N
The Daily Insight Hub

What is a good debt to credit limit ratio?

Author

Matthew Harrington

Updated on January 25, 2026

30%
For the most part, a debt-to-limit ratio of 30% or less is considered acceptable by most lenders, while ratios rising above this level will start to prompt concerns. For consumers, keeping a healthy debt-to-limit ratio is important because it is one of the main factors used to calculate FICO credit scores.

Is a 9% debt-to-income ratio good?

Our standards for Debt-to-Income (DTI) ratio Lenders generally view a lower DTI as favorable. 36% to 49%: Opportunity to improve. You’re managing your debt adequately, but you may want to consider lowering your DTI. This could put you in a better position to handle unforeseen expenses.

Is 1% a good debt-to-income ratio?

Ideal debt-to-income ratio for a mortgage Lenders generally look for the ideal front-end ratio to be no more than 28 percent, and the back-end ratio, including all monthly debts, to be no higher than 36 percent.

Is 40 debt-to-income ratio good?

A debt-to-income ratio of 20% or less is considered low. The Federal Reserve considers a DTI of 40% or more a sign of financial stress.

How much should you spend on a $200 credit limit?

To keep your scores healthy, a rule of thumb is to use no more than 30% of your credit card’s limit at all times. On a card with a $200 limit, for example, that would mean keeping your balance below $60. The less of your limit you use, the better.

What’s the ideal debt to credit ratio for credit cards?

What’s the ideal debt-to-credit ratio for credit cards? FICO® suggests that a good debt-to-credit ratio percentage is below 30%. And that goes for your ratio on any one of your cards separately as well as for your overall ratio.

How can I find out my debt to credit ratio?

One of the best ways to figure out your debt-to-credit ratio is also a good way to keep an eye on your finances in general: through a spreadsheet. On your spreadsheet, you can use a line for each account, including the total balance and total credit limit.

What’s the best debt to income ratio for a mortgage?

In most cases, 43% is the highest ratio a borrower can have and still get a qualified mortgage. Above that, the lender will likely deny the loan application because your monthly expenses for housing and various debts are too high as compared to your income. DTI and Credit Score Your debt-to-income ratio does not directly affect your credit score.

Is it good to have a low debt to credit ratio?

Sure, it is a good idea to aim for as low of a debt-to-credit ratio as you can possibly maintain, but, in the end — life happens. You don’t need to be debt-free to have a satisfactory utilization rate, or a good credit score. While you should aim for a low utilization rate,…