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As you build up your financial understanding, you might wonder: how many credit cards should I have? Ultimately, the right number for you will depend on your financial situation and needs. Some individuals benefit from having a single credit card, which offers easy management and fewer decisions. On the other hand, some people can maximize credit card rewards by keeping track of many different cards—often five or more.
The number of credit cards you have can affect your credit score both directly and indirectly. Read on to learn more about how to find the right number of cards for you, how many cards people typically have and how having multiple cards can affect your credit.
Key takeaways:
There is no maximum number of credit cards you should have, as it’s not a one-size-fits-all answer, though some experts say it could look like a red flag to lenders.
Bruce McClary, senior vice president at the National Foundation for Credit Counseling, warns that even if credit cards have low balances, it may scare lenders. Each credit card application you fill out shows up on your credit report, and McClary says this may give the perception of a “compulsive borrower.” This is especially true if the applications are filled out within a short period of time.
Senior Industry Analyst at CreditCards.com Ted Rossman recommends trying to space out your credit card applications. More specifically, only apply for one or two within a six-month period and no more than five within two years.
Consider whether any of the following circumstances align with your own:
Again, the number of credit cards you choose to have will depend greatly on your situation, like how much you earn and spend, as well as how you’re managing credit currently. In most cases, you’ll want to consider adding more credit cards to your name only if you have a specific reason for doing so. Having credit cards for their own sake is usually not advisable, so consider carefully before opening a new account.
Having multiple credit cards can benefit your credit by lowering your credit utilization rate, which accounts for 30 percent of your FICO® credit score. Opening new accounts increases your total credit limit and decreases your credit utilization—so long as you keep your balances down.
While this factor is important, payment history accounts for an even larger portion of your credit score (35 percent), which means making on-time payments on the card(s) you do have is even more important than having multiple cards.
Although everyone has different needs for credit, the average number of credit cards that American adults have is nearly four, according to Experian®, one of the three credit bureaus.
Of course, the average number of cards varies based on several factors, including location. For example, in 2020, residents of New Jersey had the highest number of credit cards on average in the United States (4.54), while Alaskans had the fewest credit cards on average (3.06).
Even more interesting is the generational gap among credit card holders. Members of older generations tend to have more credit cards, but we also see older people starting to close accounts as younger people open more lines of credit.
Average number of credit cards by generation | ||
---|---|---|
2019 | 2020 | |
Gen Z (18 to 23) | 1.76 | 1.91 |
Millennials (24 to 39) | 3.18 | 3.18 |
Gen X (40 to 55) | 4.35 | 4.23 |
Baby Boomers (56 to 74) | 4.81 | 4.61 |
Silent Generation | 4.00 | 3.64 |
If you’re trying to decide whether to stick with a single card or apply for a new line of credit, it can be useful to think about the advantages and disadvantages of having more than one credit card.
Some of the benefits of having multiple cards include:
On the other hand, having multiple cards could have several disadvantages:
If you decide that having multiple cards is a good choice for you, follow these tips for managing them effectively:
Whether you choose to have a single credit card or many, you’ll want to get in the habit of checking your credit score as well as your credit report. Your credit report shows what each of the three credit bureaus knows about your credit history—accounts, balances and payments. If you notice any inaccurate information, like an account that doesn’t actually belong to you, you’ll want to file a dispute with the credit bureaus to potentially get that information removed.
If you’re working to address negative items on your credit report or if you’ve had any other difficulties managing credit, learn more about how Lexington Law Firm’s services can help.
Note: Articles have only been reviewed by the indicated attorney, not written by them. The information provided on this website does not, and is not intended to, act as legal, financial or credit advice; instead, it is for general informational purposes only. Use of, and access to, this website or any of the links or resources contained within the site do not create an attorney-client or fiduciary relationship between the reader, user, or browser and website owner, authors, reviewers, contributors, contributing firms, or their respective agents or employers.
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