Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.
Most credit cards are assigned a fixed credit limit when you open the account. This line of credit can be anywhere from $200 to tens of thousands of dollars; in most cases, you can’t spend more than your limit.
You can qualify for a higher limit with almost any credit card if you have a good or excellent credit score and a stable income, but some high-limit cards offer a minimum cap of $5,000 or more.
Below, CNBC Select looks at how you can get a high-limit credit card, the best high-limit credit cards and options for those who don’t yet qualify.
Best high-limit credit cards
Best for travel rewards
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card packs a punch for a $95 annual fee card, offering annual travel credits, comprehensive travel protections and more.
- You can transfer rewards to all of Chase’s travel partners including World of Hyatt, Southwest Rapid Rewards and many more
- Long list of travel and shopping protections
- $50 annual Chase Travel hotel credit
- Has an annual fee
- Requires a high credit score
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select’s editorial staff.
- Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
- Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
- Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2027.
- Member FDIC
Balance transfer fee
Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
Who’s this for? The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is a high-powered travel credit card loaded with perks and a reasonable annual fee.
Estimated credit limit range: As a Visa Signature-branded credit card, you can typically expect a starting credit limit of $5,000 or more. Credit Karma user data suggests that the average limit for the Chase Sapphire Preferred is around $10,000. However, it may be possible for well-qualified applicants to get a six-figure limit, according to some reports.
Pro tip: You can pair this card with a Chase bank account
When you open a Chase Total Checking® account, you can earn a $300 bonus after you make at least $500 in direct deposits within 90 days of opening the account. You can also waive the monthly maintenance fee with qualifying activities.
To keep the Chase Total Checking account open for free, you’ll need to meet one of the following requirements each statement period:
- Electronic deposits made into this account totaling $500 or more, such as payments from payroll providers or government benefit providers, by using (i) the ACH network, (ii) the Real Time Payment or FedNow℠ network, (iii) third party services that facilitate payments to your debit card using the Visa® or Mastercard® network
- OR a balance at the beginning of each day of $1,500 or more in this account
- OR an average beginning day balance of $5,000 or more in any combination of this account and linked qualifying Chase checking, savings, and other balances.
Chase Total Checking®
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Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
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Minimum balance to open
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Monthly service fee
$12 or $0 with one of the following, each monthly statement period: Electronic deposits made into this account totaling $500 or more, such as payments from payroll providers or government benefit providers, by using (i) the ACH network, (ii) the Real Time Payment or FedNowSM network, (iii) third party services that facilitate payments to your debit card using the Visa® or Mastercard® network, OR a balance at the beginning of each day of $1,500 or more in this account, OR an average beginning day balance of $5,000 or more in any combination of this account and linked qualifying Chase checking, savings, and other balances.
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Free ATM network
With over 4,700 branches, Chase has the largest branch network in the U.S. plus access to more than 15,000 ATMs.
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ATM fee reimbursement
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Overdraft fee
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Mobile check deposit
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. Member FDIC
Best for insurance protections
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is a standout premium credit card with plenty of luxury perks and statement credits to justify its annual fee.
- Access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide, including Sapphire Lounge by The Club locations
- Up to $300 in annual travel credit
- You can transfer rewards to all of Chase’s travel partners including World of Hyatt, Southwest Rapid Rewards and many more
- Top-tier travel and shopping protections
- High annual fee
- Requires a high credit score
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select’s editorial staff.
- Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- $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 $120 application fee credit every four years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck®
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Coverage, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
- Member FDIC
Balance transfer fee
Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each balance transfer, whichever is greater
Who’s this for? The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is a premium travel credit card perfect for anyone who regularly pays for extra shopping or travel insurance because it offers many types of coverage at no additional cost.
Estimated credit limit range: This is a Visa Infinite card, and these cards require a starting credit limit of $10,000, according to their terms and conditions. Credit limits are not published on Chase’s site for the Sapphire Reserve card, but premium cards like this one generally have higher limits. Sapphire Reserve cardholders on sites like myFICO® Forums have reported having a credit limit as high as $80,000.
