What is the minimum credit score for most credit cards?
A credit score of about 700+ will likely qualify you for just about any credit card, including those with cash back rewards, lower annual percentage rates (APRs) and more.
If you want a card with a lot of bells and whistles then you'll likely need a credit score in the 700s. However, anyone can get approved for a secured card, regardless of their credit score. Once you know your score you can figure out if you have excellent, good, fair, or poor credit.
Consumers with 800-plus credit scores have an average of 8.3 open accounts — similar to 7.9 in 2021. Gen Xers now have 8.6 open accounts, on average — the highest among any of the generations. While not as important as payment history or amounts owed, credit mix accounts for 10% of consumers' credit scores.
You should aim for 9+ years to score "Excellent." Total accounts: You need 21+ accounts to score "Excellent." If you have 20 cards and low utilization, you're seen as more responsible to the credit agencies.
| VantageScore 3.0 credit score range | Average credit card limit |
|---|---|
| 300–640 | $3,481.02 |
| 640–700 | $4,735.10 |
| 700–750 | $5,968.01 |
| 750+ | $8,954.33 |
In the U.S., only about 1.7 percent of the scorable population had a perfect 850 FICO credit score in April 2023, according to FICO data. This suggests that for most people, a perfect score is simply too hard to reach — but it also suggests that it's not really necessary, either.
Multiple issuers, including some of the bigger names in the industry, make cards available to people with a credit score in the 600 range. Just keep in mind that credit score alone is not enough to qualify for any card; issuers take multiple factors into account when evaluating applications, including your income.
A 750 credit score is Very Good, but it can be even better. If you can elevate your score into the Exceptional range (800-850), you could become eligible for the very best lending terms, including the lowest interest rates and fees, and the most enticing credit-card rewards programs.
How rare is an 800 credit score? An 800 credit score is not as rare as most people think, considering that roughly 23% of adults have a credit score in the 800-850 range, according to data from FICO. A score in this range allows consumers to access the best credit card offers and loans with the most favorable terms.
While older models of credit scores used to go as high as 900, you can no longer achieve a 900 credit score. The highest score you can receive today is 850. Anything above 800 is considered an excellent credit score.
How rare is an 850 FICO score?
Only 1.31% of Americans with a FICO® Score have a perfect 850 credit score. While a score this high is rare among any demographic, older generations are more likely to have perfect credit. Baby boomers make up a whopping 59.4% of the people with an 850 credit score.
Your score falls in the range of scores, from 800 to 850, that is considered Exceptional. Your FICO® Score and is well above the average credit score. Consumers with scores in this range may expect easy approvals when applying for new credit. 21% of all consumers have FICO® Scores in the Exceptional range.
The average FICO credit score in the US is 717, according to the latest FICO data. The average VantageScore is 701 as of January 2024. Credit scores, which are like a grade for your borrowing history, fall in the range of 300 to 850.
On our list, the Ramp Corporate Card and the Chase Ink Business Premier Preferred Credit Card offer the best opportunity to access a $100,000 credit limit. Ramp determines your spending limit based on factors like your cash-on-hands and monthly expenses, while Chase uses creditworthiness to calculate your credit limit.
One of the easiest high limit credit cards to get is the Citi Double Cash® Card. This card offers a minimum credit limit of $500 and cardholders report getting a starting credit limit as high as $11,500. The Citi Double Cash Card has a $0 annual fee and requires at least fair credit for approval.
In general, your chances of being approved for a $5,000 limit credit card are best if you apply for a secured credit card that allows you to deposit $5,000. The deposit acts as your spending limit, which prevents you from spending more than you can afford to repay.
| Credit Tier | Description | Credit Score Range |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Excellent Credit | 800 – 850 |
| Tier 2 | Great | 740 – 799 |
| Tier 3 | A Good Credit Score | 670 – 739 |
| Tier 4 | Fair | 580 – 669 |
Generally speaking, you'll likely need a score of at least 620 — what's classified as a “fair” rating — to qualify with most lenders. With a Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loan, though, you might be able to get approved with a score as low as 500.
Maria Adams, Credit Cards Moderator
No, you cannot get an American Express credit card with a 600 credit score, which is considered bad credit. Most Amex credit cards require a credit score of 700 or better for high chances of approval. This means you need to have at least good credit to get an Amex credit card.
Is Capital One a good credit card?
Its cards typically have low or no annual fees, no foreign transaction fees and rewards that can be redeemed with no minimum. With cards for business travelers, cash back rewards, students and limited credit, Capital One has an easy-to-use credit card for practically every type of consumer.
With FICO, fair or good credit scores fall within the ranges of 580 to 739, and with VantageScore, fair or good ranges between 601 to 780. Many personal loan lenders offer amounts starting around $3,000 to $5,000, but with Upgrade, you can apply for as little as $1,000 (and as much as $50,000).
| Age Bracket | 2022 |
|---|---|
| 18–25 | 679 (Good) |
| 26–41 | 687 (Good) |
| 42–57 | 706 (Good) |
| 58–76 | 742 (Very Good) |
Your score falls in the range of scores, from 800 to 850, that is considered Exceptional. Your FICO® Score and is well above the average credit score. Consumers with scores in this range may expect easy approvals when applying for new credit. 21% of all consumers have FICO® Scores in the Exceptional range.
However, with a 735 credit score, you should qualify for rates on-par with national averages. Also, even though your score qualifies you for a mortgage, it's important to know that the lower your score is, the stronger the rest of your qualifications are generally expected to be.
