If you're on a Galaxy Fold, consider unfolding your phone or viewing it in full screen to best optimize your experience.
High limit credit cards come with above-average spending limits that are the gateway to making large purchases. If you have excellent credit with enough income, you may qualify for credit limits as high as $25,000 - $100,000, or even unlock no-limit credit card offers.
We've evaluated over 260 credit cards to find the picks below, including the top high limit cards for individuals and business owners.
Great for: Premium travel
On Capital One's Secure Website.
On Capital One's Secure Website.
Excellent (740-850)
Intro APR
Purchases: N/A
Balance Transfers: N/A
Regular APR
19.99% - 29.49% (Variable)
Rewards Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel. Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases.
2X-10X miles
Annual Fee
$395
Welcome Offer 75,000 Miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
75,000 Miles
The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is a favorite among our experts thanks to benefits that easily offset the $395 annual fee — an easy-to-use $300 annual travel credit, 10,000-mile bonus every anniversary (worth $100), huge welcome bonus (worth $750), unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, and up to 10X miles on eligible travel. Pile on access to a global airport lounge network, Global Entry/TSA Pre✓® reimbursement, and experience credits to get you where you want to go in comfort. Read Full Review
Great for: Travel rewards
On Chase's Secure Website.
On Chase's Secure Website.
$5,000 minimum with user reports of $50,000. This card is considered by many travelers as a must have, due to its sign-up bonus, versatility, and premium travel rewards.
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR N/A
Purchases: N/A
Balance Transfers: N/A
Regular APR
20.74% - 27.74% Variable
Rewards Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining and 2x on all other travel purchases
Annual Fee
$95
Welcome Offer Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
60,000 bonus points
Bonus travel and dining rewards, along with an annual $50 hotel credit, make this card worth the (very reasonable) annual fee. Chase points are both valuable and easy to use, offering 25% more value for bookings through Chase Travel, which simplifies the experience compared to other travel cards. Not to mention it provides robust travel protections, including primary rental car insurance, trip delay reimbursement, lost luggage reimbursement, and trip cancellation/interruption insurance. Read Full Review
Great for: Unlimited cash back program
On Chase's Secure Website.
On Chase's Secure Website.
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR 0% Intro APR on Purchases and Balance Transfers for 15 months
Purchases: 0% Intro APR on Purchases, 15 months
Balance Transfers: 0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers, 15 months
Regular APR
19.74% - 28.49% Variable
Rewards Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 1.5% on all other purchases
1.5% - 5% cash back
Annual Fee
$0
Welcome Offer Earn an extra 1.5% on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) — worth up to $300 cash back. That's 6.5% on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 4.5% on dining and drugstores, and 3% on all other purchases.
Up to $300 cash back
A cash back card that has it all with unlimited 1.5% - 5% cash back rates and an excellent 0% intro APR offer. There's also an innovative sign-up bonus worth up to $300 cash back. With the bonus, you’ll earn 4.5% cash back on dining and drugstores, 6.5% on travel booked through Chase Travel, and 3% on all other purchases (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year). After the bonus, you’ll still earn the regular cash back rates on every purchase. Read Full Review
Great for: Small business card
On Chase's Secure Website.
On Chase's Secure Website.
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR 0% Intro APR on Purchases
Purchases: 0% Intro APR on Purchases, 12 months
Balance Transfers: N/A
Regular APR
17.74% - 23.74% Variable
Rewards Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase made for your business
Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase
Annual Fee
$0
Welcome Offer Earn $750 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Earn $750 bonus cash back
This card is a cost-effective option for businesses of all sizes. There is no annual fee, yet offers an attractive $750 welcome bonus & unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase — that is a straightforward way to earn cash back on everyday business expenses. Plus, you can add employees cards for no extra cost. No wonder it's one of the most popular business cards we've reviewed. Read Full Review
Great for: Business travel rewards
On Chase's Secure Website.
On Chase's Secure Website.
