Credit Score Average Credit Limit in the U.S.
A credit limit is the maximum amount a lender allows a cardholder to borrow on a credit card or line of credit, but that number varies widely from person to person. [1] Capital One. "What Is a Credit Limit?" Accessed on October 27, 2025. https://www.capitalone.com/learn-grow/money-management/what-is-a-credit-limit/ In recent years, average credit limits have increased as consumers manage higher balances and lenders expand available credit.
Examining how limits differ by factors such as age, credit score, and state provides insight into how access to credit evolves across the U.S.
Key statistics
- According to the latest data, the average credit card limit in the U.S. increased from $31,165 in Q2 2022 to $33,980 in Q2 2024, a rise of about 4.4% according to Experian’s report.
- Despite the above, recent news reports suggest that credit limits may be declining in 2025, indicating that the upward trend seen in Experian’s Q2 data could be shifting in more recent months.
- Baby boomers have the highest average credit limits, while Generation Z borrowers saw the fastest year-over-year growth.
- Average credit limits rise with higher credit scores, with borrowers in the good and very good ranges seeing increases of more than $2,600 between 2022 and 2024.
- New Jersey, Washington D.C., and Connecticut have the highest average total credit limits, while Mississippi and Arkansas have the lowest.
- Men hold higher credit limits in dollar terms than women, though both groups experience similar percentage changes over time.
- Average credit limits vary across racial and ethnic groups, with White and Asian households typically holding higher limits than Black and Hispanic households.
What is a credit limit?
A credit limit is the maximum amount you can borrow or charge on a credit card. Typically, you can only spend up to your limit until you start paying down your balance.
Credit limits are determined by lenders by examining financial information such as payment history, current accounts, account history, credit card debt, income, and debt-to-income ratio.
Credit limits can play a role in credit utilization ratios (CUR), a percentage of credit you are using from your available revolving credit accounts. A credit limit affects your credit score through your credit utilization ratio, which measures how much of your available credit you’re using. [1] Capital One. "What Is a Credit Limit?" Accessed on October 27, 2025. https://www.capitalone.com/learn-grow/money-management/what-is-a-credit-limit/
The average credit limit over time
The average credit card limit in the U.S. rose from $31,165 in Q2 2022 to $33,980 in Q2 2024, an overall increase of about 4.4% over two years. Average balances also grew during that time, rising from $5,699 to $6,699 (8.4% growth). This means consumers are using a slightly higher share of their available credit than they did two years earlier. [2] Experian. "Credit Card Balances and Credit Limits," Accessed on October 27, 2025. https://www.experian.com/blogs/ask-experian/credit-card-balances-and-credit-limits/
While Experian’s Q2 2022–2024 data shows limits rising, separate news stories indicate that credit limits may have begun to decline in early 2025, suggesting the trend could be shifting. [3] FOX 13 News. "Credit Limits Dropped in Most States, 2025 Data Shows," Accessed on December 1, 2025. https://www.fox13news.com/news/credit-limits-dropped-most-states-2025-data
| Average credit card limit over time | |
|---|---|
| Year | Average Credit Limit |
| 2022 | $31,165 |
| 2023 | $32,815 |
| 2024 | $33,980 |
*Data note: Based on figures from Q2 of each year.
Source: [2] Experian. "Credit Card Balances and Credit Limits," Accessed on October 27, 2025. https://www.experian.com/blogs/ask-experian/credit-card-balances-and-credit-limits/
Average credit limit by age
Credit limits rise consistently with age, and the pattern held steady between Q3 2022 and Q3 2023. Baby boomers had the highest average credit limit in both years, rising from $40,318 to $41,906, a 3.9% increase. Generation Z had the smallest limits, climbing from $11,290 to $12,899, but they also experienced the largest year-over-year increase, up 14.3% as younger borrowers began to establish their credit histories.
