The average credit limit in the U.S. was $29,855 at the end of the third quarter of 2023. It ranged from an average of $12,899 for Generation Z to $41,906 for baby boomers.
The average credit limit on credit cards in the U.S. was $29,855 as of the end of the third quarter (Q3) of 2023. Thats a 6.8% increase from Q3 2022, when the average credit limit was $27,955. Average credit card limits vary by age range, and cardholders who are new to credit, rebuilding their credit or have lower incomes may also have lower credit limits.
Credit card limits can vary widely depending on your credit score, income, and other factors But what is considered an “average” or “normal” limit these days? Let’s take a look at the latest data on average credit card limits in the US. and what impacts your personal credit limit.
Key Takeaways
- The average credit card limit in the U.S. is $29,855 according to 2025 data.
- Credit limits tend to increase with age and income. People with excellent credit scores also qualify for higher limits.
- The average credit limit starts low for 18-24 year olds at $7,583 and peaks at $38,508 for 45-54 year olds.
- Asking for credit limit increases and improving your credit can help raise your personal limit over time.
- Keeping balances low and avoiding maxing out cards helps your credit score and chances of getting higher limits.
What Impacts Your Credit Card Limit
Banks and credit card issuers determine your initial credit limit based on a few key factors
- Credit score – People with excellent credit typically get approved for higher limits.
- Income – Your income level impacts how much credit you can manage.
- Existing debt – Too much existing debt can lower your chances of a high limit.
- Spending habits – Companies review your spending patterns with other credit.
After getting a card, you can request credit limit increases over time as your profile and score improves. However, maxing out cards and missed payments can cause decreases too.
Average Credit Card Limits by Age
Average credit card limits increase steadily with age, income, and credit history. Here are the average card limits by age group according to 2025 data:
- 18-24 years old: $7,583
- 25-34 years old: $16,245
- 35-44 years old: $29,092
- 45-54 years old: $38,508
- 55-64 years old: $35,546
- 65+ years old: $29,269
As you can see, young adults just starting out have relatively low average credit limits. Middle age groups have the highest, while limits start decreasing again in the retirement years.
How to Get a Higher Credit Limit
If your current card limits seem lower than these averages, there are some steps you can take to request higher limits over time:
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Ask for credit limit increases: After 6 months to a year of on-time payments, you can request higher limits directly through your card issuer.
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Improve your credit: Raising your credit score can help you qualify for better cards with higher starting limits.
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Increase income: Gaining a raise or higher salary down the road can help your case for a higher limit.
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Pay down balances: Keeping balances low and avoiding maxing out cards shows lenders you can handle more available credit.
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Get a new card: Applying for a new card can provide access to a higher limit, but too many applications can hurt your score.
How Credit Limits Affect Your Credit Score
The credit limits on your cards influence your credit score in a couple key ways:
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Credit utilization – Using more than 30% of your total limits can lower your score.
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Length of credit – Having long, established card accounts helps your credit. Closing old cards with high limits can hurt.
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New accounts – Applying for many new cards in a short period can deduct from your score temporarily.
Overall, it’s wise to only take on the amount of credit you can manage responsibly. Let your income, budget, and spending needs guide your ideal credit limit, not peer comparisons. Monitoring your credit regularly can help you make informed decisions about requesting limit increases when appropriate.
The Bottom Line
While the average credit card limit is around $30,000, your personal limit can vary a lot based on your unique profile and habits. Focus on using credit wisely, and your limits will rise over time as your score improves. But don’t obsess over limit size alone – ultimately, optimizing your credit score and managing debt in a healthy way is most important.
What Is a Credit Limit?
A credit cards credit limit is the highest your balance can go before the card issuer can start declining new transactions due to a lack of available credit. Once your balance reaches the credit limit, you can pay it down to free up credit.
A higher credit limit can be helpful if you want to make large purchases. But if you pay less than the full statement balance, you might wind up carrying a large balance and accruing a lot of interest.
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While the overall average credit card limit was $29,855 as of Q3 2023, the average credit limit varied widely by generation. In general, these generational differences mirror the changes that many people experience in their income and credit usage as they age.
For example, Generation Z collectively had the largest year-over-year increase (14.3%) in credit limits. But their average credit limit of $12,899 was still the lowest of any generation. Card issuers consider many factorsâincluding income and length of credit historyâwhen deciding credit limits, which could be why younger people tend to have lower credit limits.
In terms of dollar amount, Generation Zs average credit limit increased by $1,599. Thats about the same increase baby boomers had ($1,588), which was a 3.9% increase for that group.
| 2022 | 2023 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Generation Z (18-26) | $11,290 | $12,899 | +14.3% |
| Millennials (27-42) | $24,668 | $27,533 | +11.6% |
| Generation X (43-58) | $35,994 | $38,665 | +7.4% |
| Baby boomers (59-77) | $40,318 | $41,906 | +3.9% |
| Silent Generation (78+) | $32,379 | $32,812 | +1.3% |
| All Generations | $27,955 | $29,855 | +6.8% |
Source: Experian data from Q3 of each year; ages as of 2023
What Is The Average First Credit Card Limit? – CreditGuide360.com
FAQ
What is the normal credit card limit?
According to Experian, the average credit card limit for a person in the U.S. as of the third quarter of 2023 was $29,855, up from $27,955 in 2022, close to a …Mar 6, 2025
What credit limit can I get with a 750 credit score?
| 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 |
What is the $5 000 credit card limit for bad credit?
The Bank of America® Travel Rewards Secured Credit Card is the best credit card with a $5,000 limit for bad credit. You can get a $5,000 credit limit by placing a refundable security deposit of $5,000, and you will earn 1.5 point per $1 spent without even having to pay an annual fee.
Is a $30,000 credit card limit good?
A good credit limit is around $30,000, as it’s close to the national average credit card limit, according to Experian.
What is the average credit card limit?
According to an Experian report, the average credit card limit in the U.S. was $30,365 in 2020. Compared to buy now, pay later limits that usually max out around a few thousand dollars, credit cards allow you to make bigger purchases.
What is a normal credit limit?
What’s considered a “normal” credit limit in the U.S.? While limits may vary by age and location, on average Americans have a total credit limit of $22,751 across all their credit cards, according to the latest 2019 Experian data.
What is the average credit limit in America?
The average credit limit in America, as reported by Experian®, is $28,929.80. However, your credit card limit can depend on various factors, including your credit score, age, and income. Credit card limits can range anywhere from $300 to more than $100,000.