Credit Utilization Calculator
See how much of your available credit you are using. Enter the balance and limit for up to five credit cards to get each card's utilization, your overall ratio, a guidance band and exactly how much to pay down to get under 30% or 10%.
How to use the Credit Utilization Calculator
- Enter each card's current balance (or statement balance) and credit limit.
- Optionally name the cards so the table is easy to read. Leave unused cards empty.
- Press Calculate utilization to see your overall ratio and each card's ratio.
- Check the pay-down amounts to see how much to pay to get under 30% or 10%.
- Download the CSV or copy the results to track your progress.
Credit utilization formulas
- Card utilization = card balance ÷ card limit × 100
- Overall utilization = sum of balances ÷ sum of limits × 100
- Pay down to reach a target = total balances − target % × total limits
Example: Cashback card $1,200 / $5,000 (24%), travel card $450 / $3,000 (15%), store card $2,800 / $4,000 (70%). Overall: $4,450 ÷ $12,000 = 37.1%. To get to 30% you would pay $4,450 − $3,600 = $850; to reach 10%, $3,250.
Utilization guidance bands
| Utilization | Band | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Under 10% | Excellent | Typical of people with top credit scores |
| 10% to 29% | Good | Within the common 30% guideline |
| 30% to 49% | Fair | Likely pulling your score down somewhat |
| 50% to 74% | High | Lenders may see you as stretched |
| 75% and above | Very high | Strong negative effect; pay down first |
Balance that equals 30% and 10% of a limit
| Credit limit | 30% balance | 10% balance |
|---|---|---|
| $1,000 | $300 | $100 |
| $2,500 | $750 | $250 |
| $5,000 | $1,500 | $500 |
| $10,000 | $3,000 | $1,000 |
| $20,000 | $6,000 | $2,000 |
Frequently asked questions
How is credit utilization calculated?
Credit utilization = total credit card balances ÷ total credit limits × 100. With balances of $4,450 on limits of $12,000, utilization is 37.1%. Scoring models look at both your overall ratio and each card's individual ratio.
What is a good credit utilization ratio?
Below 30% is the common guideline, and people with the highest scores often keep it under 10%. Lower is generally better, although reporting a small balance on at least one card can be slightly better than 0% everywhere.
Does paying my card in full each month mean 0% utilization?
Not always. Issuers usually report the statement balance to the credit bureaus, so a balance on your statement counts even if you pay it in full by the due date. Paying before the statement closes lowers the reported balance.
Does closing a credit card hurt my utilization?
It can. Closing a card removes its credit limit from your total, so the same balances become a higher percentage. Keeping old no-fee cards open usually helps utilization.
Do loans count toward credit utilization?
Utilization mainly refers to revolving credit such as credit cards and lines of credit. Installment loans like car loans, mortgages and student loans are scored differently, by how much of the original balance remains.
How quickly does utilization affect my score?
Utilization has no long memory in most scoring models. Once a lower balance is reported, usually after the next statement, your score can reflect it within a month or so.