and the per-card plan surfaces it.
Issuers report the balance that appears when the statement closes. Knowing that timing helps you pay at the right moment, not just the right amount.
See whether paying down balances or requesting a higher limit is the quicker path to a better ratio — the calculator gives you both numbers for every threshold.
The reference table shows the balance that puts a card at 10% or 30% for the most common credit limits, so you can answer the question without doing any data entry.
Keep it under 30%, and under 10% is even better for your score. Utilization is one of the biggest factors in most credit scores, so lower is almost always better. This calculator shows your overall ratio and each card’s ratio.
$1,500. To stay under the 30% guideline on a $5,000 limit, keep the balance that appears on your statement below $1,500 — and below $500 for the stricter 10% guideline. The reference table on this page lists the same figures for the most common credit limits.
Keep the statement balance under $600 to stay below 30%, or under $200 to stay below 10%. You can spend more than that during the month as long as you pay it down before the statement closing date, because that is the balance your issuer reports.
No. 20% sits comfortably inside the under-30% guideline and is unlikely to hold your score back. It is not optimal either — people with exceptional scores tend to sit in single digits — but the gap between 20% and 5% is far smaller than the gap between 20% and 80%.
Slightly. Scoring models like to see you using credit responsibly, so a tiny amount (a few percent) can score marginally better than a flat 0% across every card. The difference is small — do not carry a balance just to show usage.
Both matter. Scores look at your total balance across all cards divided by total limits, and also your highest individual card’s ratio. One maxed-out card can hurt even if your overall ratio is low — this calculator flags both.
No. Only revolving accounts count — credit cards, personal lines of credit and HELOCs. Installment debt such as a car loan, mortgage or student loan is excluded from the ratio entirely, however large the balance is.
Divide your statement balance by your credit limit and multiply by 100. For overall utilization, add up all balances and all limits first. Enter your cards above to see the exact figures.
Fast — utilization has no memory. Once a lower balance is reported to the bureaus (usually after your statement closes), your score can improve within a billing cycle or two. There is no waiting period like with a late payment.
Usually on your statement closing date, not your due date. To show low utilization, pay the balance down before the statement closes — paying by the due date keeps you on time but may still report a higher balance.
Yes. A higher limit with the same balance drops your ratio instantly. Just do not treat the extra limit as extra spending room.
Usually yes. Closing a card removes its limit from the total while your balances stay put, so the ratio rises even though you did not spend anything. Check the effect here by deleting that card before you close the account.