Credit Utilization Calculator
Quick answer
A credit utilization calculator divides your total credit card balances by your total credit limits to give a percentage. Utilization is part of the amounts owed category, about 30% of a FICO score. Keeping it below 30%, and ideally under 10%, supports a healthy score. Because it updates each billing cycle, lowering it is a fast way to improve your credit.
Your utilization
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To reach 30%, balance would need to be under —. To reach 10%, under —.
Reading your result
Utilization is simply your balances divided by your limits, shown as a percentage. The calculator also shows the balance you'd need to hit the two thresholds that matter: under 30%, the widely cited ceiling, and under 10%, where the strongest credit profiles tend to sit. If your number is above 30%, bringing it down is usually the single fastest credit-score win available to you.
The timing detail that trips people up
Your card issuer typically reports your balance to the credit bureaus as of the statement closing date, not the payment due date. So paying in full by the due date doesn't help your reported utilization if a big balance was sitting there when the statement closed. The fix is to pay the balance down before the statement cuts, so the low figure is the one that gets reported.
For the full set of tactics, see our guide to credit utilization.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good credit utilization ratio?+
Below 30% is the common guideline, and people with the highest scores tend to stay under 10%. Utilization is your total card balances divided by your total credit limits. Lower is generally better for your score.
How do I lower my credit utilization?+
Pay balances down before the statement closing date, since that's usually the figure reported to the bureaus. You can also request a credit limit increase or keep old cards open to raise your total available credit.
Does utilization affect my credit score a lot?+
Yes. It's part of the amounts owed category, around 30% of a FICO score, and it updates every billing cycle. That makes it one of the fastest factors to improve.