If your credit card has a limit of $5,000, for example, it means you can carry a balance of up to $5,000 on your credit card. Your credit card limit includes both new purchases and balance transfers—as well as any other transactions that draw against your line of credit, such as cash advances.
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.
What's the easiest high limit credit card to get? One of the easiest high limit credit card to get is the Chase Sapphire Preferred because its starting credit limit is $5,000 and you need at least good credit for approval. Chase Sapphire Preferred does have an annual fee of $95.
For example, say your credit limit is $1,000 and you paid the balance in full last billing cycle. If you've spent $300 this billing cycle, you still have $700 in available credit before you hit your limit.
If you have ever used a credit card or tapped into a line of credit, you probably know that you have a credit limit. But what is it exactly? A credit limit is the maximum amount of money a lender will allow you to spend on a credit card or a line of credit.
Also like a loan, taking out, using, and repaying a line of credit can improve a borrower's credit score. Unlike a loan, which generally is for a fixed amount for a fixed time with a prearranged repayment schedule, a line of credit has both more flexibility and, generally, a variable rate of interest.
A credit line allows you to borrow in increments, repay it and borrow again as long as the line remains open. Typically, you will be required to pay interest on borrowed balance while the line is open for borrowing, which makes it different from a conventional loan, which is repaid in fixed installments.
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.
Good credit: If you have good credit, you'll have a better chance at being approved for a higher credit limit than someone with fair or poor credit. But even with good credit, the average credit limit you can expect to get with a first credit card is generally between $500 and $1,000.
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. What qualifies as a good credit limit differs from person to person, though.
“In the 700 club, your credit limit will likely be close to the average credit limit for a newly issued card, about $5,000,” says Ted Rossman, senior industry analyst at Bankrate. “That limit can vary based on income and other debt.”
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.
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.
Many credit scoring formulas look at credit utilization as a significant factor that affects your credit score, and a lower utilization is better. Having a higher credit limit gives you more ability to spend, which can translate into greater rewards.
A credit line is a type of loan that allows you to borrow and repay money, usually on a revolving basis, such as a HELOC or a credit card. A credit limit, by contrast, is a feature of a loan. The credit limit of a loan is the maximum amount you can borrow or use at a time before you must begin repaying.
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. 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.
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.
Minimum credit limit is the minimum amount that the bank can approve you for, depending on some factors (e.g. credit score, ability to pay, etc.). It isn't the required amount of debt needed.
Ease of use
You can write cheques, withdraw cash at an ATM or move money around among your other accounts. Just remember, you're borrowing money and whatever you spend has to be paid back.
If you never use your available credit, or only use a small percentage of the total amount available, it may lower your credit utilization rate and improve your credit scores. Your utilization rate represents how much of your available credit you're using at a given time.
You can repay the principal at your convenience, but each month you must make the minimum payment set out in your monthly statement. This payment includes interest, insurance premiums (if applicable) and any additional amounts required to ensure your account balance does not exceed your credit limit.
Credit terms and limits
While terms vary by lender, the APR on a line of credit is often lower than the APR for credit cards. And the credit limit for a line of credit may be higher than for a credit card. These advantages may make credit lines better suited to large purchases that you intend to pay off over time.
Opening a new credit card can temporarily ding your credit score. When a card issuer looks at your credit information because you've applied for a credit card, it is a so-called “hard pull.” That can lead to a slight drop in your credit score, whether you are approved or not.