Inside the wallets of 2,800 Americans: Key trends in credit card habits

Most Americans carry a credit card, but very few use them the same way. Have you ever wondered how your spending habits stack up against the rest of the country? To find out, a recent CardRatings survey polled nearly 2,800 users across every demographic—spanning all ages, ethnicities, income levels, and credit scores. The results prove that while averages exist, personal experiences vary wildly, from those who manage dozens of cards with ease to those struggling to keep up. Use these findings as a benchmark to see how your habits compare and ensure you’re getting the most out of your plastic.

How many credit cards does the typical consumer have?

To get the most accurate picture, our survey specifically asked respondents how many cards they use “regularly”—meaning at least a few times a month. By focusing on active usage rather than cards left gathering dust in a drawer, we found that the average user manages 2.4 credit cards. While this data naturally excludes those without any credit accounts, it shows that most cardholders typically rotate between two and three primary cards.

How many is too many?

With an average of 2.4, there were plenty of responses above and below that number. On the high side, there were 22 people who reported having ten or more credit cards. This is less than 1% of survey respondents, but it shows there are people out there who say they actively use a lot of different credit cards. In fact, one user reported regularly using 21 credit cards!

Is that too many? It depends largely on a few things:

• Are there fees involved? If a card has a monthly fee, there’s a cost to having it, no matter how you use it. In that case, you should be sure that the benefits you’re getting from the card justify the fee.
• Can you monitor all the cards that you have? Each card you have is a potential financial liability. You shouldn’t have more cards than you can regularly monitor for suspicious transactions and unexpected fees.
• Are you keeping up with your payments? If having a lot of cards is enabling you to take on more debt than you can handle, it may be time to cut back.

Notably, the respondent who reported using 21 credit cards also described themselves as “very satisfied” with their credit cards. So, having that many cards may not be for everybody, but at least one person found a way to make it work.

 ➤  SEE MORE:How many credit cards should you have?

Should you cancel credit cards you don’t use anymore?

While it’s possible to have too many credit cards, you shouldn’t necessarily cancel an old card every time you get a new one. Cancelling a card can temporarily ding your credit score. So, as long as there’s no monthly fee, it may be better to keep unused cards in a secure place rather than cancel them. However, even if they’re unused, it’s important to keep monitoring the account for unexpected transactions.

How happy are people with their credit cards?

You don’t need to have 21 credit cards to be happy with the ones you have. Nearly 85% of respondents described themselves as “satisfied” or “very satisfied” with their credit cards.

Only 5.1% of respondents reported being “unsatisfied” or “very unsatisfied” with their credit cards, with another 10.1% describing their feelings as “neutral.”

Just because you feel good about the cards you have doesn’t mean you should be complacent about them. While an overwhelming majority of respondents reported being satisfied with their cards, 40.5% said they feel like there is a better card out there for them. Another 40.2% believe there might be. More than half plan to apply for a new credit card within the next 12 months.

The message is, whether or not they’re satisfied, most credit card consumers are open to new offers. In particular, if one of your credit cards changes any of its terms – such as interest rates, fees or rewards – it might be a good time to take a look around at what the market has to offer.

 ➤  SEE MORE:Best credit cards of 2026

What bothers people about their credit cards?

While most customers are satisfied with their credit cards, that doesn’t mean they think those cards are perfect.

Some high-profile credit cards raised their fees last year, so perhaps it’s not surprising that fees are a particular hot button among consumers.

Combined, these two cost factors totaled more than half the responses. Other factors, such as reduced rewards, poor customer service, and a cut in credit limit, got far fewer responses.

So, people are happy with their cards, but higher prices could quickly change that.

How common are surcharges for using a credit card?

Have you noticed an extra line item on your receipt lately? More merchants are tacking on surcharges for credit card transactions to offset their own costs. It’s a widespread issue: 61.6% of people surveyed said they have run into these fees, and over half of them are voting with their wallets by avoiding those vendors entirely.

Surcharges are typically charged as a percentage of the transaction. They may be too minor to be a concern for small, infrequent transactions.

However, for big-ticket items or things you pay for frequently, these surcharges can add substantially to your cost of living. In those cases, consider using cash or finding another vendor.

Currently, surcharges typically apply no matter what type of card you use. So, try to use a cash-back or another rewards card if you have to incur a surcharge. That way, at least the rewards you earn will somewhat pay you back for the surcharge.

How common is credit card fraud?

Another growing trend is credit card fraud. Over a third of respondents said they had been a victim of credit card fraud or attempted fraud.

Here are some things you should do to guard against credit card fraud:

• Regularly review your credit card statements for suspicious transactions.
• Watch out for credit card skimmers. These are devices fitted over the top of legitimate credit card readers. They record your credit card info for use by criminals. Look for poorly-fitting or unusually bulky devices, usually on readers in public areas, such as on gas pumps or ATMs.
• Beware of tap-and-go fraud. Someone with a contactless reader can collect your card information by standing close to you or brushing up against you. Some special envelopes or wallets can protect your cards from having their information read.
• Check your credit reports regularly for unauthorized accounts that have been opened in your name.

If you suspect your information has been compromised, don’t wait—contact your credit card issuer immediately. The good news is that you’re likely in good hands; 87.9% of survey respondents who faced fraud were pleased with how their credit card company resolved the issue.

 ➤  SEE MORE:How to dispute a credit card charge

How do people handle their credit card bills?

There are two parts using a credit card: the way you use it to pay for things, and the way you pay off the credit card debt you incur.

In terms of paying credit card bills, there are a range of different approaches:

• Nearly half of respondents (48.3%) said that they typically pay off their balances in full every month. This is the best way to use a credit card. It keeps you from building up debt and allows you to avoid interest charges.
• Nearly a third of respondents (31.4%) said they paid more than the minimum payment but less than the full balance every month. Paying more than the minimum makes a big difference. If you pay just the minimum, you’ll pay more interest and most likely will see your debt balance grow rather than shrink over time.
• Approximately 18% of respondents reported that they only make the minimum monthly payment on their accounts.
• Additionally, 2.2% of cardholders admitted they are typically unable to meet even the minimum payment requirement.

How many customers are struggling with credit card payments?

The small percentage of consumers unable to meet minimum payments (2.2%) reflects only a fraction of those facing financial hardship. The survey revealed a more widespread issue: 6.1% of users have missed a payment within the last 12 months, and 9.5% believe they are on the verge of doing so. Combined, this indicates that roughly 15.6%—nearly one in six—of the population is having significant trouble managing their credit card debt.

How have missed student loan payments affected credit scores?

Student loan payments were temporarily paused during the pandemic. Now that they’ve resumed, millions of borrowers haven’t been able to keep up. Those missed payments are starting to affect credit scores.

Nearly one out of every five respondents (18.5%) said they’d seen a hit to their credit scores because of missed student loan payments. The problem was especially common among young adults.

Among people who’ve seen those missed payments hurt their credit scores, nearly two-thirds (66.1%) said they’ve been turned down for new credit as a result. In other words, this is more than a student loan issue. It’s restricting access to credit cards and loans for millions of Americans.

 ➤  SEE MORE:How to juggle student loan and credit card payments

Measuring your own financial journey

Ultimately, the American credit landscape is as diverse as the people within it, filled with both success stories and cautionary tales. By comparing your own habits to these national benchmarks, you can gain a clearer picture of your financial health. Whether you’re excelling or facing hurdles, understanding where you stand is the first step toward optimizing your strategy and making your credit work harder for you.