Average American Credit Card Debt

The average credit card debt in the U.S. is $6,610 per person as of the second quarter of 2026, according to TransUnion, and total U.S. credit card debt stands at $1.263 trillion, according to the Federal Reserve.

Motley Fool Money reviewed research from government agencies and credit bureaus to get the most up-to-date data on U.S. credit card debt. Keep reading for the latest credit card debt statistics.

Average credit card debt: $6,610 as of Q2 2026

The average credit card balance is $6,610 as of the second quarter of 2026, according to TransUnion. That's about a 2% increase from the previous year, when average credit card debt was $6,473, though it's down from $6,715 at the end of 2025.

Total credit card debt: $1.263 trillion

Total U.S. credit card debt rose to $1.263 trillion in the second quarter of 2026, from $1.252 trillion in the previous quarter. While credit card debt fluctuated during the pandemic, it began to steadily rise in 2021 as inflation took off.

Over the last decade, credit card debt has typically accounted for between 5.5% to 6.5% of total household debt.

Average credit card debt per household: $9,371

The average American household has about $9,371 in credit card debt, based on the total U.S. credit card debt of $1.263 trillion divided by 134.79 million households, the most recent Census Bureau household estimate available.

This number is higher than the average per-borrower credit card debt because multi-person households are more likely to have multiple credit cards.

Average credit card debt by state: Alaska leads

Alaska has an average credit card debt of $8,077, the highest of any state, according to Experian data. Kansas and Wisconsin have the smallest average balances, at $5,329 and $5,370, respectively.

Credit card debt varies widely by state. Here's a full list of each state's average credit card balance as of 2024.

States with the highest credit card debt

1. Alaska: $8,077
2. Florida: $7,861
3. New Mexico: $7,605
4. Connecticut: $7,568
5. Idaho: $7,560

States with the lowest credit card debt

1. Kansas: $5,329
2. Wisconsin: $5,370
3. Louisiana: $5,399
4. West Virginia: $5,427
5. Missouri: $5,553

Average credit utilization rate holds at 29%

The average credit utilization rate is 29% as of 2025, level with 2024 and up 1% from 2022.

This metric, also known as a credit utilization ratio, is calculated by dividing a credit card balance by the credit limit. A credit card with a $1,000 balance and a $10,000 credit limit, would have a 10% utilization rate.

Lower credit utilization can improve credit scores. The conventional wisdom is to keep utilization below 30%, and the data suggests consumers are doing well to manage their credit cards.

Average credit card interest rate: 20.94%

The average interest rate on credit card plans across all accounts was 20.94% in May 2026, according to the Federal Reserve. Credit card interest rates rose quickly after 2021, as the Federal Reserve hiked its benchmark interest rate, but moderated somewhat in 2025 and 2026.

The all-accounts rate includes credit cards not currently charging interest, such as 0% intro APR credit cards, so it runs lower than the accounts-assessed rate, which only counts cards actively being charged interest. The accounts-assessed credit card interest rate was 22.15% in May 2026, according to the Federal Reserve.

READ MORE: How Does Credit Card Interest Work?

Credit card delinquency rate: 12.92% of balances 90+ days late

The Federal Reserve measures credit card delinquency in two ways: new delinquencies and total delinquent balances.

The share of credit card balances newly transitioning into 30 days or more delinquent rose to 8.69% in the second quarter of 2026, from 8.61% in the previous quarter, according to the New York Fed. The share newly transitioning into serious delinquency, 90 days or more past due, fell to 6.97% from 7.1%.

The share of all outstanding credit card balances that are already 90 days or more delinquent -- not just newly delinquent balances -- was 12.92% in the second quarter of 2026. That's down from 13.12% in the first quarter, but up from 12.7% at the end of 2025.

The new delinquency rate suggests that fewer credit card accounts are falling behind on payments, however, the percentage of credit card balances that are seriously delinquent remains elevated.

Average credit card debt by income: Middle-income Americans are most likely to carry a balance

Americans in higher income brackets carry higher credit card balances on average.

However, it's the middle and upper-middle classes that are most likely to have credit card debt. Among Americans in the 60th through 79th income percentiles, 54% have credit card debt. Those in the 40th through 59th income percentile are more likely to have credit card debt, with 57% carrying a balance.

It's Americans in the highest (90th to 100th) and lowest (under 20th) income percentiles who are least likely to carry credit card balances. A third of Americans in the lowest income percentile carry credit card debt, while a quarter of those in the highest income percentile do.

Average credit card debt by race: White Americans carry the highest balance

White Americans have an average credit card debt of $6,930 and a median credit card balance of $3,000, the most of any racial identity/ethnicity.

Hispanic Americans have the lowest average credit card debt at $4,150, and both Hispanic and Black Americans share the lowest median credit card debt at $1,700.

Average credit card debt by age: Gen X holds the highest balance

Generation X carries the highest average credit card balance at $9,600. That's over $2,500 more than millennials, who have the second-highest average credit card balance of $6,961.

The lowest average credit card debt by age is the Silent Generation, with $3,445, followed closely by Gen Z, with an average credit card balance of $3,493. Since young adults have lower incomes on average, they also have lower average credit limits, which at least helps them avoid credit card debt.

Recent trends in credit card debt

Credit card debt rose to $1.263 trillion in the second quarter of 2026 and accounts for about 6.7% of all debt held by Americans, per the New York Fed. New credit card delinquencies have begun to stabilize while the total percentage of debt that is seriously delinquent fell slightly but remains high compared to 2025, a sign that Americans are still leaning on credit cards to cope with inflation.

Even as credit card debt and delinquencies rose in 2023 and 2024, the average FICO® Score remained stable at 714.

With credit card utilization held 29%, combined with relatively high delinquency rates and stubborn inflation, there are some worrisome signs about just how much consumers are relying on credit.

How to get out of credit card debt

Owing money to a credit card issuer is common. Many American credit cardholders carry high balances that incur interest each month.

If you're in this situation, here are some methods to consider that can help you get out of credit card debt:

• Keep your credit card charges to a minimum. Either don't use credit or only use it for necessary expenses so you don't add to your debt. Since this is revolving debt, it's hard to get rid of if you continue using your credit cards.
• Cut spending where you can. Look at your recent spending, see where you can cut back, and make a budget you can use going forward. There are several budgeting apps that can help here.
• Consider a balance transfer credit card if you have good credit. Balance transfer credit cards offer a 0% intro APR on transferred credit card debt. Although card issuers cut down on these offers at the start of the pandemic, there are now plenty of quality balance transfer cards available, and they're the best credit card option for paying off debt.
• Look into debt consolidation loans. Debt consolidation loans typically have lower interest rates than most credit cards (excluding the 0% intro APR certain cards offer on purchases and/or balance transfers). They also have a fixed payment amount and length, which can provide the structure needed to eliminate credit card debt.
• Explore other options if you can't make your monthly payments. You may be able to negotiate with your credit card issuer to lower your interest rate or monthly payment amount. Another option is to look into nonprofit organizations that offer credit counseling or a credit card hardship program.