What is the average credit card debt in America?

The average American consumer has $6,595 in credit card debt as of early 2026. And according to Federal Reserve data, the total U.S. credit card debt is roughly $1.28 trillion. Exploring these numbers can help put your own credit card debt in perspective. 

Use this guide to discover how you compare with other Americans across different demographics. 

What you’ll learn:

• At the start of 2026, the average U.S. credit card debt per consumer was $6,595.

• The latest trends show that Gen X has the highest average credit card debt, while Gen Z is experiencing the fastest growth of debt.

• Americans’ average credit card debt appears to be directly correlated with education levels: Higher education levels seem to equal higher average credit card debt.

• Among racial demographics, Hispanics have the lowest average credit card debt, while white non-Hispanics have the highest, according to the most recent data.

As of early 2026, the average U.S. credit card debt per consumer was $6,595.

The average credit card debt in America also varies by age. Gen X had the highest average credit card debt in 2025, at $9,600, followed by millennials at $6,961, while Gen Z had the lowest balances but saw the fastest growth in debt.

The table below compares the average credit card debt by age group in 2024 and 2025:

​The average credit card debt in America appears to be directly correlated with education level: The higher the education level, the higher the average credit card debt. The Federal Reserve’s most recent Survey of Consumer Finances found the following:

The average credit card debt in the U.S. significantly varies by race. White, non-Hispanic individuals often hold the highest average balances, while Black and Hispanic credit cardholders generally have lower average balances but are more likely to carry a balance.

Common causes of credit card debt in America include things like unexpected emergencies, inflation, stagnant wages and more.

• Unexpected emergencies: Big medical bills or a major life event like divorce or unemployment can put a strain on finances that extends to credit accounts.
• Inflation: When the prices of goods and services rise, decreasing purchasing power, people may end up spending more for the same things. In turn, that could cause debt to grow.
• Income gaps: When wages stagnate and fail to keep up with the cost of living, consumers may be forced to rely on credit for everyday expenses, leading to higher balances and making it more difficult to pay down debt over time.
• Interest rates: When the Fed increases the federal interest rate, the annual percentage rates (APR) for credit cards tend to follow. So it can become more expensive if you carry a balance.

If you’re focused on paying off credit card debt, you could choose a debt payoff strategy like the debt avalanche or debt snowball methods, or look into debt consolidation. 

A credit card payoff calculator may also help you understand how much you owe, how much interest you’re being charged and how much you can afford to pay each month.

Other strategies to start managing your debt include: 

• Creating a budget: Another strategy to manage or reduce your credit card debt is to create a budget (and stick to it).

• Looking for the right debt relief option for you: There are several credit card debt relief options, from contacting the credit card issuer to see whether they’ll work with you to enrolling in credit counseling and, if necessary, filing bankruptcy.

• Managing credit card use: It’s possible to use credit cards in a way that helps or hurts credit. Learning how to use a credit card responsibly by doing things like making payments on time can have a positive impact on your credit.

It can be helpful to know how your credit card use stacks up against other cardholders in America. But there’s no one-size-fits-all answer to the amount of credit card debt you should take on. It depends on what’s best for your personal finances and how you plan to use your credit card, among other factors.

And don’t forget, the best way to benefit from all the advantages a credit card can offer—from earning rewards to building credit—is to use it responsibly.