Spend More, Earn More, Do More

Looking for credit cards with high credit limits? Whether you want to accommodate a hefty monthly spend, finance large purchases, or pay off a big balance, you’ll find them here.

What do we mean by high limit?

Let’s start by tackling the definition of “credit limit.”

Your credit limit is the amount you’re allowed to charge to your credit account without having to pay off at least some of your balance. If you exceed your credit limit the issuer will usually just decline the transaction.

$10,000 is generally considered to be a high credit card limit. If you get credit lines like that, it’s clear that the card issuer trusts you to be a pretty responsible borrower.

Here are a few of our favorites — we’ll dig deeper into each card below.

With most cards, the credit limit you get will depend on your creditworthiness, with an emphasis on your credit scores and income. In general, the better your credit and the higher your income, the higher your credit limits will be.

That means almost any card can be a high limit credit card — even those you can get with average credit. But those designed for good and excellent credit are most likely to get the highest limits, because card issuers feel more comfortable extending more credit to people with better scores.

Best for Premium Travel

Chase Sapphire Reserve®

The Chase Sapphire Reserve® (Review) is one of the leading premium travel cards, with competitive reward rates on travel and dining, a flexible travel credit, and a variety of cost-saving perks.

The Sapphire Reserve comes with a minimum credit limit of $10,000. It’s issued as a Visa Infinite card, the highest tier of Visa benefits available.

Spending Rewards
10X Ultimate Rewards points per dollar on Lyft rides (through 3/31/22)
3X Ultimate Rewards points per dollar on: Travel (after the full travel credit is used) Dining Groceries (up to $1,000 spent per month; through 4/30/21)
1X Ultimate Rewards point per dollar on all other purchases

Introductory Bonus
60,000 bonus points for spending $4,000 in the first 3 months after account opening

Key Features

• Credit limit: $10,000 minimum
• 50% point bonus: Redeem for travel expenses (like airfare or hotels) through Chase Ultimate Rewards to get a 50% point bonus.
• Point transfer: To a variety of popular airline and hotel loyalty programs at a 1:1 rate, including JetBlue, United, and Marriott Bonvoy
• Annual $300 travel credit: An automatic $300 credit that will applied to eligible travel expenses (of which there are many)
• Priority Pass Select membership: Access to Priority Pass airport lounges around the world with a one-time enrollment process
• Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit: Get reimbursed for the application fee of either Global Entry ($100) or TSA PreCheck ($85), once every four years.
• Special car rental privileges: Rental upgrades, discounts, and special offers at Avis, Silvercar, and National Car Rental
• Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver: Provides primary coverage for rental cars when you decline the rental company’s own insurance
• Lyft Pink membership: One free year of Lyft Pink, which includes 15% off rides, relaxed cancellations, surprise offers, and priority airport pickup
• DoorDash membership: A free membership (DashPass) for a year, which provides free delivery and reduced service fees on orders over $12
• $60 annual DoorDash credit: Get $60 in DoorDash credits in 2020, and $60 in credits in 2021.
• No foreign transaction fee
• Annual fee: $550

Best for Premium Travel & Airport Lounge Access

The Platinum Card® from American Express

Ah, The Platinum Card® from American Express (Review). With near-mythical status in the credit card universe, the Platinum card has long been one of the most well-known and coveted travel cards.

In today’s competitive market, the card tends to be valued more for its benefits — like the annual travel credits, unrivaled airport lounge access, and elite hotel statuses — rather than for its rewards, which are a bit limited. There’s a lot going on here, so if you’re a cardholder be sure to explore the many features before booking travel.

This former charge card doesn’t have a traditional credit limit. Instead, you have no preset spending limit and your purchasing power adjusts over time with your usage of the card. You can typically expect it to be relatively high, but you can use Amex’s “Spending Power” tool to test different purchase amounts

Spending Rewards
5X Membership Rewards points per dollar (on up to $500,000 spent per calendar year, then 1X) on: Flights booked directly through airlines or through American Express Travel Prepaid hotels booked through American Express Travel
2X Membership Rewards points per dollar on other eligible travel expenses booked through American Express Travel
1X Membership Rewards point per dollar on all other purchases

Introductory Bonus
75,000 bonus points for spending $5,000 in the first 6 months; 10X points on eligible purchases at U.S. Gas Stations and U.S. Supermarkets, on up to $15,000 in combined purchases, in the first 6 months

