It is commonly believed that having a credit utilization ratio below 30%, meaning your total balance is not more than 30% of your total credit limit, will help you maintain an optimal credit score. It is also important to keep in mind that how much you owe on each credit card individually matters as well. Paying off balances once they have exceeded 10-20% of the card's credit limit will help you maintain a healthy amount of utilization and a good score. If you find yourself with too high of a utilization rate, paying off small amounts on multiple cards or transferring your debt to one card can quickly and easily improve your credit situation.