12 Best Credit Cards for High Spenders (April 2024)

Maybe you’re planning a lengthy overseas trip or a major home remodel and need a credit card that can accommodate the increased expenses. Unfortunately, for many of us, the best credit cards for high spenders also happen to be the hardest to qualify for.

According to data analyzed by the credit rating agency Experian, consumers with the top credit scores of 781 to 850 had an average credit card limit of $9,543 per card. That’s compared to an average limit of just $5,209 per card for those with a “good” score of 661 to 780. That’s quite a difference in spending power.

A high-limit credit card can provide a cushion in case of emergency, and can also help lower your overall credit utilization rate. But keep in mind that a lot goes into determining your spending limit, and credit card companies are notoriously tight-lipped about how they calculate this figure. That said, here are some of the best credit cards for high spenders in a variety of categories.

Rewards:
Cash Back | Miles | Points | Dining | Hotels
Issuers:
Amex | BoA | Capital One | Chase | Citi | Discover | Wells Fargo

As a cash back credit card, you’d struggle to find a better value than the Discover it® Cash Back card. The generous introductory APR period makes a good all-around card for everyday use. Add up the cash back rewards and you can see how the Discover it® Cash Back card earns its accolades.

Although Discover doesn’t advertise its credit limits, there are reports of initial limits of up to $15,000. This card is intended for consumers with good to excellent credit, and, of course, the better your score, the higher your credit limit is likely to be.

Other factors that will help determine your credit limit include payment history, annual income and expenses, the length of time you’ve had credit, and your credit utilization rate.

If you’re looking for a high-value card that will also earn you plenty of air miles for that overseas vacation, the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is worth a look. With its one-time bonus miles offer after account opening, it’s easy to see why this card was named “Best Travel Card of 2018” by CNBC.

Capital One is known to offer generous credit limits to well-qualified card applicants. For the top tier of consumers, this can mean an initial credit line of $20,000 or more. Of course, you’ll need good to excellent credit to be offered the highest limit, along with a lengthy credit history and an impressive debt-to-income ratio.

Frequent credit card users who want to make the most of their spending will appreciate the Chase Sapphire Preferred® card for its combination of rewards, bonus points, and low annual fee.

This card also offers a fairly high initial credit limit of at least $5,000 and an average of around $10,000. About 10% of cardholders report a credit limit of more than $20,000, and there are reports of credit limits of $100,000 or higher. A good to excellent credit score is required, along with an overall healthy credit profile.

If you’re looking for a card that gives you more cash back at restaurants, the Capital One® Savor® Cash Rewards Credit Card could be just what you’re after. This is a great card for those high spenders who regularly pick up the tab.

As a “food and fun” card, it’s hard to beat the Capital One® Savor® Cash Rewards Credit Card. Of course, you’ll need good to excellent credit to be approved, and your score will help determine your credit limit. Cardholders report spending limits ranging from $1,000 to $10,000.

The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is a top choice for those who want to earn free hotel stays, and there are no rotating or tiered categories to keep track of.

The cost of the annual fee is offset by the ability to receive up to a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®. The available signup bonus is a quick way to earn your first few free nights (or one night at a super-fancy hotel). Venture cardholders have reported credit limits as high as $50,000, but $10,000 seems to be the starting average.

Recognized as the premier credit card for serious cardholders and travelers, The Platinum Card® still carries a certain cachet. Of course, with its high annual fee, some may question whether the card is worth the cost. But consider this: There’s a generous signup bonus offer, several credits and reimbursement offers that regularly change, and top-notch travel insurance.

6. The Platinum Card®

at the issuer'ssecure website

CATEGORY RATING

★★★★★

4.9

OVERALL RATING

4.7/5.0

• Earn 150,000 Membership Rewards® points after you use your new card to make $8,000 in purchases in your first 6 months of Card Membership
• Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points for flights booked directly through airlines or American Express Travel, on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year. Also earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotels on AmexTravel.com. Earn 1X points on all other purchases.
• $200 annual hotel credit, $200 annual airline fee credit, $25 monthly Equinox credit, $15 monthly Uber cash credit, $50 bi-annual Saks Fifth Avenue credit, and more.
• Platinum Card Members have unlimited complimentary access to all locations of The Global Lounge Collection, including 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries.
• Automatic Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite Status and Hilton Honors Gold Status. Enrollment required.
• Choose among three card designs

• See application, terms and details.

