Free Tool
Credit Utilization Calculator
Utilization is 30% of your FICO score. See exactly where you stand and how much to pay down to hit each threshold.
Your credit card balances
What-if scenarios
What would utilization be if you paid down this amount?
What if you got a credit line increase?
Overall utilization
Pay-down targets
Reach 5% (optimal)
Best for score
Reach 10% (excellent)
Reach 30% (good)
Credit used vs. available
Per-card utilization
How utilization affects your credit score
Credit utilization — the percentage of your revolving credit you're using — makes up about 30% of your FICO score. It's second only to payment history, and it's one of the fastest factors to change.
| Utilization range | Score impact | What lenders see |
|---|---|---|
| 0–5% | Optimal | Best possible utilization signal |
| 6–10% | Excellent | Very low credit dependency |
| 11–30% | Good | Normal, healthy usage |
| 31–50% | Moderate risk | Elevated reliance on credit |
| 51–75% | High risk | Near-maxed, lenders concerned |
| 76–100%+ | Severe | Maxed out — significant score damage |
Per-card vs. aggregate utilization
FICO scores look at both your aggregate utilization (total balances ÷ total limits) and per-card utilization. A single maxed card hurts your score even if your overall utilization is low.
The hidden per-card trap
You have three cards: $0/$5,000, $0/$5,000, and $1,000/$1,000. Aggregate utilization = 10% (excellent). But Card 3 is at 100% — this still damages your score because FICO evaluates each card individually.
Lower utilization without paying more debt
Request a credit limit increase
A higher limit with the same balance immediately lowers utilization. Call after 6+ months of on-time payments.
Credit score guides →Pay before the statement closes
Bureaus receive your balance on the statement closing date — not the due date. Paying early means a lower reported balance.
Statement date planner →Redistribute balances
If you can't pay down a maxed card, spreading the balance across cards lowers the per-card utilization hit.
Debt payoff calculator →Become an authorized user
Being added to a low-utilization card adds its limit to your profile, reducing your overall ratio.
Score simulator →Related tools
Educational content only. This page is for informational purposes and does not constitute legal, tax, or personal financial advice. Results vary. Laws and bureau processes change. Consult the CFPB, FTC, and AnnualCreditReport.com for authoritative guidance. Full disclaimer
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