Credit and debt
Credit utilization calculator
Utilization is the share of your credit limits you are using. Enter each card's statement balance and limit to see the overall ratio and the highest single card.
- Used$3,800.00
- Available$5,200.00
What this means
- You are using 42.2% of $9,000.00 in total credit.
- Paying $1,100.00 before the statement date would bring overall use to 30%.
- Many experts recommend using less than 30 percent of your total credit limit (CFPB). A single card near its limit may also matter, so check each card too.
What if
About this calculator
What this calculator does
It totals your card balances and limits and finds the share in use. It also shows the highest single card and the payment that would bring you to a target ratio.
How it is calculated
overall = total balances / total limits * 100
per card = balance / limit * 100
pay down = total balances - total limits * target
How to read the result
Lower is generally better for revolving credit. The balance that matters is usually the one on your statement, since that is what issuers report.
Sources and method
Balances divided by limits, overall and per card. The 30% figure is common guidance, not a scoring cutoff.
Questions
What utilization is good?
Lower is better. 30% is a common rule of thumb, and many people with high scores use much less. It is not a hard cutoff.
Which balance should I enter?
The statement balance, because that is usually what card issuers report to the credit bureaus.
Do installment loans count?
No. Utilization is about revolving credit such as credit cards and lines of credit.
Does paying in full each month help?
It avoids interest. The reported ratio still depends on the balance on the statement date.