See Rates & Fees

Intro (Purchases)	Intro (Transfers)	Regular APR	Annual Fee	Credit Needed
N/A	N/A	21.24% - 29.24% Pay Over Time	$695	Excellent

The real value of holding The Platinum Card® is the Membership Rewards points you earn on flights booked through American Express Travel or directly through an airline.

As for the spending limit, The Platinum Card® doesn’t actually have one — at least, theoretically. That’s because you’re expected to pay off the charged balance each month in full. In practice, however, there is a limit to what you can charge, and it has to do with your income level, card usage, and payment history. If you do apply for a Platinum card, don’t be surprised if you’re invited to apply for a Green or Gold card instead, as the standards for Platinum are quite high.

The Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card is a great way to earn a lot without paying a lot. You’ll earn the most cash back in a category of your choice that you can change every month. But you should note that the higher cash back tiers are subject to quarterly caps.

Other attractive features of this card include an introductory APR for purchases and balance transfers. In addition, Bank of America Preferred Rewards members can earn 25% to 75% more cash back on every purchase. Initial credit limits with this card are moderate, as you may expect. But there are reports of spending limits as high as $25,000 over time.

It takes just a quick glance to see why the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is the leading credit card offered by Capital One. You can transfer the miles you earn to more than a dozen leading loyalty programs.

Applicants seeking the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card should have a good to excellent credit score and strong credit history. There are reports of cardholders being approved with scores in the mid-600s, but don’t count on it. As for the initial credit limit, it’s going to depend on your personal credit history, of course, but the average seems to be around $10,000 to start. There are reports of credit limits above $30,000 and even one reviewer who claimed to have received a $50,000 limit.

As the premier Chase credit card, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® card has everything high spenders could want. From generous rewards on dining and entertainment to airport lounge access through Priority Pass® Select, it’s no wonder the Sapphire Reserve® was named “Best Premium Travel Credit Card” for 2018 by Money® Magazine. This elite card also comes with an annual travel credit and up to $100 credit for TSA Precheck or Global Entry Pass.

Qualifying for the Sapphire Reserve® is only for those with excellent credit scores and a spotless payment history. For those who do get approved, you can expect a minimum starting credit limit of $10,000. However, depending on factors like income and debt ratios, you could end up with a much higher starting limit. Many users report starting limits of $20,000 to $30,000 with a few in the plus $60,000 range.

The Citi Double Cash® Card may not offer the glitz and glamor of some other cards on this list, but it offers the highest flat-rate of cash back you can receive from a card (that we know of) with no purchase cap.

10. Citi Double Cash® Card

at Citi'ssecure website

CITI® RATING

★★★★★

4.8

OVERALL RATING

4.8/5.0

Our Review »

• Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.
• Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases. To earn cash back, pay at least the minimum due on time. Plus, for a limited time, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through 12/31/24.
• Balance Transfer Only Offer: 0% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 18 months. After that, the variable APR will be 19.24% - 29.24%, based on your creditworthiness.
• Balance Transfers do not earn cash back. Intro APR does not apply to purchases.
• If you transfer a balance, interest will be charged on your purchases unless you pay your entire balance (including balance transfers) by the due date each month.
• There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, your fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5).

• See application, terms and details.

See Rates & Fees

Intro (Purchases)	Intro (Transfers)	Regular APR	Annual Fee	Credit Needed
N/A	0% Intro APR Period 18 months on Balance Transfers	19.24% - 29.24% (Variable)	$0	Excellent, Good, Fair

Additional Disclosure: Citi is a CardRates advertiser.

With no rotating or tiered categories to keep track of, this card makes sense for the easy-going spender. You may be approved for an initial credit limit of up to $10,000, but as with most cards, the credit limit you receive for the Citi Double Cash® Card will vary based on personal financial factors.

For high spenders who don’t mind keeping track of and activating quarterly rotating reward categories, the Discover it® Cash Back card can prove a valuable way to maximize your rewards.

Card issuers seldom advertise the credit limits available, and Discover is no different. However, as this is Discover’s flagship card, plenty of cardholders have been willing to share their personal experiences with this card’s credit limits online. The range of credit limits is broad, with a low of $300 and an average initial limit of $3,000 reported. Initial credit limits higher than $8,000 are few and far between, with no reports of limits higher than $20,000.

As an all-purpose go-to card for everyday use, the Wells Fargo Visa Signature® Card may not be the best choice, but if used wisely, it can have a lot of hidden value.