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR N/A
Purchases: N/A
Balance Transfers: N/A
Regular APR
20.49% - 26.49% Variable
Rewards Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent in combined purchases on travel, shipping purchases, Internet, cable and phone services, advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines each account anniversary year. Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases-with no limit to the amount you can earn.
Earn 3 points per $1 in select business categories
Annual Fee N/A
$95
Welcome Offer Earn 90,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Earn 90,000 bonus points
This card offers excellent earning potential for businesses looking to earn valuable rewards on everyday expenses. You’ll earn 3X points on travel, shipping, and advertising purchases (up to $150,000 per year), making it a great fit for businesses that invest in growth. With an impressive 90,000-point welcome bonus and access to the Chase Ultimate Rewards® ecosystem, this card helps you maximize rewards. Plus, we like that points are worth 25% more when redeemed for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, further boosting the card’s value. Read Full Review
Great for: No annual fee
On Chase's Secure Website.
On Chase's Secure Website.
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR 0% Intro APR on Purchases
Purchases: 0% Intro APR on Purchases, 15 months
Balance Transfers: 0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers, 15 months
Regular APR
19.74% - 28.49% Variable
Rewards 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate. Enjoy new 5% categories each quarter! Plus, earn 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3% on dining and drugstores, and 1% on all other purchases.
5% cash back offer
Annual Fee
$0
Welcome Offer Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening!
$200 bonus
This Chase card is one of our favorites, and with good reason. You earn 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate, alongside other standout perks (and at least 1% on all purchases). Plus, this one comes without an annual fee and with a generous welcome bonus. Read Full Review
Great for: Luxury benefits
On Chase's Secure Website.
On Chase's Secure Website.
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR
Purchases: N/A
Balance Transfers: N/A
Regular APR
21.74% - 28.74% Variable
Rewards Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.
5x points on flights and 10x points on hotels and car rentals through Chase Travel℠.
Annual Fee
$550
Welcome Offer Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
60,000 bonus points
All the perks we've come to expect from a top travel card, including a $300 annual travel credit, airport lounge access, and big bonuses on travel and dining. Points are transferable to airline and hotel partners or worth 50% more if you book through Chase Travel. The annual fee is hefty, but if you can use all its features, this card could be well worth the cost. Read Full Review
Great for: Limited credit history
Fair/New to Credit Under(669)
Intro APR
Purchases: n/a
Balance Transfers: n/a
Regular APR
18.24 - 32.24% Variable
If you need to build credit, pay attention to this card. You qualify based on bank information, rather than credit, and there are no fees of any kind. Best of all, if you pay your monthly bill on time every time, your cash back rate will grow from 1% to 1.5% on purchases over your first year.
At Motley Fool Money, we rate high limit credit cards on a five-star scale (1 = poor, 5 = best). Our rating criteria Includes credit limits, welcome offers, and annual fees.
Our highest-rated high limit credit cards have:
We combine these factors with an evaluation of brand reputation and customer satisfaction to ensure you're getting the best high limit card recommendations. Our aim is to maintain a balanced best-of list featuring top-scoring high limit credit cards from reputable brands.
Ordering within lists is influenced by advertiser compensation, including featured placements at the top of a given list, but our product recommendations are NEVER influenced by advertisers. Learn more about how Motley Fool Money rates credit cards.
Best High Limit Credit Card | Minimum & Maximum Credit Limits |
---|---|
Chase Sapphire Reserve® | $10,000 minimum with user reports of $80,000 |
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card | Credit limits determined on a per-person basis |
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card | $5,000 minimum with user reports of $50,000 |
Chase Freedom Unlimited® | $500 minimum with user reports of $24,000 |
Chase Freedom Flex® | $500 minimum with user reports of $24,000 |
Petal® 2 "Cash Back, No Fees" Visa® Credit Card | $10,000 maximum |
Best High Limit Credit Card | Minimum & Maximum Credit Limits |
---|---|
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card | $5,000 minimum with user reports of $100,000 |
Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card | $3,000 minimum with user reports of $75,000 |
Our expert picks for the best high limit credit cards for both consumers and business owners.
