What's the ideal credit utilization?

0-10% is excellent, 10-30% is good, 30-50% is fair, over 50% is poor. For best score, keep both overall AND per-card utilization under 30%, ideally under 10%.

Does it help to pay before the due date?

Pay before the STATEMENT CLOSING date (not due date) to lower the balance reported to credit bureaus. The due date is ~3 weeks after statement close.

Should I request a higher limit?

Generally yes - it lowers your utilization percentage. But only if you won't spend more! The request may cause a small, temporary score dip.

§ Tool · tier 1 · independent

Credit Utilization Calculator.

Calculate your credit utilization ratio and its impact on your credit score

CalculatorFree, no signupOn-deviceupd May 2026

Inputs

Your numbers

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Move the sliders or type in the form on the left — the math updates live as you go. Click Get AI verdict when you want a written analysis.

Credit utilization is the #2 factor in your credit score (after payment history). This calculator shows your current ratio and how to optimize it.

§ Worked examples

Real-world scenarios

Multi-Card Utilization

Card 1: $3,000 of $10,000 limit. Card 2: $4,500 of $5,000 limit. Card 3: $0 of $8,000 limit.

Inputs

card1Limit:10,000card1Balance:3,000card2Limit:5,000card2Balance:4,500card3Limit:8,000card3Balance:0

Overall: $7,500 of $23,000 = 32.6% (Fair). But Card 2 is at 90%! This single maxed card hurts your score. Pay Card 2 down first.

§ FAQ

Questions Australians ask

§ Glossary

Plain-English definitions

Credit Utilization

The percentage of your available credit that you're using.

Statement Closing Date

When your card issuer calculates your statement and reports to credit bureaus.

Credit Limit

The maximum amount you can charge to a credit card.

§ Pair it with

Related tools

Credit Score Calculator

How utilization affects score

Payoff Calculator

Pay down high balances

Credit Limit Calculator

Should you request an increase?

How to use

01Enter each card's credit limit and current balance
02Add all cards you have
03See your overall and per-card utilization
04Get recommendations to improve your ratio
05Understand the impact on your credit score

Key info

Utilization = (Total Balance ÷ Total Limit) × 100
Under 30% is good, under 10% is excellent
Both overall AND per-card utilization matter
Utilization is calculated when statements close

Pro tips

Pay before statement closing date, not just due date
Request credit limit increases (but don't spend more!)
Keep old cards open even if unused (helps utilization)
Spread spending across cards to keep per-card utilization low

Avoid these

Maxing out one card while others are zero
Closing old cards (reduces total limit = higher utilization)
Only paying by due date (statement already reported high balance)
Not knowing when your statement closes

Disclaimer: Estimates only. Interest rates, fees and policies change frequently. Always verify with lenders directly. General information, not personal financial advice.

Last updated · May 2026