Credit Utilization Calculator

Keep overall utilization below 30%

Most scoring models begin penalizing above 30%. The best scores typically show under 10%.

Pay down high-utilization cards first

Individual card utilization matters too — a single maxed-out card can hurt your score even if overall utilization looks fine.

Make multiple payments per month

Your balance is often reported mid-cycle. Paying before the statement date can lower the reported utilization.

Request a credit limit increase

A higher limit with the same balance immediately lowers your utilization ratio — without paying anything down.

Don't close old cards

Closing a card removes that limit from your total available credit, which can spike your utilization ratio instantly.