Best for luxury perks
The Platinum Card® from American Express is a premium card loaded with annual statement credits, entertainment benefits, extensive airport lounge access, elite status perks and more. (Enrollment required for select benefits mentioned)
- Access to 1,400+ airport lounges, including Priority Pass and Amex Centurion lounges (Enrollment required)
- Statement credit offers worth up to twice what the annual fee costs
- Elite status perks for hotels and rental cars (Enrollment required for select benefits mentioned)
- High annual fee
- Many statement credit offers are complicated and are earned in increments or limited to specific purchases
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select’s editorial staff.
- Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
- Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
- $200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings through American Express Travel using your Platinum Card®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
- $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
- The American Express Global Lounge Collection® can provide an escape at the airport. With complimentary access to more than 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more airport lounge options than any other credit card issuer on the market. As of 03/2023.
- $155 Walmart+ Credit: Save on eligible delivery fees, shipping, and more with a Walmart+ membership. Use your Platinum Card® to pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership and get up to $12.95 plus applicable taxes back on one membership (excluding Plus Ups) each month.
- $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card®.
- $200 Uber Cash: Platinum Card® Members can get out and about and explore their local area with $15 in Uber Cash for US rides each month, plus a bonus $20 in December. That can be up to $200 in annual Uber savings. Simply download the Uber app and add your Platinum Card® to your Uber account to get started. Available to Basic Card Member only. Effective 11/8/2024, an Amex Card must be selected as the payment method for your Uber or Uber Eats transaction to redeem the Amex Uber Cash benefit.
- $199 CLEAR® Plus Credit: CLEAR® Plus helps to get you to your gate faster at 50+ airports nationwide and get up to $199 back per calendar year on your Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Card. CLEARLanes are available at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues.
- Receive either a $120 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your Platinum Card®. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
- Shop Saks with Platinum: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at saks.com on your Platinum Card®. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- Unlock access to exclusive reservations and special dining experiences with Global Dining Access by Resy when you add your Platinum Card® to your Resy profile.
- $695 annual fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you’re approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you’re approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
Balance transfer fee
Foreign transaction fee
Who’s this for? The Platinum Card® from American Express is a must-have for anyone who wants the best card benefits because it has top-tier airport lounge access, elite status perks and over $1,500 in annual statement credit offers.
Estimated credit limit range: The Amex Platinum has no preset spending limit. Instead, the spending limit is based on your behavior and history as a cardholder — and they are constantly in flux. Depending on the cardholder, this could mean a limit that’s double or triple that of a traditional card. However, you’ll need to pay your balance in full each month to avoid the Pay Over Time feature’s steep APR; see rates and fees. Cardholders can check their spending power via a tool on the Amex website and app or by calling in. Terms apply.
Pro tip: You can pair this card with an Amex bank account
An American Express® Rewards Checking account has a 1.00% APY and no monthly maintenance fees. Plus, you’ll earn Membership Rewards points on eligible debit card purchases (one point for every $2 in eligible spending).
American Express® Rewards Checking Account
American Express National Bank is a Member FDIC.
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Monthly maintenance fee
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Minimum deposit to open
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Minimum balance
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Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
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Free ATM network
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ATM fee reimbursement
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Overdraft fee
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Mobile check deposit
Click here to view terms and conditions.
Best for cash back
The Chase Freedom Unlimited® is a no-annual-fee card that earns generous cash-back on everyday purchases and a lucrative welcome bonus.
- Valuable welcome bonus and high rewards rates
- Long intro APR for purchases and balance transfers
- No annual fee
- Has a foreign transaction fee
- Few rewarding ongoing benefits
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select’s editorial staff.
- 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 19.49% – 28.24%.
- No annual fee – You won’t have to pay an annual fee for all the great features that come with your Freedom Unlimited® card
- Keep tabs on your credit health, Chase Credit Journey helps you monitor your credit with free access to your latest score, alerts, and more.
- Member FDIC
Balance transfer fee
Intro fee of either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater, in the first 60 days. After that, either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
Foreign transaction fee
3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars
Who’s this for? The Chase Freedom Unlimited® is a good fit if you want a simple rewards structure and no annual fee.
Estimated credit limit range: With the Freedom Unlimited® you will either receive the basic level Visa Platinum card (with a minimum credit limit of $500) or the upgraded Visa Signature card (with a minimum credit limit of $5,000), according to the card’s pricing and terms.
Best for limited credit
The Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card available to those with limited/fair credit, which makes it surprising that it features an elevated 1.5% cash back on all purchases.
