Too many credit cards for most people could be six or more, given that the average American has a total of five credit cards. Everyone should have at least one credit card for credit-building purposes, even if they don’t use it to make purchases, but the exact number of cards you should have differs by person. It depends on how well you can manage one credit card, then two, and so on.
If you’re not sure how many credit cards is too many for you, there are a number of factors you can think about when making your decision. In particular, consider your recent spending and payment history. If you’re having trouble paying the full statement balance by the due date on each account you already have open, think twice about applying for another credit card account.
How to Determine How Many Credit Cards Is Too Many for You
- Look at your credit report and score.
If you have a history of financial mistakes, such as missed payments, you probably don’t want to get more than one card until you prove yourself to be a responsible borrower. Besides, it may be hard to get more than one worthwhile card with damaged credit, anyway. - Review your utilization and payment history.
If you’re maxing out all the cards you have, credit card companies probably won’t want to give you more spending power. Plus, credit card debt can be very expensive, and you don’t want to rack up balances that exceed what you can repay comfortably. - Consider credit card company rules.
Some issuers have unofficial rules regarding how many credit cards is too many for an applicant to have. For example, there are lots of rumors floating around that Chase will deny a credit card application if you’ve already opened five accounts (from any issuers) in the past 24 months. Such restrictions could limit your options for opening a new account, or just serve as a sign that you might want to slow down the pace of your applications. - Determine how well you’re keeping track of your credit cards.
Even if your credit is good and you’ve never forgotten to pay a bill, that doesn’t mean you never will. Having too many open accounts to keep track of can lead to forgotten due dates, interest charges from simply forgetting to pay a credit card in full, and other issues. If you have trouble listing your credit cards from memory, you’re likely to forget to pay one at some point.
There are benefits to having more than one credit card account. Having several credit cards can help you save money by allowing you to get the best collection of rates and rewards for your biggest transactions. For example, you could get a flat-rate cash back credit card for everyday expenses, a bonus rewards card for travel, and a balance transfer card to reduce the cost of existing debt. Having multiple cards can also help your credit score if you keep your credit utilization low and your payments on time.
What you should watch out for is applying for too many credit cards too quickly. It’s best to not apply for more than one or two per year, as each application puts a hard inquiry on your credit report and temporarily hurts your credit score.
The more data that’s at your disposal, the easier it will be to decide how many credit cards you should have. WalletHub can help with free daily credit score updates and personalized credit-improvement advice.
This answer was first published on 05/25/18 and it was last updated on 04/12/24. For the most current information about a financial product, you should always check and confirm accuracy with the offering financial institution. Editorial and user-generated content is not provided, reviewed or endorsed by any company.
FAQs
Too many credit cards for most people could be six or more, given that the average American has a total of five credit cards. Everyone should have at least one credit card for credit-building purposes, even if they don't use it to make purchases, but the exact number of cards you should have differs by person.
Is 4 credit cards too much? ›
It's generally recommended that you have two to three credit card accounts at a time, in addition to other types of credit. Remember that your total available credit and your debt to credit ratio can impact your credit scores. If you have more than three credit cards, it may be hard to keep track of monthly payments.
Is 12 credit cards too many? ›
So, while there is no absolute number that is considered too many, it's best to only apply for and carry the cards that you need and can justify using based on your credit score, ability to pay balances, and rewards aspirations.
Is it OK to have 10 credit cards? ›
If you are well organized, you may be able to handle 10 or more credit cards and keep track of their benefits, fees and payments without any problem.
What is the 5 24 rule? ›
According to the 5/24 rule, you won't be approved for a Chase credit card if you've opened five or more cards from any bank (excluding most business credit cards) in the past 24 months, even if you have an excellent credit score.
Is having 8 credit cards bad? ›
There's no such thing as a bad number of credit cards to have, but having more cards than you can successfully manage may do more harm than good. On the positive side, having different cards can prevent you from overspending on a single card—and help you save money, earn rewards, and lower your credit utilization.
How many credit cards should I have to get an 850? ›
How to achieve a perfect 850 credit score. If you're going after the 850 (again, a perfect score doesn't matter), then you'll want to get 21 credit cards as soon as possible and wait. You'll take 21 inquiries right away, which will pull your credit score down for the next two years.
Is 5 credit cards a lot? ›
Credit bureaus suggest that five or more accounts — which can be a mix of cards and loans — is a reasonable number to build toward over time. Having very few accounts can make it hard for scoring models to render a score for you.
Does cancelling a credit card hurt your credit? ›
Key takeaways: Closing a credit card can hurt your scores because it lowers your available credit and can lead to a higher credit utilization, meaning the gap between your spending and the amount of credit you can borrow narrows. Canceling a card can also decrease the average age of your accounts.
Is having a zero balance on credit cards bad? ›
Lenders want to know both how reliable and profitable you are. If you have a zero balance on credit accounts, you show you have paid back your borrowed money. A zero balance won't harm or help your credit.
The 3/12 Rule expands on the previously mentioned 2/3/4 Rule by stipulating that a cardmember will not be approved for any new personal or business credit card by BoA if they have opened three or more new credit cards in the past 12 months.
Is it better to close a credit card or leave it open with a zero balance? ›
If you pay off all your credit card accounts (not just the one you're canceling) to $0 before canceling your card, you can avoid a decrease in your credit score. Typically, leaving your credit card accounts open is the best option, even if you're not using them.
Is a $10,000 credit card good? ›
If you're just starting out, a good credit limit for your first card might be around $1,000. If you have built up a solid credit history, a steady income and a good credit score, your credit limit may increase to $5,000 or $10,000 or more — plenty of credit to ensure you can purchase big ticket items.
Is it OK to have 7 credit cards? ›
You can apply for as many credit cards as you want at any given time, though it's not advisable. Not only can it be difficult to track applications and cards, it also doesn't look good on a credit report.
What is the 10 rule for credit cards? ›
The 20/10 rule of thumb is a budgeting technique that can be an effective way to keep your debt under control. It says your total debt shouldn't equal more than 20% of your annual income, and that your monthly debt payments shouldn't be more than 10% of your monthly income.
How many credit cards do the average person have? ›
How many credit cards does the average person have? According to the latest figures from Experian, the average American has 3.84 credit cards with an average credit limit of $30,365.
Is it bad to have a lot of credit cards with zero balance? ›
However, multiple accounts may be difficult to track, resulting in missed payments that lower your credit score. You must decide what you can manage and what will make you appear most desirable. Having too many cards with a zero balance will not improve your credit score. In fact, it can actually hurt it.
Is there a maximum amount of credit cards you can have? ›
Hopefully you're not disappointed to learn that there is no official, widespread restriction on the number of credit cards you can have. Credit card issuers either approve or deny applications all the time.
