Debt-to-Credit Ratio Calculator
Calculate your credit utilization percentage instantly
Understanding Your Debt-to-Credit Ratio
The debt-to-credit ratio, often called the credit utilization ratio, is a critical metric used by credit bureaus to determine your creditworthiness. It measures the amount of revolving credit you are currently using compared to the total amount of revolving credit available to you.
How is it Calculated?
To find your ratio, you sum up all your credit card balances and divide that total by the sum of all your credit limits. The formula is:
Why This Number Matters
Your utilization ratio accounts for approximately 30% of your FICO® Score. Generally, a lower ratio is better for your credit score. Lenders view a high ratio as a sign that you may be overextended and at higher risk of defaulting on payments.
Utilization Benchmarks
- Excellent (Less than 10%): Highly recommended for the best credit scores.
- Good (10% – 30%): Considered responsible credit management.
- Fair (30% – 50%): May start to negatively impact your score.
- Poor (Above 50%): High risk; likely causing significant damage to your credit score.
Example Calculation
Suppose you have two credit cards:
- Card A: $1,000 balance / $5,000 limit
- Card B: $2,000 balance / $5,000 limit
Your total balance is $3,000 and your total limit is $10,000. Your ratio is ($3,000 / $10,000) × 100 = 30%.