- Simple rewards structure with no caps or categories to track
- Available if you have fair credit
- High APR
- Has an annual fee
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select’s editorial staff.
- Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day
- No rotating categories or limits to how much you can earn, and cash back doesn’t expire for the life of the account. It’s that simple
- Be automatically considered for a higher credit line in as little as 6 months
- Enjoy peace of mind with $0 Fraud Liability so that you won’t be responsible for unauthorized charges
- Help strengthen your credit for the future with responsible card use
- 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
- Monitor your credit score with CreditWise from Capital One. It’s free for everyone
- Check out quickly and securely with a contactless card, without touching a terminal or handing your card to a cashier. Just hover your card over a contactless reader, wait for the confirmation, and you’re all set
Balance transfer fee
- $0 at the Transfer APR, 4% of the amount of each transferred balance that posts to your account at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer to you
Who’s this for? The Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card is a solid unsecured credit card for anyone with average/fair credit because of its above-average flat-rate rewards structure.
Estimated credit limit range: If you have less-than-stellar credit and want to improve your score, the Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card does the trick and allows you to increase your available credit line. You won’t have a high limit right away, but Capital One automatically considers you for a higher credit limit after six months of on-time payments.
Cardholders on myFICO® Forums report that using your Capital One card consistently and paying your balance off in full each month is the best way to ensure you get access to a higher credit limit. One member said that cardholders may receive a $100 increase after their second or third billing statement. Once your score gets into the good range, you can try applying for one of the cards listed above or upgrading to another Capital One card.
Best for secured credit
Platinum Secured Mastercard®
Information about the Platinum Secured Mastercard® has been collected independently by Select and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of the cards prior to publication.
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Rewards
1 point per $1 spent on all purchases
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Welcome bonus
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Annual fee
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Intro APR
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Regular APR
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Balance transfer fee
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Foreign transaction fee
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Credit needed
Pros
- No annual fee
- $25,000 maximum credit limit, which is one of the highest for secured cards
- No fee charged on purchases made outside the U.S.
Cons
- $500 minimum security deposit, which is higher than average
- No clear timeline to upgrade to an unsecured card
Compare savings accounts
More on our top high-limit credit cards
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Best for travel rewards
Rewards
- 5X on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠
- 3X points on dining
- 3X points on online grocery purchases
- 3X points on select streaming services
- 2X points on all other travel
- 1X points on all other purchases
Welcome bonus
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
Annual fee
$95
Notable perks
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card members receive an Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit worth up to $50 toward hotel stays you book through Chase Travel℠. You’ll also receive a 10% points bonus (based on your spending the previous year) after every account anniversary. The card has a range of insurance benefits including, trip delay reimbursement, trip cancellation/interruption coverage, purchase protection and auto rental coverage.
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
Best for insurance protections
Rewards
- 10X points on hotels and car rentals purchased through Chase Travel℠
- 10X points on Chase Dining purchases
- 5X points on flights purchased through Chase Travel℠
- 3X points on travel
- 3X points on dining
- 1X points on all other purchases
Welcome bonus
Earn 60,000 points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening.
Annual fee
$550
Notable perks
Chase Sapphire Reserve® cardholders can take advantage of an annual travel credit worth up to $300 and a Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck® application fee credit worth up to $120 every four years. You can also enroll in a one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select, which grants unlimited airport lounge visits to over 1,300+ locations.
This card also features some of the best travel and shopping insurance benefits, including:
The Platinum Card® from American Express
Best for luxury perks
Rewards
- 5X points on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel (up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year)
- 5X points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel
- 1X point on all other purchases
Welcome bonus
Earn 80,000 points after spending $8,000 on eligible purchases within the first six months of card membership.
Annual fee
$695 (see rates and fees)
Notable perks
You can earn over $1,500 in statements every year with The Platinum Card® from American Express. These offers include:
- Up to $300 in Equinox credit (enrollment required)
- Up to $200 in airline fee statement credits (enrollment required)
- $200 in Uber Cash each year (enrollment required; Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only. Effective 11/8/2024, an Amex Card must be selected as the payment method for your Uber or Uber Eats transaction to redeem the Amex Uber Cash benefit.)