Leveraging the high credit limit:
What you should know:
With premium perks and a reasonable annual fee, this Visa Infinite travel credit card is a favorite of ours. An annual $300 credit for Capital One Travel bookings and 10,000 bonus miles every account anniversary already more than make up for the annual fee (see rates and fees).
Apply for Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Leveraging the high credit limit:
What you should know:
The terms and conditions state that the minimum credit limit for this card is $5,000. They don't specify a maximum, but reports show that it's possible to get a very high limit for the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card.
Apply for Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Leveraging the high credit limit:
What you should know:
The pricing and terms for this card state that the minimum credit limit is $500 if approved for a Visa Platinum account and $5,000 if approved for a Visa Signature account. In addition, balance transfer requests can't total more than $15,000 or your available credit, whichever is lower. Like its sibling, the Chase Freedom Flex®, this card generally has limits of up to $15,000, although it's possible to get approved for a larger amount.
Apply for Chase Freedom Unlimited®
Leveraging the high credit limit:
What you should know:
This is our award winner for Best No Annual Fee Credit Card. Boasting a 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers, this cash back card is well-suited for high limit spending, without having to pay back your balance immediately.
The terms and conditions provide a minimum starting credit line of $500. Total balance transfer requests can't exceed available credit or $15,000, whichever is lower. But we've gotten reports of credit limits up to $24,000.
Leveraging the high credit limit:
What you should know:
The pricing and terms of this Chase card lay out a minimum credit line of $10,000. On the high end, there have been reports of limits up to $80,000.
This Chase travel card is loaded with valuable features, including a $300 annual travel credit, perks with Chase partners, and airport lounge access. Not everyone will be able to get the most out of this card and its high spending limit, but if you can, it can help you save big on travel expenses.
Apply for Chase Sapphire Reserve®
Leveraging the high credit limit:
What you should know:
The Petal website used to provide credit limits for each of its credit cards. When it did, the range for this Petal card was $300 to $10,000. Petal has removed that information, but it still lists a maximum limit of $10,000 elsewhere on its site.
Through the card issuer's Leap program, you can earn a credit limit increase after six months of qualifying on-time payments. Terms apply.
Leveraging the high credit limit:
What you should know:
In the pricing and terms for this business credit card, Chase specifies that your credit line will be at least $3,000 if approved. While there's no official maximum, the terms also state that Chase may request additional information for credit lines over $25,000. Anecdotally, there have been reports of cardholders with $75,000 limits, but most approved applicants likely end up in the $3,000 to $25,000 range.
The welcome offer for this Chase business card requires substantial spending, and a high credit limit makes it easier to reach that target. If you do, you'll be rewarded with an equally substantial welcome bonus. Making it even better is this card's 0% intro APR on purchases for the first 12 months, giving you time to pay off any large business expenses.
Apply for Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
Leveraging the high credit limit:
What you should know:
This Chase business card has a $5,000 minimum credit limit, according to the pricing and terms. The typical limit range likely goes up to $25,000, as the terms also state that qualifying for a higher limit could require additional information. And some cardholders have reported significantly higher limits -- as high as $100,000.
With most credit cards, a generous credit limit is a nice extra. With this Chase business card, it makes the card significantly more valuable. A high credit limit allows you to more easily spend enough to earn the huge welcome bonus, and you'll also be able to maximize all those useful bonus categories.
By understanding how high limit credit cards work, you can decide if you need this type of card and figure out how to pick the right one. The best high limit credit cards are useful for making large purchases without running out of room on your card. But this type of card can backfire if you use your high limit to run up a large balance.
Get credit industry expert tips on the most common questions on upgrading your lifestyle, including:
If you don't overspend and you commit to paying off your card each month, you could make the most of the highest credit card limits. Here are a few common questions about these cards.
