The Ultimate Guide to Credit Cards
Tuesday, March 19, 2024

16 High Limit Credit Cards for Excellent Credit (Feb. 2024)

High Limit Credit Cards For Excellent Credit
Brittney Mayer

Written by: Brittney Mayer

Brittney Mayer
Brittney Mayer

Brittney is a Credit Strategist and Finance Expert who has spent years honing her knowledge of the credit industry both personally and professionally. Brittney applies her more than a decade of research experience to crafting in-depth consumer guides designed to help CardRates readers make better, more informed financial decisions.

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Edited by: Lillian Guevara-Castro

Lillian Guevara-Castro
Lillian Guevara-Castro

Lillian Guevara-Castro brings more than 30 years of editing and journalism experience to the CardRates team. She has written and edited for major news organizations, including The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and the New York Times, and she previously served as an adjunct journalism instructor at the University of Florida. Today, Lillian edits all CardRates content for clarity, accuracy, and reader engagement.

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Advertiser Disclosure

Ah, the view from the top is lovely indeed. Excellent credit is an achievement that signals you have built a long and healthy credit history. As your reward, you get more lending options, lower interest rates, and, yes, higher credit limits.

Indeed, it’s fair to say that there are more high-limit credit cards for excellent credit than there are for all the other credit types combined. That’s because a high credit score not only provides you with access to more high-limit cards, but it can also unlock higher limits on cards available to other credit types.

Furthermore, excellent personal credit can even help you in your business life. Most small business credit card issuers check your personal credit upon application, and that high personal credit score can substantially boost your approval chances and your business card credit limits. Here, we’ll take a look at some of our experts’ selections for the best high limit credit cards for excellent credit on the market today.

Consumer | Business

Consumer Cards with High Credit Limits

When it comes to killer credit cards, the consumer market is full to bursting with options, especially when you have the excellent credit to qualify for just about any card you can find. Top-tier rewards cards, long-term interest-free offers, and high spending limits are just a few of the perks you can find with the right credit scores.

Of course, your credit isn’t the only factor that goes into setting your credit line — nor are all excellent credit profiles treated equally. Two consumers with the same credit scores can be offered very different credit lines based on their incomes and specific credit profiles, with a preference toward higher incomes and longer credit histories.

Cash Back | Points | Miles | Intro-APR

Top High-Limit Cash Back Cards for Consumers

With simple earning and redeeming and flat rewards values, cash back cards are popular among those who don’t want to put too much effort into maximizing rewards. However, those same characteristics mean cash back cards aren’t the go-to picks for most big spenders looking to get the most bang for their buck.

As a result, the credit limits found on many cash back cards aren’t going to reach the epic proportions of a high-end points card. However, good credit and a healthy income can still unlock some decent credit limits, with our top picks having reported limits up into the tens of thousands for some applicants.

  • INTRO OFFER: Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back!
  • Enjoy 6.5% 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; 4.5% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 3% on all other purchases (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year).
  • After your first year or $20,000 spent, enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.
  • No minimum to redeem for cash back. You can choose to receive a statement credit or direct deposit into most U.S. checking and savings accounts. Cash Back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open!
  • Enjoy 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 20.49% - 29.24%.
  • No annual fee – You won't have to pay an annual fee for all the great features that come with your Freedom Unlimited® card
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
0% Intro APR on Purchases 15 months
0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers 15 months
20.49% - 29.24% Variable
$0
Good/Excellent

This is a good all-around cash back card with unlimited cash back rewards on every purchase. The typical starting credit limit was a modest $4,000, but some users reported credit limits as high as $24,000 at approval. If you have other Chase credit cards, you can potentially transfer some of your existing credit to this card to boost your spending power.

2. Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express

The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express is a popular everyday card that offers a high rate of rewards for grocery store, streaming, transit, and gas station purchases. Amex is known for its high credit limits, and this card is no exception, with online reports of starting limits over $10,000 not uncommon.

Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express

  • Earn 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $6k a year) & on select U.S. streaming services
  • Earn 3% cash back on U.S. gas station and transit purchases
  • Pay a $95 annual fee

As with many issuers, American Express regularly assess credit card accounts to see if the owner qualifies for a higher credit limit. Or, cardholders can request a credit limit increase every six months through their online account or by calling Amex customer service.

Honorable Mentions: The Chase Freedom Unlimited®‘s sibling card, the Chase Freedom Flex℠, is worth a mention, as it has reports of similar limits. Capital One is also known to offer some decent limits, making the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card and Capital One® Savor® Cash Rewards Credit Card likely worth a look. (Information for this card not reviewed by or provided by Capital One.)

Top High-Limit Points Cards for Consumers

It’s no coincidence that many of the top rewards cards, the best travel cards, and the cards with the most perks all happen to share one thing in common: points. The best points cards are versatile, flexible, and near bursting with value propositions, even despite the high annual fees that many carry.

The lucrative nature of good points cards makes them sought-after by many cardholders with excellent credit, and these big spenders need big limits. Some of the best points cards have reported limits in the tens of thousands — with limits in the six figures not surprising for the consumers who meet the criteria.

POINTS & GIFTS RATING
★★★★★
4.8
OVERALL RATING
  • Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
  • $300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
  • 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
  • Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $900 toward travel.
  • 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
  • Access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™; Select and up to $100 application fee credit every four years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck®
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
N/A
N/A
22.49%-29.49% Variable
$550
Good/Excellent

As a Visa Infinite® card, the minimum credit limit for this option is a whopping $10,000 — but that’s just the bottom rung. Reports indicate that users have received starting limits of $30,000 to $60,000, with rumors that the Sapphire card family can provide credit limits as high as $500,000 for high-value customers.

4. American Express® Gold Card

The American Express® Gold Card is a top-tier rewards card designed for consumers who can get full value out of its high-rate rewards categories. This is a charge card, so it has a variable credit limit, but many users report spending limits of $10,000 and more.

American Express Gold Card

  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per $1 at U.S. restaurants and grocery stores
  • Receive 3X points on flights booked directly with the airlines
  • Pay $250 annual fee

The credit limit for a charge card can vary month to month, with the actual cap on how much you can spend depending on your income, current debt, latest credit scores, and general credit activity. You can check your spending power at any given time through your online account or by calling Amex customer service.

Honorable Mentions: The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is an obvious mention as part of the high-value Sapphire family. The American Express Platinum® and Gold® cards are also worth mentioning; as charge cards, they have variable limits, with spending power in the five digits frequently offered to qualified cardholders.

Top High-Limit Miles Cards for Consumers

Credit cards that earn miles are popular picks for travelers who can make the most of their rewards. Flexible miles cards are great for travel expenses that traditional rewards points don’t cover, and branded miles cards provide extras that can transform your trip.

But, there’s only so much use you’re going to get out of a miles card if it has a low limit — especially if you like the four-digit luxury of business or first class. These miles cards have reported limits in the five-figures, offering spending power that can easily cover your next adventure.

AIR MILES RATING
★★★★★
4.8
OVERALL RATING
  • Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
  • Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
  • Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
  • Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
  • Receive up to a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
  • Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
N/A
N/A
19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)
$95
Excellent, Good

This popular miles card has the option to redeem miles for travel-expense statement credits or to transfer points to one of Capital One’s airline partners. Capital One is known for offering high limits to its most valued customers, and this card has reports of credit limits of $50,000 and up.

AIR MILES RATING
★★★★★
4.9
OVERALL RATING
  • $0 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees
  • Earn a bonus of 20,000 miles once you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $200 in travel
  • Earn unlimited 1.25X miles on every purchase, every day
  • Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
  • Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
  • Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
0% for 15 months
0% for 15 months
19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)
$0
Excellent, Good

Along with no annual fee, cardholders also earn a hefty bonus 20,000 miles once $500 is spent on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $200 in travel. Earn 1.25x miles on every purchase with no limit to how many you can earn. Miles can be transferred to over 12 leading travel loyalty programs, and miles won’t expire for the life of the account.

