Paying your credit card bill on time and in full each month is one of the best ways to build and maintain a good credit score. However the specific timing of when you pay your bill can also impact your credit utilization ratio, which is the second biggest factor in determining your score. By being strategic about when you pay your bill each month you can optimize the boost to your credit.
How Credit Card Utilization Affects Your Credit Score
Your credit utilization ratio compares how much credit you are using versus how much total credit you have available. For example, if you have a $10,000 limit across all your credit cards and a $2,000 total balance, your utilization rate is 20%.
Credit scoring models like FICO and VantageScore consider utilization to be a key factor, with FICO giving it 30% weighting. The lower your utilization, the better it is for your score Below 30% is considered good, while 10% or less is ideal
With credit cards specifically, your issuer reports your balance to the credit bureaus once per month, usually on your statement closing date. Whatever balance they report becomes your utilization for that month as far as your credit report is concerned.
This means that if you can pay down your balance right before your statement cuts each month, you can manipulate your utilization ratio. Your real-time balance may continue fluctuating day-to-day, but strategically timing payments allows you to control what gets reported.
When During The Month Should You Pay to Lower Utilization
To optimize your credit card utilization and credit score, you generally want to make payments in the window between your last statement date and your next statement date. This ensures the lower balance gets captured on your credit report rather than the potentially higher month-end total.
For example, let’s say your billing cycle runs from the 1st to the 30th of each month and your statement cuts on the 30th. If you make a payment on the 15th that covers your existing balance, your reported utilization on the 30th will only reflect new charges made in the second half of the month.
On the other hand, if you waited until the 1st of the next month to pay your bill, the full 30 days of spending would be counted in your utilization, likely resulting in a higher ratio and lower score.
Some specific strategies for lowering your credit card utilization include:
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Pay early in your billing cycle: Make a payment soon after your statement cuts to minimize how much new spending gets counted. Paying by the 10th of the month is a good rule of thumb.
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Pay multiple times per month: Making payments each paycheck or halfway through the month ensures you aren’t carrying high balances for long.
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Pay before large purchases: If you know you have a big expense coming up, pay your balance ahead of time to avoid a spike in utilization.
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Adjust your due date: Some issuers let you change your due date so it aligns with your pay schedule and makes paying mid-cycle easier.
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Leave a small balance: Paying down to $0 can actually backfire, so leave a few dollars to report a utilization greater than 0%.
When Not to Worry About Utilization
It’s worth noting that you don’t need to obsess over micro-managing your utilization month-to-month. As long as you routinely keep it at 30% or below, the fluctuations have a minimal impact. Those with excellent credit see little score benefit from a 5% versus 15% utilization.
You also won’t need to pay early or multiple times if:
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You pay your bill in full each month and don’t carry a balance.
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Your reported credit limits are high enough that even maxing out cards doesn’t push you over 30%.
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You aren’t applying for new credit or loans soon. The impact is temporary and your score rebounds as utilization decreases.
Other Times to Consider Early Payment
Lowering your utilization isn’t the only reason you may want to pay your credit card bill before the due date. Here are a few other scenarios when making an early payment can be beneficial:
You have a major purchase: Paying off your balance before a large purchase ensures the spike in spending doesn’t put you over your target utilization. This prevents a surprise negative impact on your credit.
You are carrying a balance: If you have existing credit card debt, paying it down faster minimizes interest fees. Even an extra $100-200 toward your balance early in the cycle can save money.
You are prone to forgetting: Paying as soon as your statement is available eliminates the risk of forgetting and incurring a late payment fee. Just be sure to log in and pay any additional charges before the due date.
You will be traveling: Submitting payment before a trip, especially abroad, provides peace of mind in case any payment issues arise while you are away.
You have billing errors: If there are mistakes on your statement, get your payment and dispute submitted ASAP while you gather evidence. This prevents collections action down the road.
The Downsides of Paying Too Early
While paying your credit card bill early does have benefits in some cases, it can also have some potential drawbacks:
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You lose out on interest accrual in your bank account by paying early. Even an extra week with your money could add up over time.
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It may enable more spending than you intended if you pay before seeing your full statement. Out of sight, out of mind.
