Credit Utilization Shock Planner

Forecast how a surprise limit cut or big purchase will spike your revolving utilization and the payment required to land back under your preferred percentage. Plug in existing balances, expected spend, and your target ratio to build a paydown plan before the statement closes.

Sum of active revolving credit limits before any lender action.
Balances projected to report to bureaus this cycle.
Upcoming purchases, transfers, or cash advances you expect to post.
Enter 0 if no issuer has signaled a limit reduction or closure.
Defaults to 30.00% if blank; adjust for mortgage prep or elite credit goals.

For credit education; confirm strategy with your issuer if you expect account changes.

Examples

  • Limit $22,000, balances $5,200, $2,800 new spend, $3,000 cut, 30% default target → utilization 42.11%, change +18.47 pts, pay $2,300.00 to return to 30.00%, $19,000.00 limit after cut, need $6,100.00 to slip under 10%.
  • Limit $18,500, balances $4,050, $500 new spend, no cut, 25% custom target → utilization 24.59%, change +2.70 pts, at or below the 25.00% target, $18,500.00 limit intact.

FAQ

When do bureaus update utilization?

Most issuers report the statement balance within a few days after cycle close, so plan paydowns before the closing date to influence the next update.

Should I spread payments across cards?

Prioritize the cards closest to maxed-out status or with the highest APR to blunt both utilization spikes and interest charges.

How do authorized user cards factor in?

Include the limits and balances for authorized user cards if they report to your profile. If they do not report, leave them out to avoid overstating utilization and triggering unnecessary paydowns.

Can this help with business credit lines?

Yes. Replace the inputs with your business credit card limits and balances to stress test how corporate purchases or issuer cuts might ripple into business credit scores.

Additional Information

  • Utilization is derived from the balances that report to bureaus divided by the post-cut available credit, expressed as a percentage.
  • If you leave the target blank, the calculator automatically applies the widely cited 30.00% guidance for general credit health.
  • Payoff to target assumes you make the payment before the statement closing date so the lower balance reports on the next cycle.
  • Buffer to 10% shows the extra cash required for aggressive score optimization ahead of mortgage underwriting or business loan applications.

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