Honorable Mentions: If you have a favored airline, co-branded cards like the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite™ Mastercard® or Gold Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card from American Express can offer decent credit limits and useful benefits.

Top High-Limit Intro-APR Cards for Consumers

Credit cards with introductory 0% APR offers are great ways to finance large purchases and high-interest balances without worrying about interest fees. The best intro-APR cards have promotional periods of 12 months or more, giving you at least a year of interest-free financing.

However, few things in the credit card world are as frustrating as finding the perfect intro-APR card for a big purchase or balance transfer — then finding that you weren’t given a high enough credit limit for your needs. With excellent credit, you’re more likely to get a decent limit, but picking a card known to offer big limits may improve your odds.

0% INTRO APR RATING
★★★★★
4.7
OVERALL RATING
  • Earn a one-time $200 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening
  • Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day
  • $0 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees
  • Enjoy up to 6 months of complimentary Uber One membership statement credits through 11/14/2024
  • Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options. Terms apply
  • No rotating categories or sign-ups needed to earn cash rewards; plus, cash back won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how much you can earn
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
0% for 15 months
0% for 15 months
19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)
$0
Excellent, Good

If you’re looking for a low rate on new purchases, this card has you covered with a long introductory interest-free period. The online data seems to show this card has a pretty clear relationship between credit score and credit limit, with $10,000 to $20,000 limits not unheard of and excellent-credit applicants reporting an average credit limit around $9,100.

CITI® RATING
★★★★★
4.6
OVERALL RATING
  • 0% Intro APR for 21 months on balance transfers from date of first transfer and 0% Intro APR for 12 months on purchases from date of account opening. After that the variable APR will be 18.24% - 28.99%, based on your creditworthiness. Balance transfers must be completed within 4 months of account opening.
  • There is a balance transfer fee of either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
  • Get free access to your FICO® Score online.
  • With Citi Entertainment®, get special access to purchase tickets to thousands of events, including concerts, sporting events, dining experiences and more.
  • No Annual Fee - our low intro rates and all the benefits don’t come with a yearly charge.
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
0% 12 months on Purchases
0% 21 months on Balance Transfers
18.24% - 28.99% (Variable)
$0
Excellent, Good

Additional Disclosure: Citi is a CardRates advertiser.

This card offers some fantastic introductory terms, especially for balance transfers, and doesn’t even have an annual fee. It doesn’t provide the highest limits around — reported limits average around $3,000 to $5,000 in general — but cardholders with excellent qualifications can see limits in the $10,000 to $20,000 range, based on online reports.

Honorable Mentions: Unfortunately, many of the credit cards with the highest limits are top-tier cards that don’t offer introductory interest rate deals. However, the Chase Freedom Flex℠ and Chase Freedom Unlimited® may be worth a look, as could be the cards from the Discover it® family.

Business Cards with High Credit Limits

Business credit cards can be ideal for both temporary financing and secure purchasing, while also often providing valuable rewards. But, a business card is only useful if it can actually keep up with your purchasing needs, making a solid credit limit a must for many business owners.

Most business credit cards will require a personal guarantee, meaning you’ll personally be on the line for repaying the card even if your business can’t. As such, your credit limit will be based both on your business’ qualifications and your own personal credit.

So, while excellent credit will help you get approved, low business revenue may mean a so-so credit line. At the same time, you can likely improve your chances of a larger credit line by selecting a card frequently associated with offering healthy spending power.

Cash Back | Points | Miles | Intro-APR

Top High-Limit Cash Back Cards for Businesses

When you’re playing the lively hat dance that is owning a business, switching from role to role as you work ’round the clock, often the last thing you want to do is waste time trying to squeeze every last cent of value out of your credit card rewards — or, for that matter, worry about them at all.

Cash back credit cards provide simple value that doesn’t require a lot of fuss, making them ideal for busy business owners. As with consumer cards, the business cards with the highest limits are usually in the points realm, but you can easily find some five-figure limits on our top cash back cards below.

