Quick Answer
Average credit card utilization in the United States has commonly been reported in the high-20s percent - well above the under-10% range often associated with top-tier scoring outcomes.
Key Takeaways
- Average utilization is around 28–30%.
- Top scorers typically run far lower.
- Utilization is highly dispersed across cardholders.
Distribution Matters
Average utilization conceals a wide distribution - many cardholders run 0–10% while others run above 50%.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 30% a hard threshold?
No - 30% is a heuristic. Scoring outcomes generally improve as utilization decreases, with the very best outcomes often associated with very low single-digit utilization.