How Many Capital One® Cards Can You Have?

Capital One is among the most popular and diverse credit card companies in the world — but how many Capital One cards can one consumer have at once? The company issues cards with both the Visa and MasterCard labels, aimed at business owners, consumers, frequent flyers, students and even people trying to rebuild their credit. Of course with all of this popularity come a few questions about the rules and restrictions Capital One may set for their credit cards.

Two Card Limit | Choose a New Card

Capital One limits the number of directly issued cards available for any cardholder to two. While this is a fairly straightforward policy, it has caused some confusion among consumers, as some Capital One cardholders claim to have three, four or even more valid cards in their wallets. There are a few explanations for this apparent discrepancy in Capital One’s rules.

• When the rule limiting cardholders to two Capital One cards was implemented around 2011, members who held more than two cards at that time were allowed to keep them.
• Some cardholders had credit cards issued by banks that were acquired by Capital One (Chevy Chase Bank and HSBC to name just a couple). Cardholders were allowed to keep these cards even as they were reissued with the Capital One logo.
• Some co-branded store cards for retailers, like Saks and others, are issued by Capital One but don’t count in the two-card limit. The same is true for secured credit cards issued by Capital One.

When we talk about co-branded credit cards these are usually partnerships between a retailer, airline, or other business and the issuing credit card company. The purpose of these cards is for retailers to take advantage of brand loyalty and, in return, to give cardholders rewards in the form of perks at that retailer.

These are just some of the ways in which someone might end up with more than the limit of two Capital One cards in their wallet. However, try to get more than two Capital One direct-issued credit cards today, and you’ll be told no.

If you’re looking for a second Capital One credit card to complement one you already have, there are quite a few to choose from. Whether you’re looking for unlimited reward points, a 0% introductory APR, or a cash-back bonus on all purchases, there’s a Capital One card that’s made just for you.

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

EXPERT'S RATING

★★★★★

4.9

OVERALL RATING

4.8/5.0

• 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
• 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®
• Enjoy two complimentary visits per year to Capital One Lounges or to 100+ Plaza Premium Lounges through the Partner Lounge Network
• 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

• See application, terms and details.

Intro (Purchases)	Intro (Transfers)	Regular APR	Annual Fee	Credit Needed
N/A	N/A	20.24% - 28.24% (Variable)	$95	Excellent, Good

Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card

EXPERT'S RATING

★★★★★

4.8

OVERALL RATING

4.8/5.0

• 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

• See application, terms and details.

Intro (Purchases)	Intro (Transfers)	Regular APR	Annual Fee	Credit Needed
0% for 15 months	0% for 15 months	19.24% - 29.24% (Variable)	$0	Excellent, Good

Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card

EXPERT'S RATING

★★★★★

4.8

OVERALL RATING

4.9/5.0

• $0 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees
• Earn a bonus of 40,000 miles once you spend $1000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $400 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

• See application, terms and details.

Intro (Purchases)	Intro (Transfers)	Regular APR	Annual Fee	Credit Needed
0% for 18 months	0% for 18 months	19.24% - 29.24% (Variable)	$0	Excellent, Good

+See more Capital One cards

According to a survey by Gallup, the average American carries two credit cards in their wallet. This includes cards from the major networks like Visa, Mastercard, Discover and American Express, as well as closed-loop store credit cards. So, what’s the “sweet spot” for how many cards we should carry?

Unfortunately, there’s no one right answer. The number of credit cards you should carry depends on your personal spending habits — and your personal financial habits. If you’re someone who can responsibly use multiple credit cards, including paying them on time each month and keeping balances low, then there’s no real limit on how many credit cards you can have.

On the other hand, if credit cards entice you to spend more than you normally would, you have problems paying multiple cards on time, or you tend to carry a balance on your cards, then you may want to limit the number of credit cards in your wallet.

We Americans love our plastic. We love the convenience of making quick purchases anywhere, we love the benefits of all the rewards programs, and we love the flexibility of using different cards for different buying situations. And even if you can only carry two Capital One credit cards, there are other reward cards and co-branded cards you can get that have the same great benefits from the same great credit card issuer. We Americans also love having choices, and thankfully when it comes to credit cards, we have plenty of options.