BUSINESS CARD RATING
★★★★★
4.6
OVERALL RATING
  • Earn $750 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
  • Earn 5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services each account anniversary year
  • Earn 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year. Earn 1% cash back on all other purchases
  • Round-the-clock monitoring for unusual credit card purchases
  • With Zero Liability you won't be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
  • No Annual Fee
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
0% Intro APR on Purchases 12 months
N/A
18.49% - 24.49% Variable
$0
Good/Excellent

This is a solid all-around business credit card with bonus cash back categories that can be of use to nearly any type of business. The typical credit limit reported for this card is in the $7,000 to $12,000 range, but you can also find online reports of initial spending limits as high as $20,000.

10. SimplyCash® Plus Business Credit Card

The SimplyCash® Plus Business Credit Card is a solid rewards card that offers big rewards for office supplies, wireless phone services, and a category of your choice. With online reports indicating an average credit limit around $15,000, the card isn’t for companies with high-volume expenses, but it should work well for most small businesses.

SimplyCash Plus Business Credit Card

  • Earn 5% cash back on purchases at U.S. office supply stores and with wireless service providers
  • Earn 3% cash back on purchases in a category of your choice
  • Pay no annual fee

In addition to offering a high starting limit to many cardholders, this option may allow you to make purchases above your credit limit, with the amount you can spend over your limit varying based on factors like your payment history and current revenue.

Honorable Mentions: Although it has fewer reports of high-limit approvals, the U.S. Bank Business Cash Rewards Card may be worth a look. The Capital One Spark Cash for Business from our Intro-APR section below is also reported to offer high limits to qualified business owners. (Information for this card not reviewed by or provided by Capital One.)

Top High-Limit Points Cards for Businesses

Although they vary a lot by the program, the best points rewards are a highly versatile currency that can often be strategically used to provide per-point values of 1.5¢ or more. It’s this ability to generate huge rates of return that make points rewards popular among consumers and business owners alike.

Many of the top-tier points cards offer high rewards rates that appeal to businesses with lots of spending, which means these cards often have equally high credit limits to accommodate all that purchasing. Our top picks here often have limits in the tens of thousands of dollars.

BUSINESS CARD RATING
★★★★★
4.6
OVERALL RATING
  • Earn 100k bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $1,000 cash back or $1,250 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Travel℠
  • Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent on travel and select business categories each account anniversary year. Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases
  • Round-the-clock monitoring for unusual credit card purchases
  • With Zero Liability you won't be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
  • Redeem points for cash back, gift cards, travel and more - your points don't expire as long as your account is open
  • Points are worth 25% more when you redeem for travel through Chase Travel℠
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
N/A
N/A
21.24%-26.24% Variable
$95
Good/Excellent

Easily one of the top business credit cards, this card offers versatile rewards points, including bonus points in useful categories like travel, shipping, and advertising. Qualified applicants can do a lot with their card, too, as it reportedly offers credit limits in the $20,000 to $40,000 range for business owners that meet the criteria.

12. U.S. Bank Business Edge™ Select Rewards Card

The U.S. Bank Business Edge™ Select Rewards Card is great for users looking to maximize rewards, as it allows you to select your own bonus category. It can also be a good pick for high limit seekers, as reports of starting limits between $12,000 and $18,000 are common and the bank is known to offer regular increases.

U.S. Bank Business Edge Select Rewards Card

  • Earn 3X rewards points on a broad bonus category of your choice, including day-to-day expenses, automotive, and travel/entertainment
  • Earn unlimited 1X point on all other purchases
  • Pay no annual fee

Allowing you to select your own bonus rewards already helps this card stand out, but the options are what make it unique: Each bonus category includes up to half a dozen merchants types. For example, if you select the Day-to-Day Expenses category, you can earn triple points on shipping, advertising, utilities, office supplies, telecom service, and select professional services.

