The best high limit credit cards of 2023 and how to get them with your credit score

When you open a new credit card account, most issuers will assign you a credit limit. This line of credit can be anywhere from $200 to tens of thousands of dollars, and in most cases, you can't spend more than your limit. 

You can qualify for a higher limit with almost any credit card as long as you have a good or excellent credit score and a stable income, but there are some high-limit cards that offer a minimum cap of $5,000 or more.

Below, CNBC Select takes a look at how you can get a high-limit credit card, the best high-limit credit cards as well as options for those who don't yet qualify.

• Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
• Chase Sapphire Reserve®
• The Platinum Card® from American Express
• Chase Freedom Unlimited®
• Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card (see rates and fees)
• Platinum Secured Mastercard® from First Tech Federal Credit Union

Visa Signature-branded credit cards, such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card typically offer 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.

A tier above Visa Signature is Visa Infinite cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve®. These cards offer 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 travel 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.

Several popular Amex cards such as The Platinum Card® from American Express don't have any preset spending limits at all. Rather, they have ever-changing spending limits 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 off 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.

Often, two cardholders with the same card can have very different credit limits. For example, with the Chase Freedom Unlimited® approved cardholders 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 Chase Freedom Unlimited's pricing and terms. 

If you have less-than-stellar credit and want the opportunity to improve your score, the Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card (see rates and fees) does the trick and gives you the opportunity 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 make sure 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.

For anyone just beginning their credit journey or working to rebuild their credit, secured credit cards can help you get on track. Secured cards require that you make a deposit, usually around $200, which becomes your line of credit. So it's rare that secured cards have high limits. But if you do have the cash to put down a substantial deposit, the Platinum Secured Mastercard® from First Tech Federal Credit Union offers credit limits as high as $25,000. For a higher credit limit, you will need to deposit more money.

You may want a high-limit secured credit card if you find yourself with plenty of savings but you don't yet qualify for a high-limit unsecured card.

• What is a high-limit credit card?
• What is the highest credit card limit you can get?
• How do you get a high-limit card?
• Are there any high-limit credit cards for average credit?
• How high are American Express credit limits?

A high-limit credit card typically comes with a credit line between $5,000 to $10,000 (and some even 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 do have a high credit limit, just make sure that you spend within your means and avoid charging more than you can afford. 

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.

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 do 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.

There are credit cards for those with less-than-stellar credit that want the opportunity 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.

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.

To determine which are the best high-limit credit cards, CNBC Select analyzed over 230 of the most popular credit cards available in the U.S. We compared each card on a range of features, including: spending limits, rewards, welcome bonus, introductory and standard APR, balance transfer fee and foreign transaction fees, as well as factors such as required credit and customer reviews when available. We also considered additional perks, the application process and how easy it is for the consumer to redeem points.

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For rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, click here.