Key Features

• Global Lounge Collection: Complimentary access to Priority Pass, Centurion, American Express International, Delta Sky Club, Escape, Airspace, Lufthansa, and Plaza Premium Lounges
• $100 annual Saks credit: Up to $100 in statement credits each year for Saks Fifth Avenue: $50 from January through June, and $50 from July through December
• Up to $200 in annual Uber Cash: Add your Platinum card to the Uber App to get up to $15 in Uber Cash per month, plus a bonus $20 in December; U.S. Eats orders and rides only.
• Uber Eats Pass: Get unlimited $0 delivery fees and 5% off orders at eligible restaurants for 12 months; must enroll by 12/31/21. Taxes and service fees may apply and do not count toward the order minimum. Eats Pass will start auto-billing 12 months from enrollment, at then-current monthly rate. Learn more.
• Uber VIP status: Add your Platinum card to the Uber App to get Uber VIP status where available.
• Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit: A statement credit for the application fee of either Global Entry ($100 every four years) or TSA PreCheck ($85 once every four and a half years)
• The Hotel Collection: A $100 hotel credit and room upgrades when available for every eligible two-night stay
• Fine Hotels & Resorts Program: Daily breakfast for two, room upgrades when available, amenities valued at $100, and more at eligible properties
• Complimentary elite hotel statuses: Hilton Honors Gold status and Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status
• Point transfer: To a selection of airline and hotel loyalty programs
• No foreign transaction fee
  
• Annual fee: $550

The Platinum Card® from American Express (Rates & Fees)

Best for Airline Travel

Take a bird’s-eye view at these premium airline credit cards. The United Club℠ Infinite Card (Review) in particular will get you quite a high limit — its minimum required credit line is $15,000! The others don’t have published minimum limits.

Find more airline credit cards here.

United Club℠ Infinite Card

Spending Rewards
4X miles per dollar spent on United purchases
2X miles per dollar spent for:
1X mile per dollar spent on all other purchases

Introductory Bonus
75,000 bonus miles for spending $3,000 in the first 3 months

• Perks: Premier upgrades on United award flights, United Club membership, Premier Access airport services, World of Hyatt Discoverist status, Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit
• Annual fee: $525

Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card

Spending Rewards
3X SkyMiles per eligible dollar spent for purchases made directly with Delta Air Lines
1X SkyMile per eligible dollar spent on all other purchases

Introductory Bonus
50,000 bonus miles and 10,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $3,000 in the first 3 months

• Perks: Delta Sky Club membership, Centurion Lounge membership, annual companion certificate, first checked bag free, priority boarding, priority checkpoint, 20% in-flight discount
• Annual fee: $550

Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®

Spending Rewards
2X AAdvantage miles per dollar spent on eligible American Airlines purchases
1X AAdvantage mile per dollar spent on all other purchases

Introductory Bonus
50,000 AAdvantage bonus miles for spending $5,000 in the first 3 months of account opening

• Perks: Admirals Club membership, first checked bag free, reduced mileage awards, 25% in-flight discount, Global Entry/TSA PreCheck application fee credit
• Annual fee: $450

Best for Hotel Stays

Book your hotel and resort stays with premium hotel credit cards like these and you’ll be accompanied by a retinue of premium benefits as well, like elite hotel status, free night stays, and Priority Pass Select airport lounge membership. These two cards don’t have published minimum limits.

Find more hotel credit cards here.

Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card

Spending Rewards
14X Hilton Honors Bonus points per dollar for eligible purchases charged on your Card directly with a hotel or resort within the Hilton Portfolio
7X Hilton Honors points per dollar spent on: Flights booked directly with airlines or amextravel.com Car rentals booked directly from select car rental companies U.S. restaurants
3X Hilton Honors points per dollar spent on all other purchases

Introductory Bonus
150,000 bonus points for spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months after account opening

• Perks: $250 annual resort credit; $250 annual airline fee credit; Diamond status; annual free weekend night; Priority Pass Select membership (excludes non-lounge experiences)
• Annual fee: $450

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card

Spending Rewards
6X Marriott Bonvoy Bonus points per dollar for eligible purchases charged on your Card directly with participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels
3X Marriott Bonvoy points per dollar: At U.S. restaurants On flights booked directly with airlines
2X Marriott Bonvoy points per dollar spent on all other purchases

Introductory Bonus
125,000 bonus points for spending $5,000 in the first 3 months; up to $200 in statement credits for eligible purchases at U.S. restaurants in the first 6 months

• Perks: $300 annual hotel credit; annual free night award after account anniversary.; Gold Elite status; Global Entry/TSA PreCheck application fee credit; Priority Pass Select membership (excludes non-lounge experiences)
• Annual fee: $450

Best for Flat-Rate Cash Back

Citi^® Double Cash Card – 18 month BT offer

It’s hard to go wrong with the Citi^® Double Cash Card – 18 month BT offer (Review). With an industry-leading 2% back for every purchase you make and no annual fee, the Double Cash should be most people’s go-to option for purchases that fall outside the bonus categories of other cards (unless you have a way to get more than 2% back for that spending).