Honorable Mentions: If you want a card with a credit limit as variable as your expenses, a charge card from American Express — like the Business Platinum® or Business Gold® — may fit the bill. Your credit limit will vary each month based on your revenue, card use, payment history, and other factors.

Top High-Limit Miles Cards for Businesses

In the business credit card world, the majority of travel cards earn more versatile points rather than miles — but there are a few exceptions. A handful of flexible miles cards are available that allow you to redeem miles as statement credit for travel expenses.

If you’re loyal to a particular airline, you can also find airline co-branded cards that allow you to earn frequent flyer miles on your business purchases. Whatever type of miles card you choose, be prepared for limited spending power from most of the choices; funnily enough, few miles cards are known for their sky-high limits.

BUSINESS CARD RATING
★★★★★
4.7
OVERALL RATING
  • Earn a one-time bonus of 50,000 miles – equal to $500 in travel – once you spend $4,500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening
  • Earn unlimited 2X miles per dollar on every purchase, everywhere, no limits or category restrictions, and miles won't expire for the life of the account
  • Unlimited 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
  • Transfer your miles to 15+ travel loyalty programs
  • Redeem your miles instantly for any travel-related purchases, from flights and hotels to ride-sharing services
  • Skip the lines with up to a $100 statement credit on TSA PreCheck® or Global Entry
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
N/A
N/A
26.24% (Variable)
$0 intro for first year; $95 after that
Excellent, Good

This card offers decent flat-rate earnings, providing users with 2X miles per dollar on every purchase. Miles can be redeemed for statement credit or transferred (typically at a ratio of less than 1:1) to a partner airline. Credit limits seem to be all over the board with this card, and reports indicate that a $7,500 limit is a decent achievement.

CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® Review

at the issuer'ssecure website

BUSINESS CARD RATING
★★★★
4.4
OVERALL RATING
4.3/5.0
  • Earn 65,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending 4,000 within 4 months of account opening
  • Earn 2X miles for every $1 spent on American Airlines purchases and at cable and internet providers, gas stations, select telecommunications merchants, and car rental services — all other purchases earn 1X points
  • First checked bag free on domestic American Airlines itineraries for you and up to 4 travel companions
  • 25% savings on American Airlines inflight WiFi, food, and beverage purchases when you use your card
  • Earn an American Airlines Companion Certificate for domestic travel after $30,000 in purchases each card membership year and card membership is renewed. Fees apply.
  • $0 intro annual fee, then $99
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
N/A
N/A
20.49% - 29.49% (Variable)
$99, waived first 12 months
Excellent, Good

Additional Disclosure: (The information related to CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard® has been collected by CardRates.com and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer or provider of this product or service.)

The CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® allows cardholders to earn miles on every purchase in addition to receiving special perks, such as a free checked bag on American Airlines flights and preferred boarding. The typical credit limit is in the $5,000 to $10,000 range, while some users report having limits of over $20,000.

Cardholders who reach a spending threshold in a year on their CitiBusiness American Airlines card will receive a Companion Certificate good for one round-trip domestic economy trip, potentially worth hundreds.

Honorable Mentions: Most major airlines have their own co-branded credit cards, many of which come with business card versions. For example, you can check out the Delta Reserve® for Business Credit Card from American Express if you’re a Delta fan, or the Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card for Southwest Airlines purchases.

Top High-Limit Intro-APR Cards for Businesses

No matter the industry, businesses cost money, and, in many cases, those expenses can come in waves — and, unfortunately, so can your revenue. Credit cards with introductory 0% APR offers can be a good way to finance a larger purchase when you need a little extra time, or even a good way to reduce the interest you’re paying on other balances you’ve already accrued.

Of course, an interest rate offer is only useful if the card can accommodate the expenses, and low credit limits can turn a great offer into a complete dud. While business cards that offer 0% APR deals generally aren’t going to have the highest limits, applicants with excellent credit and decent income can find cards with spending limits in the $10,000 to $20,000 range.

