In a perfect world, no one would ever carry a balance on a credit card. Carrying balances usually means you are paying interest on your purchases, so whatever you bought ends up costing you more than it needs to.
Even with low or no-interest promotions, carrying debt is a risk. Depending on how high your balances are in relation to your credit limit, you may also run the risk of damaging your credit score.
Does keeping a balance help your credit score?
Carrying a balance does not help your credit score, so it’s always best to pay your balance in full each month.
The impact of not paying in full each month depends on how large of a balance you’re carrying compared to your credit limit. Credit utilization ratio, or the amount of available credit you’re using at any given time, is an important factor in your credit score. Second only to payment history, it counts for about 30 percent of your total FICO score. VantageScore uses a weighted scale and calls this part “extremely influential.”
How credit utilization works
Here’s a simple illustration: You have a credit card with a $500 limit and you use $250 to make a purchase. Your credit utilization ratio is 50 percent. This is going to be bad for your credit score. Conventional wisdom says not to use more than 30 percent, or $150 in this case, to keep from losing points in your credit score.
Chances are you have at least one more credit card, so we have to take that into account as well. Let’s say the second card has a $1,500 limit and you have used $400. This puts you between the 25 percent and 30 percent utilization ratio on this card. This is important because while each card will be counted separately, they will also be combined as a total.
Overall in this example, the utilization rate is 26.25 percent (1500 + 500 = 2,000 total credit; 125 + 400 = 525 total used; 525/2,000 = 26.25).
Want to quickly calculate your current ratio? Check out Bankrate’s credit utilization ratio calculator.
How credit utilization affects your credit score
The lower you can keep your credit utilization, the better it will be for your score, assuming all of the other factors that go into your score are in good shape.
Those who enjoy the best credit scores typically have utilization factors in the single digits. But remember that they are also doing all of the other things right — they are paying their bills on time, not closing old accounts to maintain their credit history, have a good credit mixand only open new accounts as needed.
Is it better to pay in full or carry a small balance?
Paying your balances in full every month demonstrates that you are living fully within your means. In other words, you are not using credit cards to extend your income, but as a way to spend the income you already have. This is the best sign of overall financial health.
Some may carry a small balance to demonstrate that they are using the credit they have been given. Though none of the major credit bureaus say this is necessary or helpful, some consumers theorize that this demonstrates that you’re actually using (and paying off) your credit line each month.
The key here is to know when your credit card issuer reports your account information to the credit bureaus. In many cases, that will be at the end of your billing cycle. Your balance on that day will be what’s reported to the bureaus, and it will be factored into your credit utilization. So, in theory, you could keep a small balance on that date and then pay it off the next day to show some account activity and avoid interest charges.
However, I am not a fan of chasing the perfect credit score, and trying to keep a small balance for credit score benefits may be more trouble than it will ultimately be worth.
When carrying a balance hurts your score
One reason not to carry a balance is that you will likely incur interest charges. But there are low-interest credit cards and even 0 percent introductory APR credit cards. These are most often for a specific period of time, typically 12 to 15 months. Carrying a balance on a card like this may make financial sense, but it also comes with increased risk.
For example, as long as life treats you well, there’s no problem. If you lose your job, get sick or have any one of a number of reversals of fortune — that can be a big problem. You may be stuck with a large balance you can’t pay and end up making late payments, which hurts your score.
Also, remember that the utilization factor will still be in place, so you should be prepared for what that might mean for your score. It could still be worth it to you, depending on your situation. I would say you need to weigh your choices carefully here, but do what is best for you and your family.
The bottom line
Reporting a balance on your cards of more than about 30 percent of its maximum credit line will hurt your score and carries additional risks. The lower your balances, the better your score — and a very low balance will keep your financial risks low. But the best way to maintain a high credit score is to pay your balances in full on time, every time.
How you choose to use the credit that is given to you is always up to you and your situation. But knowing how your choices affect both your credit score and your overall financial health is smart.
Good luck!
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