What credit utilization ratio should I aim for to maximize my score?

Credit utilization is the percentage of your available revolving credit you're using, and it's roughly 30% of your FICO score. Aim to keep both your per-card and your overall utilization under 30%, and ideally under 10% if you want to squeeze out the highest scores. FICO and VantageScore both reward lower utilization, and the very top scorers typically sit around 1% to 7% rather than a literal 0%.

Utilization has no memory: it resets every statement, so a high month won't haunt you once you pay it down. Because most issuers report the statement balance, paying before the statement closes can lower the number they send. Model different balances with the Utilization Optimizer at wealthserene.com/tools/utilization-optimizer.