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For rewards cards, you miss out on extra points or cash back from purchases you could have made before paying.
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If you pay too far in advance, your credit report might show a $0 balance, which can have a small negative impact.
Overall, pay your bill when it makes the most sense for your financial situation each month. While timing payments to decrease your utilization can provide a nice credit score boost, it isn’t mandatory as long as you keep overall balances low.
Tips for Building Credit With Credit Cards
In addition to optimizing your credit card payments, here are some other tips to build your credit effectively using cards:
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Pay on time every month – Payment history is the biggest factor in your score, so never miss a due date if you can help it. Set up autopay as a safety net.
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Keep accounts open – Having credit history length is vital, so avoid closing your oldest accounts if possible.
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Mix up card types – Carrying a variety of accounts – like revolving, installment, etc – demonstrates you can manage different types of credit.
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Limit applications – Apply for new cards strategically, as too many hard inquiries can negatively impact your credit, especially with a shorter history.
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Monitor your reports – Review your credit reports regularly for errors or suspicious activity, which could tank your score if unaddressed.
By incorporating credit card best practices into your financial strategy, you can build credit effectively over time. Monitoring your utilization and making payments with your statement cycles in mind serves as one piece of the larger puzzle.
Paying early also cuts interest
When possible, its best to pay your credit card balance in full each month. Not only does that help ensure that youre spending within your means, but it also saves you on interest. If you always pay your full statement balance by the due date, you will maintain a credit card grace period and you will never be charged interest.
That said, if you wont be able to pay the full statement balance and you have to carry debt into the next month, paying early can reduce your interest costs. Thats because the interest youre charged is based on your average daily balance.
Heres an example. Say you start a 30-day billing month with a $1,000 balance:
- If you paid $400 on the last day of the month, your balance will have been $1,000 for 29 days and $600 for one day. Your average daily balance would be about $987. If your credit card had a 15% interest rate, your interest charge for the month would be about $12.33.
- If you paid that same $400 halfway through the month, your balance will have been $1,000 for 15 days and $600 for 15 days. In that case, your average daily balance would be $800, and your interest charge would be $10. You cut your interest payment by nearly one-quarter just by moving up your payment date.
A quick look at the billing cycle
Credit cards operate on a monthly billing cycle, and there are three dates to understand:
- The statement date. Once a month, your card issuer compiles all the activity on your card account and generates your statement. The day this happens is your statement date, also called the closing date. Anything that happens after this date — including activity between the time your statement is created and the time it reaches you in the mail — will go on your next statement.
- When your statement is produced, it will show a statement balance. This is calculated by taking the balance at the beginning of the billing cycle, adding all new charges made during the cycle, and subtracting any payments made during the cycle.
- The due date. This is the date by which you must pay at least the minimum amount due. The due date is usually about three weeks after the statement date. Failure to pay at least the minimum by the due date will result in a late fee.
- The reporting date. This the date on which the card issuer reports your balance to the credit bureaus. Unlike the closing date and due date, the reporting date does not appear on your bill. It could be any time during the month, but its best to assume it will be around the time of your statement closing date.
BEST Day to Pay your Credit Card Bill (Increase Credit Score)
How can I improve my credit score?
Use your credit card regularly. Regularly using your credit card demonstrates your ability to manage debt well and ensures the account isn’t closed due to lack of use. A monthly bill as small as a streaming service payment can keep your account open and reflect positively in your credit. Always pay your bill on time.
When should I pay my credit card bill?
If you carry a balance on your credit card from month to month, or if your balance regularly exceeds 30% of your credit limit, you might benefit from paying early. When is the best time to pay your credit card bill? At the very least, you should pay your credit card bill by its due date every month.
Should I pay my credit card bill ahead of schedule?
That brings up the potential benefits of paying your credit card bill ahead of schedule. If you make a payment to your account before your card’s statement closing date, instead of on or before its payment due date, you can lower the utilization percentage used to calculate your credit score. Here’s how it works.
How does a new credit card affect your credit score?
When you open a new credit card, the credit card issuer will likely report the account to the three major credit bureaus. Once the card appears on your credit reports, it can impact your credit scores in several ways. One of the primary factors that impacts your credit score with FICO and VantageScore is how you pay your bills.