What Is a Credit Card Billing Cycle?
How the cycle works
A billing cycle runs about 28 to 31 days. Everything you charge during it lands on that cycle statement, which is generated on the closing (statement) date. You then have until the due date, typically around 21 days later, to pay. Paying the statement balance in full keeps you in the grace period with no interest.
Statement, due date, and grace period
The closing date ends the cycle and sets your statement; the due date is when payment is owed. The gap between them is the grace period, during which paying in full means zero interest on purchases. Miss it and interest accrues. See statement date vs due date and reading your statement.
Why the timing matters for your score
Issuers usually report your balance to the credit bureaus on or near the closing date, so the balance at that moment is what shows up as your utilization. Paying down before the cycle closes (not just before the due date) can report a lower balance and help your score, even though you avoid interest either way by paying by the due date.
Frequently asked questions
Related reading