12. Wells Fargo Visa Signature® Card

But it can be very lucrative when redeeming the points you’ve earned in those six months. If you book an airline ticket through Wells Fargo Go Far Rewards®, you’ll get 50% more for your reward points. That means at least $625 if you max out at the $12,500 mark.

• 5X rewards points earned for up to $12,500 spent in select categories for the first six months
• 0% introductory APR period
• No annual fee

If you’re not a high spender, there are probably a few cards with better perks than the Visa Signature Card. But, if you have other Wells Fargo cards in the Go Far Rewards program, you can transfer those points to the card and take advantage of the 50% value increase. So, if you’re not averse to a little credit card shuffling and you spend a lot on gas and groceries, maybe this card can work for you.

It should be stated upfront that there is really no such thing as a guaranteed high starting credit limit. It’s also worth noting that when you apply, no one is sitting at a desk and poring over every detail of your application to determine your initial credit limit. No, it’s far more banal than that.

The credit limit you receive is determined by an algorithm that factors in things such as your credit score, income, total debt, length of credit history, payment history, and any negative marks on your credit report. It also depends on the type of card you’re applying for.

That said, here are some of the cards that offer high starting limits as reported by individual cardholders.

Chase Sapphire Reserve® — This card comes with a minimum starting limit of $10,000 and reports of $20,000 to $30,000 are common. Less common but still notable are reported occurrences of $50,000+ starting limits.

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card — Average starting limits of around $10,000 with some cardholders reporting $30,000 or more.

Chase Freedom Unlimited® — Regular reports of starting limits in the $20,000 to $30,000 range.

Discover it® Cash Back — Although the average starting limit is just $3,000, qualified applicants have reported $12,000 to $15,000 initial limits.

Plenty of anecdotal evidence suggests that some credit unions and many loyalty program cards frequently approve high starting limits for well-qualified applicants. Examples include Navy Federal Credit Union, Chase Hyatt, Chase Southwest, AMEX Delta Gold, and Hilton HHonors.

Also, cards issued under the Visa Infinite brand apparently have a minimum starting limit of $10,000 and can go as high as $50,000. These cards are very limited, and only the most high-end cards come with this branding.

For a certain type of high spender, the preferred credit card is one that speaks for itself. Think about the legendary American Express “Black” Card, also known as the Centurion® Card. For a time, carrying this card was the pinnacle of prestige and accomplishment. More recently, other card issuers have created their own exclusive offerings that have a similar cachet.

The Platinum Card® — This premium Amex card is exclusive, while still being accessible. Enjoy all the benefits of many invite-only cards, along with a generous rewards program.

Mastercard® Gold Card™ — This top-tier Mastercard is also known as the Luxury Card, and for good reason. If you’re not dazzled by its actual 24K gold plating, then perhaps the exceptional cash back and airfare redemption rewards will do the trick.

Chase Sapphire Reserve® — Perhaps lacking the ostentatiousness of some others, the Sapphire Reserve® is still recognized as a prestige card that’s not available to just anyone. This is the card to try for as you aspire to the super-premium class.

Of course, there are other cards that signify you’re among the elite class, although these premier cards are available by invitation only. Here are the top cards you can aspire to attain through lots of hard work (and money).

J.P. Morgan Reserve Card — Formerly known as the Chase Palladium Card, this premium card is packed with features and benefits — but only if you’re among the upper tier of high net worth individuals, and a J.P. Morgan Global Wealth Management client.

Citi Chairman American Express Card — Requiring potential cardholders to have significant investments in a Citigroup brokerage account is how this card maintains its exclusivity. Credit lines are rumored to be $300,000+.

Centurion® Card from American Express — Few other cards have the same mystique as the legendary Black Card. If you want to know whether you qualify for this ultra-exclusive card, asking the question alone means you’re not there yet.

Whether you’ve made it into the upper echelon of high spenders, or just use your card regularly for personal and business expenses, you want the most you can get from it. That means finding the right balance between fees and rewards while maximizing your perks and benefits. Some cardholders don’t mind using different cards in different situations, while others want simplicity.

How you use your credit card or cards will determine which are best for you. If you travel a lot, a miles card may suit you well. If you regularly eat out, then a dining rewards card may be best. If you don’t mind keeping track of your benefits on each card, then a combination may work for you.

The bottom line is this: The more you spend, the more you should be rewarded. Just be sure not to overpay to get rewards or benefits.

Remember the wise words of Winston Churchill: With great power comes great responsibility — and the more responsible you are with these high-power cards, the more you’ll be rewarded.