- Up to $155 in Walmart+ credits (subject to auto-renewal). Up to $12.95 plus applicable taxes on one membership fee
- $200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings through American Express Travel using your Platinum Card®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay. Certain room categories are not eligible for upgrade.
- Up to $240 in digital entertainment statement credits (enrollment required)
- Shop Saks with Platinum: Up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases at Saks 5th Avenue (enrollment required)
- $199 CLEAR® Plus Credit: CLEAR® Plus helps to get you to your gate faster at 50+ airports nationwide and get up to $199 in statement credits back per calendar year on your Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Card. CLEARLanes are available at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues.
- Receive either a $120 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your Platinum Card®. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
Chase Freedom Unlimited®
Best for cash back
Rewards
- 5% back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠
- 3% back at drugstores
- 3% back on dining at restaurants (including takeout and eligible delivery services)
- 1.5% on all other purchases.
Welcome bonus
Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year).
Annual fee
$0
Notable perks
When you open a new Chase Freedom Unlimited® account, you can take advantage of an intro APR offer for purchases and balance transfers.
Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card
Platinum Secured Mastercard® from First Tech Federal Credit Union
Best for secured credit
Rewards
- 1X points on all purchases
Welcome bonus
None
Annual fee
$0
Notable perks
Platinum Secured Mastercard® from First Tech Federal Credit Union offers cardholders a range of complimentary insurance benefits. These perks include Mastercard ID Theft Protection, lost or damaged luggage coverage, trip cancellation insurance, travel accident and baggage delay insurance and purchase protection for eligible items you purchase with the card.
What a high-limit credit card is
A high-limit credit card typically has a credit line between $5,000 and $10,000 (and some go beyond $10,000).
You’re more likely to have a higher credit limit if you have good or excellent credit.
A high-limit credit card can help you improve your credit score since it raises your overall available credit and can lower your credit utilization rate. It can also be helpful to cardholders who have high monthly expenses or are looking to purchase a big-ticket item. If you have a high credit limit, just make sure that you spend within your means and avoid charging more than you can afford.
How you can get a high-limit card
Many card issuers don’t publicize their credit limits, but some include a minimum credit limit in their pricing and terms. Be sure to read closely before applying for a credit card so you know what to expect if they only offer a minimum.
You won’t know your exact credit limit until your application is final, and credit limits vary depending on your specific credit score and income.
If you end up with a card that has a lower credit limit than you wanted, you can always ask for a credit limit increase by speaking to your issuer over the phone or making a request online. Some issuers will automatically increase your credit limit once you’ve made consecutive on-time payments after the first few months.
FAQs
What is the highest credit card limit you can get?
Because issuers don’t typically advertise credit limits when they market their credit cards, it’s hard to say what the highest credit card limit you can get is. However, cardholders have reported getting limits over $100,000 before.
Are there any high-limit credit cards for average credit?
There are credit cards for those with less-than-stellar credit who want to improve their score and increase their available credit line. Secured credit cards are also worth considering for those just beginning their credit journey or working to rebuild their credit.
How high are American Express credit limits?
Unlike other issuers, American Express offers several cards with no preset credit limits. However, there still are spending limits, which are calculated based on factors like your spending patterns, payment history, credit record and income. For well-heeled cardholders, this can mean a six-figure spending limit. American Express allows you to check your spending power before making a large purchase online or by calling in.
Why trust CNBC Select?
At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. Every credit card article is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of credit card products. While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics. See our methodology for more information on how we choose the best high-limit credit cards.
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Our methodology
To determine which are the best high-limit credit cards, CNBC Select analyzed over 250 major credit cards issued through FDIC-insured banks and NCUA-insured credit unions that are widely available in the U.S.
We compared each card on a range of features, including rewards, annual fees, welcome bonuses, introductory and standard APR and balance transfer fees and foreign transaction fees. We also considered additional perks (e.g., ongoing travel or merchant statement credits), cardholder protections (e.g., purchase protection, $0 liability protection and travel insurance), the application process when available (e.g., is there a credit pull or required credit score) and how easy it is to redeem points (e.g., are rewards are tied to a specific brand; if transferable, to how many/which partners, can you redeem for straight cash back).
We also considered CNBC Select audience data when available, such as general demographics and engagement with our content and tools.
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For rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, click here.
Editorial Note: Opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Select editorial staff’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any third party.