How Many Credit Cards Should I Have?

Over the years, I’ve interviewed credit card aficionados who have more than two dozen credit cards — and the spreadsheets to prove it. But unless you’re incredibly disciplined and have mastered Excel, I’d say the right answer lies somewhere between two and 10.

Zooming out: In 2025, the average number of active credit cards held by U.S. consumers was 3.7, down from 4.1 active credit cards a decade earlier, according to Experian, one of the three major credit bureaus.

Owning multiple credit card accounts can indirectly raise your credit score, that all-powerful three-digit number that affects everything from the interest rate on your mortgage to the amount you pay for car insurance. That’s because having more credit cards can potentially lower your credit utilization ratio, which is the amount of credit you use compared with your total line of credit.

Generally, lenders like to see credit cardholders use no more than 30 percent of their available credit. This is also why many credit experts don’t advise closing cards you no longer use — doing so reduces your total line of credit and could hurt your utilization ratio.

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Many consumers open new credit cards to take advantage of rewards programs like travel points or cash back. Some card issuers offer generous promotions to new customers who spend a certain amount of money within a set period, typically within the first three to six months. In fact, 31 percent of Gen Xers and 30 percent of boomers said they made every effort to maximize credit card rewards, a 2024 Bankrate survey found.

Personally, I’ve always been a minimalist when it comes to credit cards. I have two, which means I have a backup if one card is compromised or stolen, and I’m planning to apply for a third that I can use for expenses related to my freelance work so that I can deduct them from my taxes. In addition, my husband and I share an airline rewards card that we use for travel expenses, which has helped us accrue miles that have come in handy when we’ve needed to book a last-minute trip.

How many credit cards you should have, however, depends on your ability to manage your credit card spending wisely — most importantly, paying off the balances in full every month. Even if you’re in the habit of paying your bills on time, it’s easy to overlook payments when you have multiple cards.

If you fail to pay off all of your credit card balances by their due dates, high interest rates and late fees will likely outweigh the rewards you earn. Racking up credit card debt also raises your credit utilization ratio, jeopardizing your credit score.

Whether you have two cards or 10, I recommend arranging for your issuers to send you reminders, via email or text, a few days before your payments are due so that you don’t miss a bill. I also suggest setting up online accounts to monitor your credit card balances. And keep an eye out for unfamiliar purchases, which could indicate that your credit card’s information has been stolen. If you didn’t buy those leather boots, someone with your credit card number did.