High limit credit card eligibility depends primarily on your income and credit score. Card issuers use your income to determine how much money you could pay back, so a large income helps with securing large credit limits.
Your credit score helps with getting approved for top high limit credit cards and it can also impact your credit limit once you're approved. While there's no credit score that guarantees a high credit limit, having very good to exceptional credit (740 to 850 under the FICO® Score system) is helpful. Under the VantageScore system, excellent credit ranges from 781 to 850.
Some high limit credit cards have a minimum limit, with $5,000 and $10,000 being common amounts. You can find this information in the pricing and terms. Try searching for "minimum credit limit" or "minimum credit line" (exact terminology varies by card issuer).
If there's a minimum credit line, then every approved applicant will receive at least that much credit, but it's also possible to be approved for more. If you want a high limit credit card for bad credit and your income or credit score isn't very high, you may fall close to the minimum if you're approved for one of these cards.
Your spending habits can help you decide how high of a credit limit you should have. Ideally, your credit limit will be enough that you can use your credit card for your monthly bills, with plenty left over. You won't need to worry about maxing out your card, and your credit score could also benefit.
It's good for your credit score if you don't use too much of your credit. Your credit utilization ratio -- the percentage of your total credit line you're using -- is an important factor in your credit score. If you use too much of your credit line, your credit score can drop.
High limit credit cards can help your credit score by keeping your balances low compared to your credit limit. If you have $50,000 in credit limits, and your balances never go above $5,000 total, your credit utilization will never be higher than 10%.
A good rule of thumb is to have a credit limit of at least five times your normal monthly expenses across all of your cards. For example, if you spend $1,000 per month, aim for a total credit line of $5,000, either on a single card or multiple cards.
Paying off the full balance, including the principal and any credit card interest charges, on your high limit card is essential to staying out of debt.
An annual fee could be worth it for a credit card, if you get enough value from the card's rewards and other benefits. Annual fees are common with the highest limit credit cards, as many of them come with steep price tags.
You might also see fees in the form of a security deposit, if you're looking for a secured high limit credit card. These are generally used for building and repairing credit.
Rewards are one of the most valuable credit card perks, and with high limit cards, you could potentially earn even more. The highest limit credit cards give you plenty of spending power. Just make sure to learn how a card's rewards program works before you get it, and don't overspend to earn rewards.
There are also many high limit cards with valuable sign-up bonuses. This is a great way to take advantage of any large initial purchases you need to make. You could use that spending to meet the requirements for a welcome offer.
No matter how high your card's credit limit, it's still a good idea to pay in full every month. This is why credit cards with large limits can be a double-edged sword. They allow you to go deeper into credit card debt if you aren't careful about how much you spend.
A high limit credit card has its benefits. A high balance credit card just costs you lots of money in interest. The only exception is 0% intro APR credit cards, which are the safest option if you won't be able to pay your balance in full.
Depending on your high limit spending needs, you may need a certain type of high limit card -- or something entirely different. Here are a few of the most common examples:
Select a high limit credit card that is best for you to apply directly with the issuer.
Card | Rating | Great For |
---|---|---|
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
Great For: Premium travel |
|
2025 Award Winner
|
Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
Great For: Travel rewards |
2025 Award Winner
|
Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
Great For: Unlimited cash back program |
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
Great For: Small business card |
|
2025 Award Winner
|
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
Great For: Business travel rewards |
Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
Great For: No annual fee |
|
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
Great For: Luxury benefits |
|
Rating image, 4.25 out of 5 stars.
4.25/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
Great For: Limited credit history |
High limit credit cards are credit cards with above-average spending limits. While there isn't any standard definition about what high limit credit cards actually are, a high balance credit card with a limit of $10,000 or above could generally be included on a list of high limit credit cards.
