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Credit card limits can be mystifying and feel arbitrary. For example, you may be approved for a card with a $7,000 limit, but your friend receives a $10,000 limit despite having similar credit profiles and incomes.
It doesn’t help that issuers aren’t required to inform current or prospective cardholders on how they designate individual credit limits. Still, there are some things you can try if you’re aiming for a specific type of credit limit.
If you want a higher limit, it’s best to apply for premium rewards cards and business credit cards. Keep in mind that credit limits can change over time, but to start off high, consider cards with many benefits or bigger spending thresholds, as they’ll typically offer higher limits.
You can also consider cards with no preset spending limits or cards with Visa Infinite or Mastercard World Elite designations.
Let’s explore the best cards with the highest limits.
What is a high credit limit?
The definition of a high credit limit is subjective. If you’re new to credit cards and open your first card, a credit limit of a few thousand dollars may seem high. For more experienced credit card users, a high credit limit could be one exceeding tens of thousands of dollars.
When I applied for my first credit card, I was given a $500 limit. Then, I applied for the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® and received a $4,000 limit, which felt like a massive limit compared to what I had previously.
The information for the Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
According to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, credit limits are based on a person’s FICO score. Here’s what the agency found:
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| Credit category | Credit score range | Average credit line |
|---|---|---|
| Super prime | 720-850 | About $10,000 |
| Prime | 660-719 | Less than $6,000 |
| Near prime | 620-659 | About $3,000 |
| Subprime | 580-619 | About $2,000 |
If you have a credit limit of $10,000, it’s considered average for consumers with the best scores. It goes without saying that even though you may start off with a low credit limit, through good practices, you can build your credit and subsequently increase your limit.
The best credit cards with high credit limits
The information for the Citi Prestige has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
Highest reported credit limit: $100,000, according to several data points online (though it could be higher). As a Visa Signature card, the minimum credit limit is $5,000.
Current welcome offer: Earn 75,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
Annual fee: $95.
Rewards: Earn 5 points per dollar spent on travel booked via Chase Travel℠; 2 points per dollar spent on travel booked outside the portal; 3 points per dollar spent on dining, online grocery purchases (excluding Walmart® and Target®) and select streaming services; and 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases.
Benefits: The Chase Sapphire Preferred includes travel perks such as an annual $50 hotel credit (on Chase Travel purchases only), primary car rental insurance, trip delay insurance, trip cancellation and interruption insurance, and baggage delay insurance.
To learn more, read our full review of the Sapphire Preferred.
Apply here: Chase Sapphire Preferred
Chase Sapphire Reserve
Highest reported credit limit: $100,000, according to a post on the myFICO forums. As a Visa Signature card, the minimum credit limit is $10,000. My current credit limit on my Sapphire Reserve is $60,500; however, when I was approved for the card in 2016, Chase gave me a $13,000 credit limit.
Current welcome offer: Earn 125,000 bonus points after spending $6,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
Annual fee: $795.
Rewards: Earn 8 points per dollar spent on all purchases through the Chase Travel, 4 points per dollar spent on flights and hotels booked directly, 3 points per dollar spent on dining worldwide, and 1 point per dollar spent on everything else.
Benefits: Travel benefits include an annual $300 travel credit, an annual $500 Chase The Edit credit (minimum two-night stay required), and reimbursement for the Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee. Other benefits include an annual $300 OpenTable dining credit and a $300 Stubhub or Viagogo credit (through Dec. 31, 2027).
To learn more, read our full review of the Sapphire Reserve.
Apply here: Chase Sapphire Reserve
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Highest reported credit limit: $74,000, according to a member on Reddit.
Current welcome offer: Earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.
Annual fee: $95.
Rewards: Earn 2 miles per dollar spent on every purchase.
Benefits: Cardholders receive a host of travel and purchase protections, including lost luggage reimbursement, extended warranty protection and Master RoadAssist® (fees apply). You’ll also receive purchase assurance, which replaces or repairs items or reimburses cardholders for purchases in the event of theft or damage within 90 days of the purchase date.
For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the above benefits are provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.
To learn more, read our full review of the Capital One Venture Rewards.
Learn more: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Highest reported credit limit: $78,000, according to a member on Reddit. As a Visa Signature card, the minimum credit limit is $10,000. Several TPG staffers have reported receiving credit limits of $30,000 with their new cards.
Current welcome offer: Earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
Annual fee: $395.
Rewards: Earn 10 miles per dollar spent on hotels and car rentals booked via Capital One Travel, 5 miles per dollar spent on flights and vacation rentals booked via Capital One Travel, and 2 miles per dollar spent on all other purchases.
