Credit limits

Learn how credit limits work and how to manage your credit usage to avoid damaging your credit score.

Editors' picks

What Should My Credit Limit Be Based on My Income?

By Jim Akin

Jun 25, 2024

What Is a Credit Limit?

By Louis DeNicola

Oct 24, 2023

What Happens When You Go Over Your Credit Limit?

By Tim Maxwell

Oct 17, 2023

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What others are reading

Woman using phone in cafe to check her credit limit

When’s a Good Time to Request a Credit Limit Increase?

Your card issuer considers various factors, such as your credit report and history with th...

By Louis DeNicola

Jan 12, 2023

Does Requesting a Lower Credit Limit Hurt My Credit Score?

By Louis DeNicola

Oct 19, 2021

What Is Revolving Credit?

By Karen Axelton

Jan 6, 2023

Does it Hurt to Increase Your Credit Limit?

By Jennifer White

Feb 28, 2019

How Much Available Credit Should I Have on My Credit Cards?

By Ben Luthi

Apr 30, 2021

What Does “Percent of Balances to Credit Limit Too High” Mean?

By Jennifer White

Mar 5, 2021

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The latest from our experts

Why Is My Credit Limit So Low?

Factors including low credit scores and limited credit history can lead to low credit limi...

By Jim Akin

Apr 23, 2024

Why Your Credit Card’s Available Credit Matters

Having more available credit can improve your creditworthiness and give you more spending ...

By Louis DeNicola

Jul 21, 2023

Should I Get a New Credit Card to Increase My Available Credit?

If you need more available credit, applying for a new credit card is one way to accomplish...

By Ben Luthi

Dec 18, 2022

Can a Credit Limit Decrease Hurt Your Credit Score?

Asking for a decrease in your credit limit can hurt your credit score. Instead, focus on u...

By Jennifer White

Aug 31, 2022

Does Getting Declined for a Credit Limit Increase Affect Your Credit?

Getting declined for a credit limit increase doesn't always impact your credit scores. But...

By Louis DeNicola

Apr 16, 2021

Can I Increase My Credit Limit on a Secured Credit Card?

You may be able to increase a secured credit card's credit limit by making an additional s...

By Karen Axelton

Sep 17, 2020

Does a Credit Limit Decrease Hurt Your Credit Score?

Not only does a credit limit determine how much you can spend on an account, it can have a...

By Stefan Lembo Stolba

Aug 9, 2020

Proportion of Balances to High Credit on Revolving Accounts

Dear Experian, Can you explain one of the factors for my credit score? The listed factor i...

By Experian Team

Jul 15, 2016

Going over the Limit on Your Credit Card

Dear Experian, What happens if your credit card goes over your limit? What are the best op...

By Experian Team

Jul 12, 2016

Credit limits

Editors' picks

What Should My Credit Limit Be Based on My Income?

What Is a Credit Limit?

What Happens When You Go Over Your Credit Limit?

Take action with these tools

Best rewards credit cards

Best balance transfer credit cards

Best cash back credit cards

Best travel credit cards

Credit card payoff calculator

Best intro bonus credit cards

Best 0% intro APR credit cards

What others are reading

When’s a Good Time to Request a Credit Limit Increase?

Does Requesting a Lower Credit Limit Hurt My Credit Score?

What Is Revolving Credit?

Does it Hurt to Increase Your Credit Limit?

How Much Available Credit Should I Have on My Credit Cards?

What Does “Percent of Balances to Credit Limit Too High” Mean?

Explore more topics

The latest from our experts

Why Is My Credit Limit So Low?

Why Your Credit Card’s Available Credit Matters

Should I Get a New Credit Card to Increase My Available Credit?

Can a Credit Limit Decrease Hurt Your Credit Score?

Does Getting Declined for a Credit Limit Increase Affect Your Credit?

Can I Increase My Credit Limit on a Secured Credit Card?

Does a Credit Limit Decrease Hurt Your Credit Score?

Proportion of Balances to High Credit on Revolving Accounts

Going over the Limit on Your Credit Card

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Credit limits

Editors' picks

What Should My Credit Limit Be Based on My Income?

What Is a Credit Limit?

What Happens When You Go Over Your Credit Limit?

Take action with these tools

Best rewards credit cards

Best balance transfer credit cards

Best cash back credit cards

Best travel credit cards

Credit card payoff calculator

What others are reading

When’s a Good Time to Request a Credit Limit Increase?

Does Requesting a Lower Credit Limit Hurt My Credit Score?

What Is Revolving Credit?

Does it Hurt to Increase Your Credit Limit?

How Much Available Credit Should I Have on My Credit Cards?

What Does “Percent of Balances to Credit Limit Too High” Mean?

Explore more topics

The latest from our experts

Why Is My Credit Limit So Low?

Why Your Credit Card’s Available Credit Matters

Should I Get a New Credit Card to Increase My Available Credit?

Can a Credit Limit Decrease Hurt Your Credit Score?

Does Getting Declined for a Credit Limit Increase Affect Your Credit?

Can I Increase My Credit Limit on a Secured Credit Card?

Does a Credit Limit Decrease Hurt Your Credit Score?

Proportion of Balances to High Credit on Revolving Accounts

Going over the Limit on Your Credit Card