What's the average credit limit for an 18 year old?
As you might expect, the numbers skew much higher for certain generations, while younger consumers tend to have much lower credit card limits. In 2022, Generation Z (ages 18-25) averaged a total credit limit of $11,290 across all credit accounts, far lowest among the five generations presented.
| Generation | Average Credit Card Limit | Average Credit Score |
|---|---|---|
| Generation Z (age 18-25) | $11,290 | 679 |
| Millennials (age 26-41) | $24,669 | 687 |
| Generation X (age 42-57) | $35,994 | 706 |
| Baby Boomers (ages 58-76) | $40,318 | 742 |
The average credit score by age 18 is 679. A good credit score can help you apply for loans, pay less for insurance, and qualify for lower interest rates. For young adults, starting to build credit earlier than later can make the biggest difference in the future.
If you're just starting out, a good credit limit for your first card might be around $1,000. If you have built up a solid credit history, a steady income and a good credit score, your credit limit may increase to $5,000 or $10,000 or more — plenty of credit to ensure you can purchase big ticket items.
Most student credit cards will have a limit of less than $1,000, with some issuers providing an initial limit of just $500.
Consider yourself in “good” shape if your credit score is above the average for people in your age group. Given that the average credit score for people aged 18 to 25 is 679, a score between 679 and 687 (the average for people aged 26 to 41) could be considered “good”.
On the flip side, starting off on strong financial footing can pay dividends. Since you're able to open a credit card as early as 18, it's one of the most popular strategies to help you start building a good credit score – if you learn to use it responsibly.
The best credit card with a $5,000 limit for bad credit is Bank of America® Travel Rewards Secured Credit Card. You can make a deposit from $200 up to $5,000 on the Bank of America Travel Secured Card, making your credit limit equal to that amount. The card also offers 1.5 point per $1 spent and has a $0 annual fee.
a $500 credit limit is good if you have fair, limited or bad credit, as cards in those categories have low minimum limits. The average credit card limit overall is around $13,000, but you typically need above-average credit, a high income and little to no existing debt to get a limit that high.
Yes, a $2,000 credit limit is ok, if you take into consideration that the median credit line is $5,394, according to TransUnion data from 2021.
How many credit cards should I have as an 18 year old?
Key takeaways: There isn't a set number of credit cards you should have, but having less than five credit accounts total can make it more difficult for scoring models to issue you a score and make you less attractive to lenders.
However, the criteria for a good APR varies widely, depending on the card category. At the bottom, you'll find low interest credit cards that offer an average APR of 18%. And while these cards don't generally come with rewards or many benefits, you'll get a great interest rate in exchange.
Yes, $20,000 is a high credit card limit. Generally, a high credit card limit is considered to be $5,000 or more, and you will likely need good or excellent credit, along with a solid income, to get a limit of $20,000 or higher.
| Age Group | Good Credit Limit |
|---|---|
| Gen Z (18-24) | $9,000 |
| Millennials (24-39) | $22,000 |
| Gen X (40-55) | $34,000 |
| Baby Boomers (56-74) | $39,000 |
But if you're in your 20s and just starting out, a score of 700 or higher may be tough as you're just establishing your credit history. In fact, according to Credit Karma, the average credit score for 18-24 year-olds is 630 and the average credit score for 25-30 year-olds is 628.
The truth is, there isn't a set credit score number that you start with at 18. You don't begin on zero, for example. You may find that that the credit reference agency could struggle to find enough financial data about you the first time you try to check your credit reports.
Highlights: 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.
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.
As someone with a 650 credit score, you are firmly in the “fair” territory of credit. You can usually qualify for financial products like a mortgage or car loan, but you will likely pay higher interest rates than someone with a better credit score. The "good" credit range starts at 690.
History isn't instant. If you haven't used credit before, it usually takes at least six months to generate a credit score – and longer to earn a good or excellent score.
What credit score do you start with?
Instead of starting from the bottom, you'll actually start with no credit score instead — and that's not as bad as you might think. Implementing the behaviors to establish good credit is essential to what credit score you start with, but that's after meeting the criteria to get past the no credit history phase.
WalletHub's Take: The Chase Freedom Rise℠ card is the best starter credit card available to people with limited or no credit history right now. Chase Freedom Rise℠ is so good because it offers above-average rewards at a lower-than-average cost, giving you 1.5% cash back on all purchases and not charging an annual fee.
What is considered a “normal” credit limit among most Americans? The average American had access to $30,233 in credit across all of their credit cards in 2021, according to Experian. But the average credit card balance was $5,221 — well below the average credit limit.
a $3,000 credit limit is good if you have fair, limited or bad credit, as cards in those categories have low minimum limits. The average credit card limit overall is around $13,000, but you typically need above-average credit, a high income and little to no existing debt to get a limit that high.
On our list, the card with the highest reported limit is the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, which some say offers a $100,000 limit. We've also seen an advertised maximum credit limit of $100,000 on the First Tech Odyssey Rewards™ World Elite Mastercard®, a credit union rewards card.
