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What’s considered a “high” credit limit varies depending on a person’s credit history and income, but in general, high-limit credit cards come with credit limits of $10,000 or more. You won’t typically know your actual credit limit until you apply for your new card, however, regardless of how high a credit card’s limit can potentially get. That’s because card issuers don’t share their specific requirements for credit card approvals, nor do they readily share the highest limits they’ll offer.
So, if you want to apply for a card with a high credit limit, your best bet will usually be to apply for premium rewards cards and business credit cards. Issuers of these cards in particular may be able to offer larger credit lines based on your or your company’s spending needs.
Top cards for high credit limits
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The Chase Sapphire Reserve® card’s terms and conditions claims the card offers a minimum credit limit of $10,000. However, you’ll need excellent credit to qualify for this premium card, not to mention it includes a high annual fee of $795. But you’ll get a number of perks, rewards and benefits in exchange, which should help you to offset the cost of carrying this card.
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Pros
- Generous travel protection benefits pair well with this card’s rewards rates and redemption bonuses for travel purchases using Chase Travel℠.
- A $300 travel credit offsets more than half of the card’s annual fee each account anniversary.
Cons
- While this card has lounge access, it lacks access to a variety of top luxury airport lounges and hotel perks that you can find on other premium travel cards.
- Its sign-up bonus pales in comparison to welcome offers on competing cards.
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The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card starts off with a credit limit of at least $5,000, as outlined in the card’s terms and conditions. This card also often has the same or sometimes even a higher welcome bonus than the Sapphire Reserve, making it a much more appealing option for anyone hesitant of the Reserve card’s high annual fee. Although you still have a $95 annual fee with the Preferred Card, the rewards you earn are truly versatile.
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Pros
- Generous rewards rates for travel and everyday categories make it a great card for leveraging routine expenses into a travel redemption strategy.
- This card offers valuable rewards for redemptions using the issuer’s travel portal despite its relatively low annual fee.
Cons
- Its annual fee may be difficult to offset if you don’t redeem your rewards for travel using the issuer’s portal.
- This card lacks an introductory APR for purchases and balance transfers, two benefits that offer a generous reprieve from mounting interest charges.
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The Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card offers a potentially high credit limit. While the issuer doesn’t publish information about it, cardholders have reported getting credit limits of $10,000 or more. This card also comes with no annual fee, making it one of the more affordable cards for good to excellent credit. Its boosted cash back rates, intro APR periods and cardholder benefits make it one of the best cards for just about anyone.
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Pros
- You won’t be pressured to overspend because there’s no need to offset an annual fee with cash back earnings.
- Its intro APR offers can help avoid interest while you whittle down debt or pay off new purchases.
Cons
- One of its best rewards rates is for purchases made using Capital One Travel, which can limit the flexibility you have when booking reservations.
- The value of cash back is often consistent, but points-earning cards typically have a higher ceiling for the value of your rewards.
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If you’re just getting started with credit, you may want to look into the Petal® 2 “Cash Back, No Fees” Visa® Credit Card*. This card comes with a minimum credit limit of $300 and a maximum limit of $10,000. Of course, you won’t know the credit limit you’ll receive until after your application has been reviewed and approved. If you have no credit history or need a forgiving card that won’t burden your balance with added charges, this can be a great card for learning the ropes.
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Pros
- This is one of the most accessible cards for building credit because it doesn’t require credit history.
- This card offers rewards, which is rare for credit-building cards.
Cons
- Its incentive-based rewards structure requires 12 on-time monthly payments before you can maximize your earnings.
- Its ongoing APR range is relatively high.
- Its highest credit limit may not be available for people with no credit history or poor credit.
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If you’re a business owner in search of a high-limit business credit card, look no further than the Capital on Tap Business Credit Card*. You’ll have the chance to secure a credit limit as high as $50,000 — perfect for those in need of significant purchasing power but without a hefty annual fee to match. If you consider yourself a responsible cardholder and do the kind of spending that would require a high credit limit, this business card is a solid option.
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Pros
- This business card does not charge an annual fee or a foreign transaction fee.