Millennials followed with an 11.6% increase, while Generation X rose by 7.4%, and the Silent Generation saw the smallest change at just 1.3%. [4] Experian. "What Is the Average Credit Limit on a Credit Card?" Accessed on October 27, 2025. https://www.experian.com/blogs/ask-experian/what-is-average-credit-limit-on-credit-card/
Credit scores and credit limits tend to rise with age because older consumers often have longer credit histories and more established repayment patterns. While income does not directly affect credit scores, individuals with higher incomes may find it easier to pay bills on time and keep balances lower, which can contribute to stronger credit profiles. These factors together help explain why older consumers generally have higher credit limits. [5] American Express. "Average Credit Score by Age and State," Accessed on October 27, 2025. https://www.americanexpress.com/en-us/credit-cards/credit-intel/credit-score-by-age-state/
| Average credit card limits by age group | ||
|---|---|---|
| Generation | 2022 | 2023 |
| Generation Z (18-26) | $11,290 | $12,899 |
| Millennials (27-42) | $24,668 | $27,533 |
| Generation X (43-58) | $35,994 | $38,665 |
| Baby boomers (59-77) | $40,318 | $41,906 |
| Silent Generation (78+) | $32,379 | $32,812 |
*Data note: Based on Q3 2022 and Q3 2023
Source: [4] Experian. "What Is the Average Credit Limit on a Credit Card?" Accessed on October 27, 2025. https://www.experian.com/blogs/ask-experian/what-is-average-credit-limit-on-credit-card/
Average credit limit by credit score
According to Experian, credit limits tend to increase alongside credit scores. Although lenders do not rely on credit scores alone when determining credit limits, credit scores can be as major a factor as income in their decisions. Between 2022 and 2024, average credit limits rose across all major score categories. Borrowers in the fair credit range (580–669) saw their average limit increase by $1,724, while those with good credit (670–739) saw their average limit increase by $2,629. Consumers with very good credit (740–799) saw a nearly identical increase of $2,625 during the same period.
Rising credit card APRs (Average Percentage Rates), as of August 2024, averaged around 23%, make managing balances increasingly important, as even small reductions in utilization can help improve credit scores and, in turn, qualify borrowers for higher or more affordable credit limits.
These steady increases show how access to higher credit limits grows as credit profiles strengthen over time, [2] Experian. "Credit Card Balances and Credit Limits," Accessed on October 27, 2025. https://www.experian.com/blogs/ask-experian/credit-card-balances-and-credit-limits/
| Average Credit Limit Change in Dollars, 2022-2024 | |
|---|---|
| Credit Score Range | Change |
| 580-669 (Fair) | $1,724 |
| 670-739 (Good) | $2,629 |
| 740-799 (Very Good) | $2,625 |
*Data note: Based on figures from Q2 of each year.
Source: [2] Experian. "Credit Card Balances and Credit Limits," Accessed on October 27, 2025. https://www.experian.com/blogs/ask-experian/credit-card-balances-and-credit-limits/
Factors that may influence your credit limit
Average credit limits vary by age group, state, gender, and credit score, but only the latter counts towards a credit limit.
Lenders typically determine the credit limit using various factors from a credit report, including payment history, current accounts, and account history.
Here are some of the factors that might determine your credit limit:
- Payment history: Whether you consistently pay bills and credit card balances on time.
- Credit utilization: How much of your total available credit compared to your credit limits that you’re currently using.
- Account age: How long your credit accounts have been open and active.
- Debt-to-income ratio: The share of your income that goes toward monthly debt payments.
Source: [1] Capital One. "What Is a Credit Limit?" Accessed on October 27, 2025. https://www.capitalone.com/learn-grow/money-management/what-is-a-credit-limit/
Do credit limits affect credit scores?
Your credit limit plays a role in your credit utilization ratio, which is the percentage of available credit you are using across your revolving accounts. Credit utilization is one factor that can affect your credit scores. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) suggests keeping your utilization below 30%. For example, that means using less than $3,000 of a $10,000 limit. Paying off your cards in full and on time each month can help keep that number low and may help you build your credit scores over time. [6] Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. "Credit Score Myths That Might Be Holding You Back from Improving Your Credit," Accessed on November 27, 2025. https://www.consumerfinance.gov/about-us/blog/credit-score-myths-might-be-holding-you-back-improving-your-credit/
Sources
- [1] Capital One. "What Is a Credit Limit?" Accessed on October 27, 2025. https://www.capitalone.com/learn-grow/money-management/what-is-a-credit-limit/
- [2] Experian. "Credit Card Balances and Credit Limits," Accessed on October 27, 2025. https://www.experian.com/blogs/ask-experian/credit-card-balances-and-credit-limits/
- [3] FOX 13 News. "Credit Limits Dropped in Most States, 2025 Data Shows," Accessed on December 1, 2025. https://www.fox13news.com/news/credit-limits-dropped-most-states-2025-data
- [4] Experian. "What Is the Average Credit Limit on a Credit Card?" Accessed on October 27, 2025. https://www.experian.com/blogs/ask-experian/what-is-average-credit-limit-on-credit-card/
- [5] American Express. "Average Credit Score by Age and State," Accessed on October 27, 2025. https://www.americanexpress.com/en-us/credit-cards/credit-intel/credit-score-by-age-state/
- [6] Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. "Credit Score Myths That Might Be Holding You Back from Improving Your Credit," Accessed on November 27, 2025. https://www.consumerfinance.gov/about-us/blog/credit-score-myths-might-be-holding-you-back-improving-your-credit/
