Credit Utilization Calculator
Your credit utilisation on each card and overall from balances and limits, and how much to pay down to reach the level you aim for.
Result…
How it's calculated
Card utilisation = balance ÷ credit limit Overall utilisation = total balances ÷ total limits Pay down to reach a target = total balances − target × total limits (0 if already under) Per card: balance − target × limit for each card over the target
Credit utilisation is the share of your available revolving credit that you are using: a balance of 1,500 on limits of 10,000 is 15%. Lenders and credit scoring models in many countries look at it because heavy use of available credit can be a sign of strain, and it changes as soon as a new balance is reported. This page works out the figure for each card and for all of them together, and how much you would need to pay off to reach the level you aim for, either overall or on every card. Paying down the card with the highest utilisation first lowers both. How much utilisation matters, which balance date counts, and whether there is any threshold differs by country, bureau and scoring model.
Your numbers, step by step
About the Credit Utilization calculator
This credit utilization calculator shows how much of your available credit you are using, card by card and in total. Paste the balance on each credit card or credit line and its limit in the same order, choose the level you want to stay under, and it works out each card's utilisation, the overall figure and how much you would need to pay down to reach your target, either overall or on every card. It is useful before applying for a loan or a mortgage, or when deciding which card to pay off first. Each step is shown with your numbers, so you can check it against your statements. Credit scoring works differently by country, credit bureau and scoring model, so the target is yours to choose rather than a fixed rule. To plan the payments themselves, try the credit card payoff calculator.
How to use it
- Enter the “Balances” on your cards, separated by commas or spaces.
- Enter the “Credit limits (same order)” so each limit matches its balance.
- Set the “Target utilisation” you want to stay under.
- Read the overall utilisation, the highest card and the paydown needed to reach the target.
Worked example
Three cards have balances of 2,400, 650 and 0 on limits of 6,000, 2,500 and 4,000. Card 1 is at 40%, card 2 at 26% and card 3 at 0%. Overall, 3,050 ÷ 12,500 = 24.4%, leaving 9,450 of available credit. With a 30% target the total is already under it, but card 1 needs 600 paid off to reach 30% on its own. With a 10% target the overall paydown is 1,800, and bringing every card to 10% takes 2,200.
Updated
Questions people ask
How do I calculate my credit utilization ratio?
Divide the balance on a card by its credit limit for that card's utilisation. For the overall figure, add up all the balances and divide by the total of all the limits.
Is overall or per-card utilization more important?
It depends on the scoring model. Some look at both the total and individual cards, so a single card near its limit can matter even when the total is low. Paying down the card with the highest utilisation lowers both.
Which balance do lenders see?
Usually the balance your card issuer reports to the credit bureau, which is often the statement balance rather than today's. Paying before the statement date can lower the reported figure. Ask your issuer when it reports.
Does closing a credit card change my utilization?
Yes. Closing a card removes its limit from the total, so the same balances make up a larger share of the credit left. You can check the effect by removing that card's limit here.
What utilization is good for my credit score?
There is no single cut-off that every model uses, and credit scoring differs by country and bureau. Lower is generally seen as less risky. For advice on your own credit file, contact the credit bureau or a qualified debt or financial adviser.