BUSINESS CARD RATING
★★★★★
4.7
OVERALL RATING
  • Earn $750 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
  • Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase made for your business
  • No Annual Fee
  • Redeem rewards for cash back, gift cards, travel and more through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
  • Earn rewards faster with employee cards at no additional cost. Set individual spending limits for greater control.
  • Round-the-clock monitoring for unusual credit card purchases
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
0% Intro APR on Purchases 12 months
N/A 12 months
18.49% - 24.49% Variable
$0
Good/Excellent

The third and newest card in the Chase Ink card family, this option is designed for consumers who like flat-rate rewards without categories to track or manage. As a newer card, there are fewer data points on credit limits, but the reports that do exist suggest limits in the $10,000 to $15,000 range, similar to the other cards in this family.

16. Blue Business Plus Credit Card from American Express

The Blue Business Plus Credit Card from American Express has a long intro-APR period of 12 months that applies to both new purchases and balance transfers (transfers must be made within the first 60 days). Reports of credit limits for this card are sporadic, but they point toward limits on the lower end, with a $9,000 limit considered to be a solid starting limit.

Blue Business Plus Credit Card from American Express

  • Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per $1 on the first $50,000 in purchases each year
  • Earn unlimited 1X points per $1 thereafter
  • Pay no annual fee

This card can be a particularly good pick for businesses with expenses that don’t fit into popular categories, as it offers 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar on every purchase (up to the yearly cap). Membership Rewards® are versatile points that can be transferred to hotel and airline partners for high-value redemption.

Honorable Mentions: As is the case with consumer cards, most business cards with high rewards and high spending limits aren’t going to offer very good (or any) introductory interest rates. However, the fee-free Chase Ink cards are both solid picks, and the Bank of America business cards can reportedly provide decent limits if you do a lot of business with the bank.

How Do Issuers Decide Your Credit Limit?

If there were some simple system used by every issuer to determine credit card limits, you’d never again have to wonder about which card to select or what your limit will be. Unfortunately, in the real world, every issuer has its own internal metrics for setting credit limits — metrics that can be based on any number of factors.

In general, however, there are a few main things that issuers look at to decide on your limit:

  1. Your credit profile: This is arguably the most important factor in your credit limit decision, and most credit cards show a direct relationship between applicants’ credit scores and their initial credit limits. Your payment history, in particular, will be of extreme interest in this regard.
  2. Your income / revenue: Legally, credit card issuers need to make reasonably certain that you can afford to make the payments on any credit line you’re given. As a result, your income (and/or business revenue, for business credit cards) will also directly impact the credit limit you’re offered. For example, if two applicants have the same credit scores, the one with a higher income is more likely to receive a higher credit line.
  3. Your card use: While it can’t impact your initial credit limit, the frequency with which you use your credit card — and the amount of money you spend and pay off in the process — will have a big impact on your future credit limit increases. Regularly using your card will typically give you a better chance of receiving credit limit increases over time.
  4. Your current credit limits: Each bank will have a specific amount of credit it is willing to lend any given customer. If you already have a number of credit lines with that bank, you may not receive the top credit line due to being at or near the maximum the bank is willing to extend. Reallocating existing credit can sometimes solve this issue.

Of course, these aren’t the only factors that issuers will consider; everything from the number of credit lines you have to your current debt load can impact your initial credit limit. That said, excellent credit and a solid income are certainly important tools for obtaining high credit card spending limits.

Choosing the right card is also key. Similar to the APR ranges most credit cards have, many cards also have set credit limit ranges from which your actual credit limit is selected. That range is set by the issuer in most cases, though the network can also influence this range. For example, a Visa Infinite® credit card will generally have a minimum credit limit of $10,000 regardless of the issuer.

Beyond the network-influenced minimum limits, the credit limit ranges for most cards are rarely published. This means that anecdotal evidence — e.g., forum posts and card reviews — are the only real way to see what kind of limits a card will offer.

What is a Good Credit Limit?

Another side-effect of issuers’ refusal to publish credit card limits is that it’s very hard to tell whether the credit you were offered is a low-ball figure or a good deal for that particular card. A $500 initial limit for a starter credit card might be a decent offer, for instance, while the same limit on a mid-tier rewards card may be the bottom of the barrel.

