Credit Utilization Calculator
Enter each card’s reported balance and credit limit to calculate your overall and per-card utilization, see your available credit, and explore lower-utilization scenarios.
Your credit cards
Results update automatically as you type.
Credit utilization is one factor that may affect credit scores. Scoring models vary, and there is no single utilization percentage that guarantees a particular credit score.
- Card 1Highest20.0%Balance $1,000.00 of $5,000.00Low
Explore Lower Utilization Scenarios
These are illustrative targets, not credit-score predictions.
- Below approximately 50% utilizationYou're already below approximately 50% overall.
- Below approximately 30% utilizationYou're already below approximately 30% overall.
- Below approximately 10% utilizationYour combined reported balances would need to be below approximately $500.00.Reduction needed$500.00
What is credit utilization?
Credit utilization is the ratio of your revolving-credit balances to your credit limits. It is measured both per card and overall, and it is one of the factors credit scoring models may consider when producing a score.
How is it calculated?
- Per card: balance ÷ credit limit × 100.
- Overall: total balances ÷ total credit limits × 100. This is not the average of the individual percentages.
- If a balance exceeds the credit limit, utilization is reported above 100%.
Overall vs. per-card utilization
Scoring models may look at your overall revolving utilization and utilization on individual accounts. Lower is generally preferable, but there is no single “magic” cutoff that guarantees a particular score.
Why can reported balances differ?
The utilization on your credit report reflects the balance the issuer reported to the credit bureaus — usually on your statement date. Your current banking-app balance may be higher or lower.
CreditCardTM educational ranges
These are CreditCardTM educational ranges, not official FICO score categories and not guarantees of credit-score outcomes.
- 0–9%Very Low
- 10–29%Low
- 30–49%Moderate
- 50–74%High
- 75–99%Very High
- 100%+At or Above Credit Limit
Frequently asked questions
- What is credit utilization?
- Credit utilization is the share of your available revolving credit that you are currently using. It is calculated per card and overall (across all cards).
- How is credit utilization calculated?
- For each card: balance divided by credit limit, expressed as a percentage. Overall utilization is the sum of all balances divided by the sum of all credit limits — not an average of the individual percentages.
- Does credit utilization affect credit scores?
- Credit utilization is one factor that may affect credit scores. Scoring models vary, and there is no single utilization percentage that guarantees a particular credit score.
- Why can reported balances differ from current balances?
- The utilization used by scoring models is generally based on the balance and credit limit reported by the issuer to credit bureaus, typically on your statement date. That amount can differ from the balance you see in your banking app today.
- How can someone lower credit utilization?
- Paying down revolving balances can lower utilization. Closing a credit card may reduce your total available credit and could increase your utilization ratio, depending on your other balances and limits. The scenarios above show how much reduction would put you below common target ranges.
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