Your credit utilization is how much of your available credit you’re using. This credit utilization calculator adds up your cards and lines of credit, shows your overall and per-card use, and tells you how much to pay to get under the 30% guideline.
Credit utilization calculatorAdd your credit cards and lines of credit. See how much of your credit you’re using, and what to pay to get under 30%.
Your cards and lines of credit
Your credit utilization
To get under 30%
Card by card
| Card | Used | To get under 30% |
|---|
What is credit utilization?
Credit utilization (also called credit use) compares your balances to your credit limits. If you have a $5,000 limit and owe $1,000, your utilization is 20%. The formula is simple: total balances ÷ total credit limits × 100.
Lenders use it to judge how you manage credit. The Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (FCAC) says regularly using a lot of your available credit can make you look like a higher risk, even if you pay your balance in full every month.
What is a good credit utilization ratio?
The FCAC suggests trying to use less than 30% of your total credit limit. Lower is generally better. Credit scoring formulas aren’t public, so there’s no number that guarantees a particular score.
| Utilization | What it means |
|---|---|
| Under 30% | Within the FCAC guideline |
| 30% to 50% | Above the guideline. Paying down balances may help. |
| Over 50% | Using most of your available credit. Lenders may see more risk. |
| Over 100% | Over your limit. You may pay an over-the-limit fee. |
How to lower your credit utilization
- Pay down balances. This is the most direct fix. Start with the card that’s closest to its limit.
- Keep your monthly use low. The FCAC says to keep it low even if you pay your full balance each month. Making a payment partway through the month can help.
- Ask for a higher limit. A higher limit with the same balance lowers your ratio. Your card issuer needs your consent to raise it, and it only helps if you don’t spend more.
- Think twice before closing a card. The FCAC notes that closing an older account lowers your available credit and can shorten your credit history.
Paying down several cards? Our debt snowball calculator and credit card payoff calculator can help you plan it.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate my credit utilization?
Add up the balances on your credit cards and lines of credit, divide by the total of their limits, and multiply by 100. $2,000 used of $8,000 in limits is 25%.
Does paying in full every month mean my utilization is 0%?
Not necessarily. The FCAC says to keep your monthly use low even if you pay the full balance, because lenders look at how much of your available credit you use.
Does each card’s utilization matter, or just the total?
Lenders may look at both. Keeping each card under 30%, not just the total, is a cautious approach.
Should I include my line of credit?
Yes, revolving credit like a line of credit counts. Loans with a fixed payment, like a car loan, don’t have a credit limit, so leave them out.
Related reading
- Credit card payoff calculator: the payment you need to clear a card
- Debt-to-income ratio calculator: how lenders size up your debt payments
- Debt snowball calculator: pay several debts, smallest first
- All calculators
- How to cancel a credit card: what closing a card does to your utilization
How we checked: The 30% guideline, the example, and the advice about closing accounts come from the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada. The calculator divides your total balances by your total limits. The amount to pay is what brings each figure just under 30%. Credit scoring formulas aren’t public, so we don’t estimate score changes. Sources: FCAC: Improving your credit score; FCAC: How credit cards work. Last checked October 2026.