As a basic rule of thumb, if the credit limit you’re offered is suitable for your needs, then you can probably just consider it a good credit limit and move on with your day. After all, as long as you can make the necessary purchases without your utilization rate skyrocketing, you’re probably in good shape.

If you want a more complete comparison of your credit limits with those of other cardholders, you’ll need to start digging into credit card reviews and cardholder forums. For example, the myFICO.com forums can be a good place to start.

Screenshot of Credit Karma Review Page

You can use consumer review sites, like Credit Karma, and forum posts to get an idea of what credit limits other cardholders have been offered.

Just make sure you don’t get yourself worked up by effectively comparing apples to oranges. If your credit score is great but your business revenue is very low, for instance, don’t compare your credit limits to those of a business owner with revenue in the six figures — you won’t win that game.

Can You Increase Your Credit Limit?

One of the best things about credit card credit limits is that they’re not set in stone. Even if you start out with a very low credit limit, most credit card issuers will allow you to increase your credit limit. (The main exception here are starter cards and subprime cards — but neither should be in your sights if you have excellent credit.)

The easiest way to get a credit limit increase is to simply use your card — and wait. The majority of issuers will proactively increase your credit limit over time. In many cases, you’ll simply log into your account to find that your credit limit has increased since the last time you checked.

Unsolicited credit limit increases won’t result in a hard credit pull and should have no impact on your credit scores. Issuers are most likely to give you an unsolicited increase when you use your card frequently and/or make — and then pay off — large purchases.

If you don’t want to patiently wait for an unsolicited increase, you can usually request a credit limit increase directly from the issuer. Many issuers allow you to request an increase through your online banking account or mobile app, but you may need to call the issuer’s customer service line in some cases.

Requesting a credit limit increase will typically result in a credit inquiry of some sort; some issuers will simply use a soft pull, while others will perform a full hard inquiry to evaluate your request.

How to Increase Your Credit Card's Credit Limit

Most issuers have restrictions regarding how long you need to have a card before you can request an increase, and how often you can get a credit limit increases overall. In general, you’ll typically need to have a card for at least six months — and have paid your bill on time all six months — to qualify for the first increase.

The third way to get a credit limit increase doesn’t increase your overall available credit, but it can give you a higher credit line on one card. That’s because you can sometimes reallocate credit from one card to another, provided you have multiple cards with a single issuer. You’ll likely need to call your issuer to reallocate your credit lines.

What Happens If You Go Over Your Card’s Limit?

Not long ago, it was all too common for cardholders to get hit with over-limit fees as they unwittingly swiped their way past their credit card spending limits. As with many expensive practices of the days of yore, however, the Credit CARD Act of 2009 put an end to much of that danger.

Among many other changes, the sweeping collection of legislation changed the law to require credit card issuers to decline transactions that would put a cardholder over their limit. In the post-CARD-Act era, cardholders must opt-in to allow over-limit transactions for issuers to allow the purchases and then charge over-limit fees. That single law change was said to have saved cardholders billions in fees.

Without opting into over-limit purchasing, trying to make a transaction that would put your balance over your credit card limit can have one of two results. Either the transaction will be declined at checkout, or the issuer can decide to allow the transaction to proceed without charging you a fee.

Although some issuers have hard and fast rules — Bank of America reportedly always declines over-limit transactions — most issuers will tend to treat it on a case-by-case basis. If you have excellent credit and a good payment history, your transaction is more likely to be approved.

Screenshot of Amex Card with Flexible Limit

Some cards have flexible spending limits that allow you to purchase above your limit without fees.

Even if you won’t be charged an over-limit fee, however, there is another important consideration before going over your credit limit — or even getting very close to your limit: The impact it can have to your credit scores.

One of the most important factors in your credit score looks at your current debts, including the utilization ratio (how much credit you are using over how much you have available) of your credit cards.

