More often than not, 1-99% on one card and zero on the rest works. 
@jason0618 wrote:
Sorry, I can't really remember. It seems like around 9% util was the sweet spot for best score, but I don't know for sure. Credit cards got racked up with Christmas and I'm paying them all by the end of January. They're at about 95% this month, and I can pay them all completely off, or whatever is the best.
OP, I'm guessing you don't have a huge number of cards, or $100k of CL? That overal amount of debt is just as important as any utilization discussions.
Can you share the list of cards you have, their CL and how much is outstanding on each?
@jason0618 wrote:
Yeah, I did another post with the info, but just got more judgmental posts that seemed to lecture me on credit usage. No real help.
Anyway, you're right. Low limits in my cards:
NFCU nRewards $1000 limit. Currently $980 reporting
Barclay Apple $1700 limit. Currently $16xx reporting
Barclay rewards $1300 limit. Currently $12xx reporting
Jared card $700 limit. Currently $0 reporting
Credit one card $600 limit. Currently $5xx reporting.
That said, credit one is a no brainer. No grace period, it needs to be pif immediately. The others, does it matter which reports 0-9%? I usually just throw a tank of gas on or something small and pay it when the bill comes. Every so often, I make a larger purchase and pay when the bill comes. With Christmas, I didnt. Ran them up, paid some, now this month I'm ready for them to go away again.
Ok, I recognize the list, you are looking to get toward a mortgage later.
Regarding the responses from posters here, a list of high utilization cards like that raises the defensive/panic response in a lot of people. So you have to take the "honest advice" as coming from many different perspectives.
When you pay these down rapidly, it indicates the ability to pay, and some lenders who gave you these low limits might eventually be encouraged to give you CLI. Thus the earlier question about "optimal utilization" depends on whether you are gunning for a CLI or not. If you were going for a CLI, paid these down to near zero (closed the CreditOne) and then charged them up, paid them down again, that is a tactic I've used on smaller limit cards as well. Sometimes it works to get a CLI, sometimes not. The high utilization definitely can reduce your FICO, however the number of points involved tends to be minor.
If your credit file is fairly short lived, then the regular use of these cards, showing amounts and making payments every month, in my opinion, is the best way to grow your score. FICO uses "No Missed Payments for XX months" as the primary feature of your score, and so the more months you build with good payment history, is good. With low limit cards, it is impossible to maintain very low utilization.
Given that you want to apply for a mortgage, you will want to begin to control your utilization, so the "charge, pay, rinse and repeat" for CLI is not appropriate in that case. My comment on the other thread, to check with a mortgage banker, is still relevant. You should get a professional opinion to see where you stand, what you can expect for a mortgage, and that will give you the best strategy to follow.
Good luck!