Credit Utilization Calculator
Utilization is the fastest moving part of a credit score and the only large factor with no memory. Work out where you stand, per card and overall, and exactly what to pay down to change it.
Enter the balance and limit for every card. The calculator divides total balances by total limits for your overall utilization, shows each card separately because a single maxed card hurts on its own, and tells you the exact dollar amount to pay down to land at 30%, 10% or 1%.
Your cards
| Target | Pay down | Why this number |
|---|---|---|
| 30% | $1,210 | The commonly repeated ceiling |
| 10% | $3,010 | Where scoring gains get real |
| 1% | $3,820 | Where files tend to score best |
Utilization by card
Scoring models read each card as well as the total. A single card over 30% can hold a score down even when the overall number looks fine.
How utilization is calculated
Utilization is the balance reported on your revolving accounts divided by the total limit on those accounts. It is measured both across everything you hold and on each card individually, and both readings feed the score.
It carries no history
Unlike payment history, utilization has no memory. It is recalculated from whatever balance your issuer last reported, usually on the statement date. A balance paid down this month can change the ratio on the next report, with no waiting period and no benefit whatsoever to carrying a balance.
Closing a paid off card raises it
Closing a card removes its limit from the denominator. You owe no more than you did the day before, but the ratio jumps. Keeping a paid off card open preserves both the limit and the account age.
Frequently asked questions
Written by
Alexander Katsman
Founder, Credit Booster & Credit Booster AI
Alexander Katsman has spent more than 15 years in credit and finance, helping thousands of people and small business owners dispute inaccurate reporting, rebuild their scores, and get approved for funding they were once denied. His latest project, Credit Booster AI, puts that entire toolkit in everyone's hands, using AI to make fixing, building, and funding your credit accessible to all.
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