Some invitation-only credit cards for the ultra-wealthy are known for putting no limit on what the cardholder can spend. Among credit cards that are publicly available, the highest credit limits are generally in the $50,000-to-$100,000 range.
To get a higher credit limit, log in to your account or call the credit card issuer to request a credit limit increase. Credit card issuers are often happy to raise your credit limit, especially if you've had your card open for at least six months to a year and you've made all your payments on time. It also helps if your income or credit score has gone up since you got the card.
Credit card companies generally decide your credit limit by looking at your credit score and your income more than the type of card you're applying for. For this reason, the biggest factor in getting a high limit on your credit card is your credit behavior, so make sure to focus on building your credit score.
Once you earn excellent credit, you will start to see your card offer eligibility improve.
There's nothing wrong with having multiple high limit credit cards, but you'll need to be careful not to overspend. Since you'll have more credit, you'll also be able to go further into expensive credit card debt.
Applying for multiple high limit credit cards at one time could also be a red flag to lenders and harm your credit score. A better approach is to space out credit card applications over time.
A credit limit of $5,000 to $10,0000 is generally considered good, although it depends on your credit score and financial situation. What's most important is that your credit limit meets your spending needs.
There isn't any one card that's known as the highest credit limit credit card. The credit limit depends more on the cardholder than the card itself.
Invitation-only credit cards generally have the highest credit limits. Among cards that anyone can apply for, limits vary quite a bit. Here are two popular options known for high credit limits, one a premium travel card and another designed for building and rebuilding credit:
Cards with high credit limits can trap you in more debt than normal credit cards.
As a rough rule of thumb, aim for having a total credit limit -- across all of your credit cards -- of about five times your normal monthly expenses. Using this number as a starting point will help you minimize negative impacts to your credit score if you use your high limit credit cards responsibly, paying it off each month.
Experts have figured out that keeping your total balances below 20% to 30% of total available credit will help you avoid damaging your credit score. Translated into real-world terms, the formula means that if you were to charge a full month's expenses to high limit credit cards, then pay it off in full at the end of the month, your credit utilization ratio would still remain under the 20% threshold.
John Ulzheimer
Credit card expert with over 30 years of experience within the credit industry, weighs in on high limit credit cards
John Ulzheimer has worked at FICO, Equifax and Credit.com, is the founder of CreditExpertWitness.com and is the acting president of The Ulzheimer Group. He has been quoted, interviewed and published in the financial media, with over 5.000 media appearances and interviews across nearly every major television, print and online news outlet.
Generally speaking, anything above $10,000 would reasonably be considered a high-limit card. Although, it's not uncommon for credit limits to exceed 20 and 30 thousand dollars, depending on the issuer and the income and credit quality of an applicant.
First off, not all card issuers offer high-limit cards. So, you're going to have to apply with an issuer that does offer higher limits. And, as you can imagine, they don't just give those out to everyone. You have to earn them. The way to do that is to have solid credit scores and an income that justifies the higher limit.
Card issuers are required to consider your ability to pay them when you apply (CARD Act of 2009) so it's more than just a solid credit score. You can also earn higher limits on lower limit cards over a period of several years by using the card responsibly and making your payments on time.
Always. If you have the self-control and discipline to not increase your spending simply because you have a higher credit limit, there's really no downside to asking for the higher limit. You'll have more spending power, which may come in handy.
They can certainly help your credit scores. Credit scoring models, like FICO's scores, reward consumers who maintain low balances on their cards relative to the credit limits. This is informally referred as the credit utilization ratio, or formally referred to as revolving utilization. It's easier to have lower utilization ratios if you have higher credit limits. Of course, you can also harm your scores if your balances are too high relative to your credit limits, regardless of their amount.
Bola Sokunbi
Financial Education Instructor of the Year (FEIY) weighs in on high limit credit cards
Bola Sokunbi is the author/founder & CEO of Clever Girl Finance. Bola is a 4 times best-selling author of the Clever Finance Book Series and Choosing To Prosper, and she is also a recipient of the Financial Education Instructor of the Year (FEIY) Award. Her mission is to help women ditch debt, save money, and build real wealth.
