Edited by Samuel MountjoyWhat Is the Average Number of Credit Cards?
Edited by Samuel Mountjoy
Quick Answer
Americans have an average of 3.7 credit cards that are regularly in use. That’s a 10% decline over the past decade.
Credit cards are by far the most popular form of financing for U.S. consumers: Around 90% of consumers have at least one credit card in any given year.
Despite record-high credit card annual percentage rates (APRs), credit cards are still a key financial tool of millions of U.S. consumers. But over time, open credit card accounts can fall into disuse. As a result, many consumers have more open credit card accounts than they actually use.
As we show in the data below, consumers today are relying on fewer credit card accounts, even as credit card balances increase.
Average Number of Active Credit Cards Keeps Declining
U.S. consumers, on average, are carrying fewer cards today than they were 10 years ago—when the typical wallet held 4.1 active credit cards. ("Active," for the purposes of this analysis, means a card has either been used or carried a balance in the past six months.) In 2025, the average number of active credit cards has fallen to 3.7, a 10% decline over the decade.
Average Number of Credit Cards per Consumer vs. Average Number of Active Cards per Consumer
There are several potential explanations for the decline in how many credit cards consumers have on hand, and the reasons for the dip are varied. For example, although it is difficult to measure precisely how commonly buy now, pay later plans are being used as an alternative to credit card spending, some substitution is very likely occurring. Other possible explanations for fewer cards in use include consumers migrating toward using credit cards that offer them the best return, whether that's a lower ongoing APR, credit card rewards or balance transfer offers. As a result, some cards are left unused.
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Consumers Carry 4 or More Credit Cards in Just 5 States
Only a handful of states on the Eastern Seaboard are using four or more of their credit cards on a regular basis. In the rest of the country, having three to four credit cards in rotation is the norm. In sparsely populated states including Alaska and South Dakota, the average number of credit cards in use falls to as low as 3.1 credit cards.
Average Number of Active Credit Cards per Consumer, 2025
Indeed, urban centers are composed of consumers who use more of their credit cards regularly than the national average of 3.7 cards. In most of the 20 largest metros, consumers choose from more credit cards.
Average Number of Active Credit Cards in Use in the 20 Largest Metros, 2025
| Metro Area | Average Active Credit Cards |
|---|---|
| Atlanta | 3.8 |
| Boston | 3.7 |
| Chicago | 4 |
| Dallas | 3.9 |
| Denver | 3.7 |
| Detroit | 3.9 |
| Houston | 3.9 |
| Los Angeles | 3.9 |
| Miami | 4.1 |
| Minneapolis | 3.6 |
| New York | 4 |
| Orlando, Florida | 4 |
| Philadelphia | 3.9 |
| Phoenix | 3.7 |
| Riverside, California | 4.1 |
| San Diego | 3.8 |
| San Francisco | 3.7 |
| Seattle | 3.5 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg, Florida | 4.1 |
| Washington, D.C. | 3.7 |
Source: Experian data as of June 2025
Older Consumers Have More Credit Cards
Getting older usually means more choices to make—at least when it comes to credit cards. As those in Generation Z are just beginning their financial journeys, many are applying for, and receiving, their first credit cards. But according to the data, they can expect the number of cards they regularly use to double with age.
| Generation Z (18-28) | 2.2 |
|---|---|
| Millennials (29-44) | 3.4 |
| Generation X (45-60) | 4.4 |
| Baby boomers (61-79) | 4.4 |
| Silent Generation (80+) | 3.1 |
Source: Experian data as of June 2025; ages as of 2025
Although credit cards are considered by some to be the flagship of consumer credit, managing debt becomes more complicated when auto payments and mortgages are added to the credit mix.
How Many Credit Cards Is Too Many?
No matter how many credit cards you may have at the moment, keep in mind that the number of accounts has little if any bearing on one's FICO® ScoreΘ. Far more important is how consumers manage those accounts.
This is easily demonstrable by quickly stepping through some of the factors that affect your credit scores.
- Utilization and amounts owed: Credit card issuers extend credit to consumers in the form of a credit limit. For example, if you have a credit card limit of $5,000 and are carrying a balance of $1,000, then your credit utilization for that card is 20%. Add up all your card balances and all your credit card limits, and that's your overall credit card utilization ratio. Generally, the lower a consumer's credit utilization, the better. Keeping credit utilization ratios under 30% can lessen the negative impact credit card balances have on scores.
- Delinquencies and payment history: As important as managing balances is, making payments on existing accounts has an even greater impact on scores. Even a single delinquency (late payment) 30 or more days past due may have an adverse effect on your credit score, no matter how few or how many credit card accounts you have.
- Average age of accounts: This is the only credit score factor where the number of cards you carry may influence your credit score. Generally, keeping older credit cards open tends to benefit scores.
Longer credit histories do tend to have a positive effect on a consumer's credit score, but it's not something you can rush. Adhering to on-time payments and managing amounts owed will go far in improving credit scores, even absent a lengthy credit history. While accounts closed in good standing remain on your credit report for 10 years, canceling your oldest credit card account still has the potential to shorten your credit history when it is eventually removed. The impact of its removal depends on any other active credit cards in your credit file.
The Bottom Line
Credit card use is as popular as ever, despite consumers lightening the actual number of credit cards they carry in their wallet. Whether via debt consolidation, relying on particular cards for rewards or financial simplification, consumers are slowly shedding the number of credit cards they regularly use. At the same time, they are onboarding new forms of payments like buy now, pay later plans and other credit card alternatives, further reducing their reliance on plastic.
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About the author
Chris Horymski
Chris Horymski leads Experian Consumer Service’s data research for Ask Experian, where he publishes insights and analysis on consumer debt and credit. Chris is a veteran data and personal finance journalist and previously wrote the Money Lab column for Consumer Reports and headed research at SmartMoney Magazine.
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