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What is the Average Credit Card Debt in the United States?

5 min read

Last Updated: August 28, 2025

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Key Takeaways

The average American had $6,580 in credit card debt in Q4 2024, according to data from TransUnion®.
In the first quarter of 2025, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York estimated total credit card debt for all Americans was $1.18 trillion.
You may manage your credit card debt through budgeting, a balance transfer, or credit counseling.

According to compiled by TransUnion^®, Americans had an average credit card debt of about $6,580 through the fourth quarter of 2024, a slight increase from second quarter of 2024.

Whether your credit card balance is higher or lower than average, you may improve your credit by taking steps to pay down your credit card debt.

Total credit card debt held by Americans

According to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, total credit card debt in the United States reached an estimated $1.18 trillion by the end of the first quarter in 2025.

What counts as credit card debt?

Credit card debt includes the total of all your credit card balances. As you pay down your balances, your credit card debt goes down. Other types of revolving credit may also be considered credit card debt, even if they aren’t connected to a credit card account.

Not all consumer debt is credit card debt. For example, your mortgage, auto, and student loans may make up part of your household debt, but they don’t affect your credit card balances unless you charge those payments to your credit card.

How many people carry a credit card balance?

About half of all people in the U.S. carry a credit card balance.

According to TransUnion, about 173.1 million credit card users in the U.S. carry a balance from month to month. However, the vast majority of credit card users stay on top of their payments.

The credit card delinquency rate—the portion of credit cardmembers who are at least 30 days behind on their payments—is only about 3%, per the Federal Reserve. And just 2% of credit card users are behind on their payments by 90 days or more.

What’s the average credit card debt among Generation Z?

In 2023, the average credit card balance for someone between the ages of 22 and 24 was $2,834, according to a TransUnion study of Gen Z credit habits. In 2013, the average credit card debt for Millennials at that age was $1,708.

While credit card usage has increased across all age groups, Gen Z credit cardmembers seem to be leaning more on credit card transactions as they enter adulthood than Millennials did around the same ages, according to TransUnion. Among members of Gen Z with a credit history, 84% have a credit card compared to only 61% of Millennials at the same age.

Many factors, such as changes in the cost of living and inflation, may account for the difference in consumer finances across the two age groups.

Tips for paying down credit card debt

The good news about credit card debt is that it’s possible to manage. And getting your debt under control may have a big impact on your overall financial well-being.

Paying down your balances may help you save on interest charges. Plus, bringing your balance further below your credit limit lowers your credit utilization ratio (the percentage of available credit in use), which may boost your credit score.

Here are some credit card basics for managing your debt.

Create a budget. A budget is a vital tool for overcoming debt. To build a realistic budget, set a clear objective. Is your goal to lower your balances or to get out of debt completely? A credit card interest calculator may help you set a timeline for paying off your total credit card debt. If you have multiple credit cards, you may save money by first focusing on the credit card account with the higher interest rate.

Pay more than the minimum payment. Chipping away at debt may feel frustrating, especially with high credit card interest rates. As interest charges pile up, your credit card balance may not budge much. But paying more than the monthly minimum may help you get ahead of those interest charges and pay down your debt.

Consider a balance transfer. If you’re struggling to manage one or more high-interest credit card balances, a credit card balance transfer may help. A balance transfer credit card offer with a low introductory APR might give you more breathing room to repay your balance. Your credit card issuer may charge a fee, so it’s important to make sure your savings offset the cost.

Did you know?

If you’re juggling several credit cards with different due dates and interest rates, you might use a balance transfer credit card offer as a debt consolidation tool. That way, you only have to worry about a single monthly credit card bill with a low interest rate.

Learn More

How to get help with credit card debt

Gaining control over your credit card debt may feel overwhelming, but you have options. If you’re struggling to make even your minimum monthly payment, you may want to speak to your credit card issuer about your debt relief options. A debt relief company may also help you manage your balances for a fee.

An accredited nonprofit credit counseling service may also help you come up with a plan to get back on track and build your personal finance skills. It’s important to note that credit counseling programs don’t generally provide credit card debt forgiveness. An organization promising total credit card debt forgiveness may not be trustworthy.

The bottom line

If you’re struggling with credit card debt, you’re not alone. Resources like credit counselors, budgeting tools, and balance transfers may help you get your debt under control. The process doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Just look for an approach that works for you and take it one step at a time.

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