In simple terms, a high limit credit card has higher limits than the average credit card. Your available credit could likely start around $5,000 and could go up to $50,000 or even higher.
You can get a higher credit limit to increase your credit score by using it to lower your overall credit utilization ratio (i.e. You'd have a higher ratio of available credit to debt which in turn increases your credit utilization ratio). Another good reason is if you have a large expense coming up. However, you should also have a plan for debt payoff or choose not to carry a balance at all, or you may see negative effects on your credit instead of positive ones.
As long as you pay off your credit card and don’t carry a balance, the effect over time on your credit should be good. Initially, you may see a hard inquiry to your credit report when you apply, which will temporarily lower your credit score (but not by much). But overall, your credit score will likely improve due to a lower credit card utilization ratio, and you will enjoy the opportunities afforded by a higher credit limit.
You can prepare for a high limit credit card by ensuring your credit is good or excellent. A high income may also be a factor, as well as a low debt-to-income ratio. Each card will have its own requirements you’ll need to follow.
Jenn Uhen
Founder, The Pledgettes Financial Community
Jenn Uhen is the founder of The Pledgettes, a personal finance community for women taking an active role in their personal finances. She creates tailored presentations and activations for audiences at events including the International Franchising Association Conference.
Credit cards with a limit of $5,000 and above are considered high-limit credit cards. There are some to be reported to have limits over $100,000.
Like with any money move, make it intentional. You may want to consider increasing your credit card limit to improve your credit score. An improved credit card score will help you if you plan to: apply for a loan (mortgage, car, or personal loan), need cash to intentional move to a new life chapter, and it may even affect your car insurance premiums. There may also be a reason for using a credit card with 0% interest for a high ticket item if paying in full can get you a discount. I have negotiated medical bills by paying in full early, putting the full amount on a 0% interest card, and paying them off over time but before the 0% interest period is over. Note that this strategy will ding your credit score but I was able to recover those lost point quickly after paying off the total balance and relying on other factors of my credit score.
If you tend to carry a large balance on your credit cards and don’t pay them off in full, having a larger credit limit may tempt you into making some choices that may increase your debt, getting you further away from your Big Financial Goals. You know you best, so set yourself up for success.
A high-limit credit card can improve your credit score when looking at the Amounts Owed number. Amounts owed looks at the amount you have borrowed (balance on your credit card) compared to your available credit.
Your length of credit history, credit mix, and new credit are also factors in your credit score. I recommend seeing if you can increase your credit limit on your current cards (if you’re happy with them) instead of applying for new cards. Because keeping your longest open credit card will improve your credit score as well as not opening too many new credit cards.
If you are looking for a high-limit credit card, I recommend you start where you are.
If you like the perks and fees of your current credit card, call your issuer and ask for an increased limit. They may ask questions or have you complete some paperwork since some things may have changed since your initial application (they certainly would be happy if your income has increased).
If you have a credit card through a bank, walk into your branch (or call) and share that you want to build a relationship with a banker. Share your Big Financial Goals and your financial state. In that conversations they may suggest different products to help you reach your goal, whether it’s a credit card, loan, or HELOC (for homeowners).
Having a conversation is a great opportunity to ask questions and share. You’re also encouraged to get multiple perspectives and ideas as there are seemingly limitless ways to build wealth and hit your Big Financial Goals. Remember your financial journey does not need to be a solo one, so ask questions and normalize money talks.
We're firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. Motley Fool Money does not cover all offers on the market. Motley Fool Money is 100% owned and operated by The Motley Fool. Our knowledgeable team of personal finance editors and analysts are employed by The Motley Fool and held to the same set of publishing standards and editorial integrity while maintaining professional separation from the analysts and editors on other Motley Fool brands.
For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the benefits may be provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.
The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Visa.