Credit Utilisation Ratio - How to Calculate & Reduce

Managing your credit carefully is important because it keeps your finances healthy. One way to check your credit health is your credit utilisation ratio. This shows how much of your available credit you are using. Banks look at this to understand your borrowing habits.

Let's explore what the credit utilisation ratio is. You will see how to calculate it, why it matters, and ways to reduce it.

What Is Credit Utilisation Ratio?

Your credit utilisation ratio tells you how much of your available credit you are using. Simply add up the total credit on all your cards and see how much you have spent. Then you can calculate it as a percentage of your total credit limit.

Why Does Credit Utilisation Matter?

Your credit utilisation ratio matters because it sends signals to banks. It lets them know how well you manage your existing credit. If you use a big part of your available credit, it can show that you are under financial pressure or depending too much on credit. This can lower your credit score and make loans harder to get.

Here are reasons why you should keep an eye on this:

• A lower ratio indicates you are using credit conservatively and wisely.
• It is often one of the major factors in credit‐score models. Changing this ratio can impact your score relatively quickly.
• If you use too much of your credit, you might get higher interest rates. You could also be rejected when applying for loans from banks or other lenders.

How to Calculate Your Credit Utilisation Ratio?

• Add up all your outstanding balances on revolving credit (primarily your credit cards)
• Add up the credit limits across those same cards (total available credit) 

Then apply this formula:

Credit Utilisation Ratio (%) = (Total outstanding balances ÷ Total credit limit) × 100

If your ratio is 40 % it means you are using 40 % of your total available credit

Example:

It becomes: (₹15,000 ÷ ₹75,000) × 100 = 20 %

Here, your credit utilisation ratio is 20 %

What Is a “Good” Credit Utilisation Ratio?

There is no single “perfect” number, but financial experts generally agree that keeping your credit utilisation below 30 % is a good rule of thumb in India. In fact, some sources say the lower the ratio, the better. Even single‑digit percentages can be ideal, as long as you still demonstrate you can use credit and repay it.

Even if you keep your credit utilisation low, you still must pay your bills on time, maintain a healthy credit mix, and avoid unnecessary credit applications. The ratio is one piece of the puzzle.

Strategies to Reduce and Maintain a Healthy Credit Utilisation Ratio

Here is how you can lower your ratio and keep it under control:

1. Pay down your credit-card balances

The easiest way is to lower what you have. The less debt you have compared to your credit limit, the better. If you pay more than the minimum each month, your balance will go down faster.

2. Spread out your spending across cards

If you have multiple cards, distribute your spending so no one card has a very high utilisation. The overall ratio benefits when limits across cards are used in moderation.

3. Request a higher credit limit

If you have a good payment record, you may ask your card provider for a limit increase. If your spending remains the same, a higher limit lowers the ratio.

4. Do not close unused credit cards carelessly

Closing a card reduces your total available credit, which can raise your ratio if your spending remains the same. It also may shorten your average account age.

5. Monitor your payments

Sometimes your outstanding balance is reported before your payment is credited. If possible, pay down the card before the statement is generated so that the reported utilisation is lower.

6. Use credit pieces sensibly

If you know you will make a large purchase, plan ahead. Perhaps use a debit card, or spread the purchase over time, so your credit utilisation does not spike for the statement cycle.

Summing Up

Your credit utilisation ratio affects your credit score and borrowing prospects. By calculating it accurately, aiming to keep it low, and using the strategies mentioned above, you place yourself in a stronger position. You do not have control over every factor, but utilising credit carefully and keeping your utilisation ratio in check is a practical step you can take today towards better credit health.

Also Read:
- Advantages and Disadvantages of Credit Card
- Top Benefits of Having a Good Credit Score