- You won’t impact your personal credit score with an application.
Cons
- This card does not offer a welcome offer.
- While the low end of the card’s ongoing APR is below the current average credit card interest rate, the high end of the range is extremely high.
Comparing the best high-limit credit cards
*Based on cardholder reports
How to choose a high-limit credit card
Before you apply for a high-limit credit card, make sure it’s the right card for you. Following these steps can help you choose one that suits your financial goals and habits:
- Decide if you want to earn rewards, as well as what type of rewards. If your goal is to earn rewards with a credit card, you should decide ahead of time which type of rewards you want to earn. Compare cards based on the type of rewards they offer to find the one that matches your spending and redeeming strategies.
- Check for cardholder perks you’ll actually use. Make sure the cards you’re considering offer the perks you want. That might mean airport lounge access, travel or dining credits, no foreign transaction fees or a credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck — all popular credit card perks.
- Compare annual fees. Cards with the most perks and rewards tend to charge higher annual fees. If you want a card but it has a high annual fee, make sure the benefits you receive will be worth it. You don’t want to get stuck with a costly membership you can’t justify.
- Consider interest rates and 0 percent intro APR offers. You shouldn’t use a high credit limit to rack up debt. Make sure you understand your credit card’s interest rate and how it compares to the current national average, as well as how it compares to the interest rates of personal loans. High-limit credit cards can be useful if you spend a lot each month, but long-term debt can hurt your credit score and curtail your lifestyle for years to come.
Staff experience: Why our team uses high-limit cards
High-limit credit cards come with a lot of inherent risk — but they also have their perks, many of which Bankrate writer and credit cards expert Ryan Flanigan has taken advantage of. He shares the following experience when it comes to having high-limit cards:
Having cards with high credit limits gives me the flexibility to handle any expense, whether planned or unplanned, while earning solid rewards in the process. All the cards I have with high limits also give me great perks that I put to use frequently, giving me proper ongoing value. Even if I charge a lot on these cards, my credit score doesn’t ever take a big hit since my credit utilization ratio is low.
A word of caution, though — make sure you pay your bill, because the potential to get wiped out with interest is significantly higher when you have higher limits. You have to remain disciplined.
Ryan Flanigan, Bankrate credit cards writer
What’s next?
The bottom line
High-limit credit cards offer the potential for significant purchasing power, but it’s important to consider your credit history, income and spending habits before applying. It’s crucial to be mindful of your credit utilization and avoid accruing a mountain of debt simply because you have purchasing power.
Choose the best credit card that aligns with your needs, and research each card that interests you and how it compares with its closest alternatives. Remember, while the initial credit limit may not always be what you hoped for, you can always request an increase from your card issuer down the road.
Frequently asked questions about high-limit credit cards
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Your income and credit score will help determine how much credit you qualify for, so a “normal” credit limit will be different for people in different economic brackets. For example, if you’re a student interested in your first credit card, a normal credit limit range might be $200 to $1,000.
If you have bad to fair credit, that range might be $100 to $500. For good to very good credit, you might receive a credit limit of $2,500 to $10,000. And if you have excellent credit — and a high income — you could receive a credit limit that’s much higher than $10,000.
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If you have excellent credit, high income and low credit utilization among other variables, issuers may offer you a credit line of $30,000 to $50,000. However, it’s possible credit issuers offer a credit limit even higher than that.
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To determine how high of a credit limit you’ll need — or would ideally like to have — you’ll need to pay attention to how much you spend each month. You’ll want a credit limit that’s at least three to four times your monthly spending, since you should always keep your credit utilization below 30 percent.
For example, if you have a credit limit of $10,000, you should keep your bill under $3,000 each month. If you need to charge more than $3,000 to your card, you can always pay part of your bill (or the entire bill) immediately to keep your credit utilization low. If you use a significant amount of the credit available to you, or max out your credit limit, you will likely experience a drop in your credit score.
*Information about the Petal® 2 “Cash Back, No Fees” Visa® Credit Card and the Capital on Tap Business Credit Card has been collected independently by Bankrate. The card details have not been reviewed or approved by the issuer.
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