Though Equifax notes these retail cards averaging between $2,000 to $2,500, credit limits can be much less than that — in some cases below $1,000. “Limits on those cards are notoriously low,” financial expert John Ulzheimer, formerly of FICO and Equifax, tells Select.
Lower the better: 30% rule
In general, a “good” credit utilization ratio is less than 30%. Anything higher than that can actually negatively impact your credit score.
A good credit limit is above $30,000, as that is the average credit card limit, according to Experian. To get a credit limit this high, you typically need an excellent credit score, a high income and little to no existing debt.
A high-limit credit card typically comes with a credit line between $5,000 to $10,000 (and some even go beyond $10,000). You're more likely to have a higher credit limit if you have good or excellent credit.
If a credit card issuer gives you a credit limit of $2,500, that's the maximum amount you can have charged to the card at any given time. If you spend $1,900 on your card, you'll then have $600 you can spend, without incurring a penalty or not being able to charge any more on the card.
Average credit limits
“Those beginning limits have averaged between $2,000 to $2,500 during this same time period.” Because many consumers apply for store cards as their first credit card, your first credit limit is generally going to be on the low end.
In 2020, the average credit card credit limit was $30,365, according to Experian data. This was a 3% decrease from the previous year's average. However, average credit card limits also vary by age range, and people who are new to credit or rebuilding their credit may have lower credit limits.
What is considered a high credit card limit? Your definition of a high credit limit may vary based on what you want from a credit card, but we consider a $5,000 to $10,000 limit to be a good starting point for the “high” range for rewards credit cards.
The credit limit you can get with a 750 credit score is likely in the $1,000-$15,000 range, but a higher limit is possible. The reason for the big range is that credit limits aren't solely determined by your credit score.
The average credit card limit for a 25-year-old is around $3,000. To get to that number, it's important to know that the average credit score in that age bracket is 650, which is fair credit.
According to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, experts recommend keeping your credit utilization below 30% of your available credit. So if your only line of credit is a credit card with a $2,000 limit, that would mean keeping your balance below $600.
A maxed-out credit card can lead to serious consequences if you don't act fast to lower your balance. When you hit your card's limit, the high balance may cause your credit scores to drop, your minimum payments to increase and your future transactions to be declined.
Having at least two or three credit cards can be a useful thing in times of crisis. Ideally, these cards should have no annual fee, a relatively high credit limit, and a low interest rate.
Is It Bad to Max Out Your Credit Card? Maxing out a credit card can have serious financial consequences, especially if it's your only card. That's because you'll have a 100% credit utilization ratio for that card, which will likely hurt your credit score and make you look risky to lenders.
Your first credit limit may be as low as $100 if your first credit card is from a retail store, but you might be approved for a slightly larger credit limit up to $500 if your first credit card is issued by a bank or credit card company.
A 700 credit score meets the minimum requirements for most mortgage lenders, so it's possible to purchase a house when you're in that range. However, lenders look at more than just your credit score to determine your eligibility, so having a 700 credit score won't guarantee approval.
Experts say you need a minimum credit score of 620 to be approved for a conventional mortgage loan. As a result, a credit score of 790 should make a mortgage approval highly likely.
In general, you could get approved for a credit card with a $20,000 limit if you have excellent credit, a lot of income, and very little debt.
Millionaires use credit cards like the Centurion® Card from American Express, the J.P. Morgan Reserve Credit Card, and The Platinum Card® from American Express. These high-end credit cards are available only to people who receive an invitation to apply, which millionaires have the best chance of getting.
You will likely need a credit score of 600 or above to qualify for a $5,000 personal loan.
For example, a gold card might have a maximum credit line of $2,000 while a platinum card might have a $5,000 maximum. Your credit score and monthly income determine whether you qualify and where your line falls within these limits. Some companies set a credit limit according to your credit score.
It gives 1% cash back on all purchases. It's good to note that $500 is just the minimum credit limit on these cards. If your credit score and income are high, and your debt is low, you can qualify for a higher starting limit. And you can always ask for credit limit increases over time.