Benefits: Cardholders receive up to $300 in travel credit annually for purchases made through Capital One Travel, in addition to 10,000 bonus miles each cardmember anniversary (worth $100 toward travel, or $185 according to TPG’s September 2025 valuations).
Cardholders can also take advantage of access to Priority Pass lounges and Capital One lounges with the ability to bring up to two guests per visit (policy change coming in February 2026). The card also provides up to $120 in statement credits for either a TSA PreCheck or Global Entry application, along with purchase and travel protections.
To learn more, read our full review of the Capital One Venture X.
Learn more: Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Citi Prestige Card
Highest reported credit limit: $92,000, according to a post on the myFICO forums.
Current welcome offer: This card is currently unavailable to new applicants.
Annual fee: $495.
Rewards: Earn 5 points per dollar spent on restaurants (including takeout and delivery), airfare and travel agencies; 3 points per dollar spent on hotels and cruise lines; and 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases.
Benefits: The most lucrative perk is the fourth-night-free benefit: Citi will pay for the fourth night of your stay at any hotel booked through Citi Travel (limited to two uses each calendar year). Cardholders also receive an up-to-$250 travel credit each year, plus Priority Pass lounge access and a Global Entry/TSA PreCheck statement credit.
To learn more, read our full review of the Citi Prestige.
Citi Strata Elite
Highest reported credit limit: $30,500, according to a member on Reddit. This is a card to look out for because it’s the first World Legend Mastercard and competes with Visa Infinite cards, so you can expect a minimum credit line of $10,000.
Current welcome offer: Earn 80,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first three months from account opening. You can earn a higher welcome offer of 100,000 bonus points with the same spending requirements if you apply at a Citi branch in person.
Annual fee: $595.
Rewards: Earn 12 points per dollar spent on hotels, car rentals and attractions booked via cititravel.com; 6 points per dollar spent on airfare booked on cititravel.com; 6 points per dollar spent at restaurants, including restaurant delivery services during CitiNights℠ hours (3 points per dollar spent outside of these hours); and 1.5 points per dollar spent on all other purchases.
Benefits: This card features a range of travel and lifestyle benefits, including an up-to-$300 annual hotel credit on prepaid stays booked through Citi Travel (minimum two-night stay required), a $200 annual Splurge credit with select retailers, a $200 annual Blacklane chauffeur credit and up to $120 for Global Entry/TSA PreCheck.
To learn more, read our full review of the Citi Strata Elite.
Apply here: Citi Strata Elite
How to get a high credit limit
After seeing the list of cards covered, the first question you may ask is, “How can I get a high credit limit?” As previously mentioned, the exact science of how issuers determine credit limits is restricted, but some issuers do provide guidance.
Chase says, “A higher credit score shows you have a good track record of paying your debts back and being financially responsible, so your credit limits may be higher.”
Meanwhile, Discover says your credit score is important, but “a good credit score alone, however, doesn’t necessarily guarantee a high credit limit.”
Don’t get caught up in trying to get a high credit limit from the time of application approval. I started off with only a $500 limit, and today I have over $160,000 in credit across all my cards. Here are some steps you can take to gradually increase your credit limit on existing cards and increase the likelihood of getting a high limit on a new card:
- Update your income with the issuer: Debt-to-income ratio is used to determine credit limits. If you get a raise or a new job, update your income with the issuer. This can lead to an automatic increase in the future.
- Lower your credit utilization: Show an issuer that you do not need to use your entire credit limit each month. This showcases you as a responsible borrower. Try to keep your utilization on a credit card below 30%.
- Improve your credit score: Pay your credit card statement balance on time and in full. Avoid late payments and opening various cards repeatedly, as it causes a hard inquiry on your credit report and thus a drop in your credit score.
- Request a higher credit limit: If you currently have a credit card, log in to your account and request a credit limit increase. Issuers such as Citi and Discover typically offer an opportunity to increase every six months.
Another way to get a high credit limit is to move credit from one card to another with the same issuer. For example, both American Express and Chase let you do this online or over the phone. If your Chase Freedom Unlimited® (see rates and fees) has a credit limit of $25,000, you can move the available credit to your Chase Sapphire Reserve.
This is also useful if you plan on canceling a card. Transfer your entire credit limit to another card with the same issuer to protect your overall line of credit and increase your chances of obtaining a higher limit down the line.
Related: Credit utilization ratio: What it is and how it affects your credit score
Bottom line
If you have a strong credit score and can show steady income, your chances of getting an above-average credit limit on your next approved credit card are better. Keep in mind, high credit limits are usually given to cardholders of premium cards, so choose your next card carefully if your goal is to eventually have a high limit.
Even if you apply for a card and are given a lower limit than expected, be patient and use the card responsibly, and over time, your credit limit will increase.
Related: The best premium credit cards: A side-by-side comparison
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