With so many rewards credit cards to choose from, it can be hard to pick just one. The good thing is, you don’t have to. So, how many credit cards should you have? Although Experian found that the average American owns just under 4 credit cards, the answer isn’t as straightforward as you might think — it all depends on your financial situation. However, opting for multiple credit cards can have many benefits, as long as you use each card responsibly.
Here's what you need to know when deciding how many credit cards you should carry. Also, use our tool below — in partnership with Bankrate — to compare cards today.
Impact on credit score
Three credit card bureaus — Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax — evaluate several factors to determine if you have a good credit score. These bureaus look for at least two open “lines of credit,” including credit cards, mortgages, student loans, car loans, and other types of loans, to ensure that you can handle multiple budgeting and payment schedules.
Your credit score won’t be negatively affected by having too many lines of credit, but having too few lines of credit might be what’s keeping your credit score low. Equifax, for instance, recommends having at least two or three credit cards in addition to other types of credit, like a mortgage.
When you have a “thin” credit file, with few lines of credit and a short credit history, it makes it difficult for lenders to trust you as a borrower. Therefore, if you’re looking to bolster your credit file and increase the number of open credit accounts you have, opening a new card could help - especially if you use the card frugally. If you’re a responsible cardholder, adding a new addition to your wallet could prove beneficial to your overall credit score.
30% credit rule
Another way owning multiple credit cards can also boost your credit score is by lowering your credit utilization ratio. Credit utilization is the total amount you owe across accounts compared to your overall credit limit, and it affects 30% of your credit score. As a general rule of thumb, it’s recommended that your credit utilization remain below 30%. If you have few lines of credit, you may find it difficult to keep your utilization low.
By opening a new credit card, you’ll be able to increase your overall credit limit — the amount you’ve spent in proportion to this amount will be lowered, as long as you don’t rack up a balance right away.
The 30% rule: how much of your total available credit you spend affects your credit score
Spend wisely
While owning multiple credit cards can be beneficial to your credit score, it can also negatively affect your score if you don’t use those cards responsibly. Having too many open lines of credit can prove difficult for some cardholders — you may find it hard to juggle multiple payment due dates and rewards structures or be tempted to overspend, all of which are bad for your overall credit score.
Opening an additional credit card means more available credit, so if you think you may be tempted to spend too much with a higher credit limit, be wary of opening up another card. Payment history is the number one factor affecting your credit score, so if you fail to make even one payment on time, you’ll be hurting your score more than opening that extra card will help.
Timing and preparation pay off
If you do decide to take out a credit card, make sure you don’t take out too many within a short period of time, or you’ll negatively affect your credit score, especially in the short term. Instead, space out your applications by three to six months. And before you apply, make sure you know how to get approved for a credit card. Getting rejected will lower your credit score and you will need to wait several months before applying again.
Is it bad to have a lot of credit cards with zero balance?
Having a credit card you use infrequently can be an easy way of increasing your total credit availability, as long as you avoid opening too many at once. However, make sure you remember to spend just enough on the card for it to remain active. Your credit card can be closed due to “inactivity,” lowering your available credit.
Benefits of multiple credit cards
By having multiple credit cards, like one of the best travel rewards credit cards or cash back credit cards, you can maximize your earnings where you spend the most. You’ll have access to a greater variety of rewards, including any welcome bonuses associated with a card, which can save you hundreds of dollars. Just be sure you’re able to afford any annual fees associated with each card and that you can keep up with multiple payment due dates and redemption programs.
Furthermore, if you have existing credit card debt, you may want to consider adding a balance transfer credit card to your credit card lineup. This will allow you to avoid expensive interest rates while paying off credit card debt.
The verdict
How many credit cards should you have? There’s actually no set number. In fact, there are both positives and negatives to owning multiple cards, depending on how you use them.
Having several credit cards can be a good way to help you tackle various financial goals, whether it’s earning as much cash back as possible or avoiding interest rates on existing balances. Just make sure you don't overspend or miss any payments, or you could wind up in debt and damage your credit score.
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