The minimum credit limit for the Double Cash is just $500, but your limit could potentially be much higher.

Spending Rewards
2% cash back for every purchase (must pay at least the minimum due on time): 1% back when you make a purchase 1% back when you pay for that purchase

Key Features

• Credit limit: Minimum of $500
• Citi Concierge: Call for non-emergency help whenever you need it, like assistance making travel reservations.
• ShopRunner membership: Use ShopRunner to get free two-day shipping and returns at participating retailers.
• Free credit score: Check your FICO Bankcard Score 8 for free, based on your Equifax credit report.
• Balance Transfer APR: 0% for 18 months on Balance Transfers (for transfers made during the first four months), then 13.99% – 23.99% (Variable)
• Annual fee: $0

Best for Balance Transfers

U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card

The U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card (Review) is without a doubt one of the best credit cards for balance transfers. Although there are many cards with balance transfer offers, this card gives you the most time to pay.

Key Features

• Balance Transfer APR: 0% for 20 billing cycles on balance transfers*, then 14.49% – 24.49%* Variable
• Balance Transfer fee: Either 3% of the amount of each transfer or $5 minimum, whichever is greater
• Purchase APR: 0% for 20 billing cycles on purchases, then your rates will be 14.49% – 24.49%* Variable
• Free credit score: Check your VantageScore 3.0 credit score, based on your TransUnion credit report, for free.
• Annual fee: $0*

Best for Fair Credit

Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card

The Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card isn’t your ordinary credit card. It’s designed to give people with limited or average credit a chance to earn rewards, something you don’t find on every card at this credit level.

How? Well, you’ll have to pay an annual fee, but it’s on the small side. Cards made for average credit typically don’t offer the highest credit lines right off the bat, and the minimum credit limit for this card is just $300.

But, Capital One may consider increasing your credit line after the first six months — a nice feature if you need more spending capacity.

Spending Rewards
1.5% cash back on all purchases

Key Features

• Access a higher credit line: You may be automatically considered for a higher credit line after six months.
• CreditWise: Use the CreditWise tool to monitor your TransUnion credit report, and your VantageScore 3.0 based on that report.
• Purchase and Balance Transfer APR: 26.99% (Variable)
• No foreign transaction fee
• Annual fee: $39

Best for Bad Credit

Bank of America® Cash Rewards Secured Card

If you want a secured card with the highest credit limit you can get, the Bank of America® Cash Rewards Secured Card is the plastic for you.

You can provide up to $4,900 for the security deposit, although you should consider if that money could be better spent elsewhere (at least some of it). If you have a load of credit card debt increasing your credit utilization and bringing your scores down, for example, it might make more sense to pay some of that off.

You’ll even earn decent rewards, a rare feature when it comes to secured cards.

Bank of America will review your card account and your credit periodically; Show responsible credit use, and BofA may return your deposit and let you keep using the account. (The U.S. Bank Secured Visa® Card actually allows a slightly higher max deposit ($5,000), but it won’t return your deposit and allow you to continue using the card.)

Spending Rewards
3% cash back in one category of your choice: Gas Online shopping Dining Travel Drug stores Home improvement/furnishings
2% cash back at: Grocery stores Wholesale clubs
1% cash back on all other purchases
3% and 2% rewards only up to $2,500 spent per quarter, then 1% cash back

Key Features

• Security deposit: $300 to $4,900
• Free credit score: Check your FICO Score 8 for free, based on your TransUnion credit report.
• Purchase APR: 23.99% Variable
• Annual fee: $0

How High Should My Credit Limit Be?

A credit card with a higher limit lets you charge more before you need to pay anything off.

It’s generally best to have credit lines that will let you charge as much as you need to each month, with some extra room to prevent you from getting close to the spending limit.

If you’re only going to charge $500 to your card each month, you’ll likely be fine with credit limits as low as $2,000 or so. If you’ll be spending upwards of $5,000 each month, you would probably want a credit line over $15,000.

The credit limits you get will be based in large part on your credit history and income. Young people, who are just beginning to establish a credit file and generate income, can expect to get relatively small credit limits when applying for new credit cards — often $1,000 or less.

Student credit cards typically have low limits for this reason. Retail store cards often tend to come with low credit lines as well, likely because they’re relatively easy to qualify for.

On the other hand, premium travel cards tend to require credit limits of several thousands of dollars. If you can’t qualify for the minimum limit you won’t be approved. Many mid-tier travel cards with annual fees require credit limits of at least $5,000.

No matter what credit limit you get when approved, most cards allow you to request a credit limit increase. We recommend doing this once every 6 or 12 months if you want higher limits, but take note that these requests can often lead to hard inquiries on your credit reports (but not always). If approved, you’ll get what’s known as a “reactive” credit line increase (RCLI).

