Canada Credit Utilization Reference Table
Quick-reference balances for common credit limits, built around FCAC’s guidance to try to use less than 30% of your total available credit.
| Credit limit | 10% balance | 20% balance | 30% balance | Calculator |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $500 | $50 | $100 | $150 | Open scenario → |
| $1,000 | $100 | $200 | $300 | Open scenario → |
| $1,500 | $150 | $300 | $450 | Open scenario → |
| $2,000 | $200 | $400 | $600 | Open scenario → |
| $3,000 | $300 | $600 | $900 | Open scenario → |
| $5,000 | $500 | $1,000 | $1,500 | Open scenario → |
| $7,500 | $750 | $1,500 | $2,250 | Open scenario → |
| $10,000 | $1,000 | $2,000 | $3,000 | Open scenario → |
How to read the table
Multiply your total available revolving credit by the utilization percentage. A $2,000 limit at 30% utilization is $600. A $5,000 limit at 20% utilization is $1,000. The table publishes the most common examples so you do not need to redo the arithmetic each time.
Why the 30% benchmark matters
The Financial Consumer Agency of Canada says to try to use less than 30% of your total credit limit. It also notes that regularly using a large portion of available credit can make lenders view you as a higher risk even when you pay the balance in full each month.
This does not mean 29% guarantees a good score or that 31% automatically damages one. Credit scoring models are proprietary and consider multiple factors. The table is a practical budgeting and credit-management reference, not a scoring formula.
Newcomers with small starting limits
Early newcomer credit limits can be modest, which makes ordinary spending produce a high utilization percentage quickly. On a $500 limit, 30% is only $150; on a $1,000 limit it is $300. That is why understanding the percentage can be more useful than looking only at the dollar balance.
Primary source
FCAC — improving your credit score →
Interactive tools
Credit Utilization Calculator →
Secured Credit Card Deposit Calculator →
Arithmetic reference only. The 30% context is based on current FCAC public guidance checked September 12, 2026.