For example, if your credit card credit limit is $5,000, and you have a balance of $2,500, then your utilization rate is: $2,500 / $5,000 = 0.50 = 50%.

A high utilization ratio is considered to be a sign of potential financial trouble, and it can cause your credit scores to drop by a significant amount. On the other hand, paying off your balance will typically decrease your utilization rate within 30 days, as most issuers report your card balances at the end of each statement cycle.

Do All Cards Have Spending Limits?

This is one of the many finance questions that have a simple answer — and a not-so-simple answer. In simple terms, yes, all cards will have some sort of limit that restricts how much you can buy. That limit may be $300, or it may be $300 million — but that limit is there.

However, here comes the complicated part of the answer: NPSL (no pre-set limit) cards. Basically, NPSL cards have variable credit limits that can change from month to month, or even from transaction to transaction.

In general, only charge cards are considered to be fully NPSL cards (charge cards are non-revolving credit lines that usually need to be paid in full each month). However, a large number of credit cards can have flexible spending limits that allow you to go over your published credit limit.

For both cases, your spending power at any given time will usually be based on a variety of factors, including your income, payment history, and current balances. Issuers of NPSL cards will often provide tools in their online banking interfaces that allow you to check your spending power before making purchases.

In practice, the main difference between a charge card that really has no pre-set spending limit and a credit card with a flexible limit is how the cards impact your credit scores. Specifically, it’s how the cards do — or don’t — impact your utilization rates.

Charge cards that really have no set spending limit can’t be included in calculations for your utilization rate, since determining utilization requires knowing the available credit limit. These cards are usually reported as open credit lines, rather than revolving credit cards.

American Express Centurion Card

Charge cards, like the infamous American Express Centurion Card, have no pre-set spending limit.

This makes NPSL charge cards good choices for large purchases that you don’t want to impact your credit scores.

(Of course, charge cards need to be paid in full each billing cycle, so only charge large purchases you can pay off.)

Conversely, credit cards with flexible spending policies will still typically have predetermined credit limits that can — and will — be reported to the credit bureaus, along with your balances. These cards will be included in credit utilization calculations and can, therefore, impact your credit scores.

What is the Highest Possible Credit Limit?

Americans love credit cards. We have an average of 2.5 cards per person, carry around $4,300 in credit card balances each, and have an average of $20,000 in available credit. For consumers with excellent credit scores, this means a typical credit card limit of more than $11,000 per card.

But that’s nothin’.

As we’ve noted in the card sections above, some of your everyday credit cards can provide credit limits of $20,000, $50,000, or even $100,000 to applicants with great credit, spotless payment histories, and high incomes or business revenues. But even a six-digit credit card limit can seem small compared to the spending power of the rich and famous.

In fact, if you have enough money — and enough clout — you can swipe your trusty plastic (or platinum, or gold) card for purchases in the hundreds of millions.

These big-ticket buys are most likely made with charge cards that have no pre-set spending limit; these cards have variable limits that depend on factors like your income, your payment history, and your current balances. In theory, charge cards with no set spending limit can be used to make nearly any size purchase. In practice, of course, every card has a limit — but sometimes that limit can feel limitless.

Is There a Downside to a Large Spending Limit?

In today’s financial landscape, having excellent credit is an achievement that can make your life much easier — and less expensive. And while you don’t need to be a big spender with a large income to build excellent credit, well, it doesn’t hurt.

Similarly, you don’t actually need a six-figure income to be offered a five-digit credit line from your credit card issuer — but it doesn’t hurt. In either case, by the time you’ve made it to the excellent credit stage, you likely have the skills to handle that credit line wisely.

Though, perhaps, not everyone does. One of the most common arguments against having a large credit line is that you’re then more inclined to use that extra credit. Without a solid plan to repay the balance, a larger credit line can potentially turn into a whole lot of debt.

So, if you’re going to look for a card that offers a high credit limit, be smart — make sure you can pay off any balances you accrue. No matter your credit limit, always keep up those positive credit habits that earned you an excellent score in the first place.

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