Sometimes an issuer will automatically increase your credit limit, with no need for a request. This type of increase, known as a “proactive” credit line increase (PCLI), will not result in a hard inquiry on your credit reports.

If you’re worried that a large credit line will tempt you into a lot of unnecessary spending, don’t go for high credit limits. Instead, you can actually ask your credit card issuers to decrease your credit limits if you wish, although this will reduce your available credit and may negatively impact your credit utilization.

But if you’re comfortable with them, high limit cards can be an important asset in your financial toolkit.

Benefits of High Credit Limits

• Greater spending capacity: You’ll be able to charge more before you need to make payments, which can be useful in emergencies.
• More comfortable shopping: Large credit lines mean you won’t need to worry about your card being declined at the register for hitting the limit.
• Finance large purchases: Credit cards can be used to pay off purchases over time, especially with 0% intro APR cards.
• Improve credit scores: The higher your credit limits, the lower your revolving credit utilization ratio will be (as long as you don’t rack up more debt, of course). This is great for your credit scores in general.
• Consolidate debt: A large credit line lets you move all your debt onto the same low-interest card, like a 0% APR balance transfer card.
• Transfer credit lines: Some credit card companies will allow you to transfer credit lines between cards. You can consolidate onto one card to get a very big credit line, or spread your total credit line out over multiple cards.
• Access more benefits: The credit limit you’re approved for may factor into the number and type of card benefits you receive. A Visa Signature card, for example, will often require a $5,000 credit limit and may come with more perks than a Visa Platinum card (and in rare cases, a better signup bonus).

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you get a high credit limit?

Hoping to get the highest credit limit possible? Build great credit, make a lot of money, and avoid carrying unnecessary debt.

Great credit scores suggest that you pay your debts responsibly, and if you make (and save) a lot of money, it’s a good indicator that you’ll always have the cash you need to continue doing so. This makes it less risky for lenders to provide you with a high credit card limit.

You don’t have to be rich to get a high credit limit, to be clear. You can likely get a decent limit with a modest income, good credit scores, and a low debt-to-income ratio. But you’ll generally get higher credit limits as you make more money.

Unfortunately, there are probably no high limit credit cards for bad credit. Poor credit scores imply that you’ve struggled to manage credit in the past, and that can make it hard to get a high credit limit, especially with low income. Your best bet is to apply for a good credit card, and then use it as responsibly as possible to build your credit scores. If you can prove you’re a dependable borrower, the issuer may be willing to increase your limit later on, and you may qualify for other cards with higher limits.

What are the best high limit credit cards?

With good enough credit, high enough income, and a low debt load, you’ll likely be given a fairly high credit limit on nearly any unsecured credit card. Still, we suggest you pick a card that suits your needs all around.

Our current picks for the best high limit credit cards include:

Can you get a no limit credit card?

Not exactly. Most credit cards — even the most exclusive — tend to have limitations. But if you have enough money, issuers may allow you to bend the rules (on their terms, of course).

Legendary cards like the Centurion® Card from American Express (Review) and J.P. Morgan Reserve Card (Review) are the closest you’ll get to “no limit credit cards.” They’re designed primarily for millionaires and billionaires, so their limits are tailored accordingly. The Centurion, for example, comes with no preset spending limit whatsoever.

There are a few easier-to-attain Amex cards (like The Platinum Card® from American Express (Review)) that also come with the issuer’s no preset spending limit perk. Unfortunately, that doesn’t mean you can spend as much as you want. It just means that your credit limit is malleable and will vary depending on factors like your income, your credit history, and how you use the card.

Do Amex Former Charge Cards Have Credit Limits?

American Express offers some former charge cards in addition to regular credit cards, for both consumers and small business owners.

These former charge cards differ from regular credit cards in a few ways, and, importantly for our purpose here, they have “no preset spending limit” instead of a credit limit.

However, this does not mean you can spend an unlimited amount with these cards — there’s still a spending limit. It just means that your particular spending limit will adjust over time, based on your use of the card and general creditworthiness (similar to a regular credit limit).

Unfortunately, you won’t be able to see your spending limit with these former charge cards. But Amex does provide a “Spending Power” tool you can use to test purchase amounts. If you’re planning a large purchase and aren’t sure if you’ll be approved you can use this tool to check beforehand. You can also contact customer support to ask if a purchase amount will go through.

But beware: Overuse of the Spending Power tool may lead to a financial review by Amex, in which they temporarily freeze your accounts to review your activity. Sebastian from AskSebby has reported triggering a financial review by testing the Spending Power tool with big transactions of $20,000, $30,000, and $50,000.

For rates and fees of the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card, please click here.

For rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, please click here.

For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, please click here.