Getting an Amex credit line increase is possible. If you don’t qualify for an automatic increase, you may consider asking for one on your own.
DC
By Doug Milnes, CFA
DC
Doug Milnes, CFA
Head of Credit Cards at MoneyGeek
Doug Milnes is a CFA charter holder with over 10 years of experience in corporate finance and the Head of Credit Cards at MoneyGeek. Formerly, he performed valuations for Duff and Phelps and financial planning and analysis for various companies. His analysis has been cited by U.S. News and World Report, The Hill, the Los Angeles Times, The New York Times and many other outlets. Milnes holds a master’s degree in data science from Northwestern University. He geeks out on helping people feel on top of their credit card use, from managing debt to optimizing rewards.
Updated: September 10, 2024
Edited by Erika Hearthway
EH
Content Writer and Editor
Erika Hearthway is an experienced professional linguist. She writes clear, compelling content for a variety of companies on topics ranging from finance to fashion. She also works as an editor, proofreader, and translator from Spanish to U.S. English, and she ensures that any copy that crosses her desk is polished, error-free, and written to have maximum impact. Prior to her career as a linguist, Erika worked as a project manager overseeing large-scale, multilingual translation efforts for companies looking to expand their global footprint.
Reviewed by Lee Huffman
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Credit Card and Personal Finance Expert
Lee Huffman is a credit card and personal finance expert at MoneyGeek. He has spent 18 years as a financial planner and corporate finance manager, with 12 years of experience writing about early retirement, credit cards, travel, insurance and other personal finance topics. His writings are published on The Points Guy, Investopedia and NerdWallet. Huffman earned his business management degree from Pepperdine University and his master's degree in eBusiness from the University of Phoenix. He enjoys showing people how to travel more, spend less and live better through the power of travel rewards.
MoneyGeek is dedicated to providing trustworthy information to help you make informed financial decisions. Each article is edited, fact-checked and reviewed by industry professionals to ensure quality and accuracy. Editorial Policy and Standards
DC
By Doug Milnes, CFA
DC
Doug Milnes, CFA
Head of Credit Cards at MoneyGeek
Doug Milnes is a CFA charter holder with over 10 years of experience in corporate finance and the Head of Credit Cards at MoneyGeek. Formerly, he performed valuations for Duff and Phelps and financial planning and analysis for various companies. His analysis has been cited by U.S. News and World Report, The Hill, the Los Angeles Times, The New York Times and many other outlets. Milnes holds a master’s degree in data science from Northwestern University. He geeks out on helping people feel on top of their credit card use, from managing debt to optimizing rewards.
Updated: September 10, 2024
Edited by Erika Hearthway
EH
Content Writer and Editor
Erika Hearthway is an experienced professional linguist. She writes clear, compelling content for a variety of companies on topics ranging from finance to fashion. She also works as an editor, proofreader, and translator from Spanish to U.S. English, and she ensures that any copy that crosses her desk is polished, error-free, and written to have maximum impact. Prior to her career as a linguist, Erika worked as a project manager overseeing large-scale, multilingual translation efforts for companies looking to expand their global footprint.
Reviewed by Lee Huffman
L
Credit Card and Personal Finance Expert
Lee Huffman is a credit card and personal finance expert at MoneyGeek. He has spent 18 years as a financial planner and corporate finance manager, with 12 years of experience writing about early retirement, credit cards, travel, insurance and other personal finance topics. His writings are published on The Points Guy, Investopedia and NerdWallet. Huffman earned his business management degree from Pepperdine University and his master's degree in eBusiness from the University of Phoenix. He enjoys showing people how to travel more, spend less and live better through the power of travel rewards.
MoneyGeek is dedicated to providing trustworthy information to help you make informed financial decisions. Each article is edited, fact-checked and reviewed by industry professionals to ensure quality and accuracy. Editorial Policy and Standards
Advertising & Editorial DisclosureTerms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. A credit limit increase (CLI) on your Amex credit card comes with more spending power, and it gives you the means to maintain a low credit utilization ratio. While Amex may automatically increase your credit limit, you can also request one online or over the phone. Using your card sensibly for a few months before your request increases the odds of approval. Not all credit limit increase requests with Amex result in hard credit pulls, and this is something you may find out in advance. If Amex denies your request, you can ask again for a credit increase. However, it’s best to take the time to fix the problem/s that resulted in the denied request first. Getting a new credit card is also an option.
Amex may automatically increase your card’s credit limit if you use it responsibly.
If Amex does not offer an automatic increase, you may request one on your own.
You need to wait at least 60 days from account opening to request a credit limit increase.
The some of the links on this page will take you to one of our partner's sites, where you can compare and apply for a selected credit card.
Amex offers credit limit increases to its personal and small business credit cardholders. In some instances, it increases the credit limits of cards on its own. If you don't get an automatic CLI, it does not mean you don't qualify for one. To find out if you do, you may submit a request online or over the phone.
To begin, you need to log in to your account via the American Express website. The next step is to choose the card for which you want an increase. Navigate to "Account Services" and then to "Card Management." This is where you will see the "Increase Your Credit Limit" option.
When you move past this stage, Amex asks you for your desired credit limit and your annual income (which you’ll need to verify). Once you submit your request, you might find out Amex’s decision right away, or you might have to wait for a few days.
MONEYGEEK QUICK TIP:Use your American Express credit card regularly and responsibly because Amex might reject your request if you don’t use your card often enough.
You can request a credit limit increase by calling the number on the back of your Amex credit card or 1-800-528-4800 (for personal cards). Once you call, expect to answer questions about why you want the increase and your income, employment status and mortgage/rent payments. Keeping a few simple tips in mind before you make the call might increase the odds of approval.
American Express might carry out a hard or a soft credit inquiry when you request a CLI, depending on the specifics of your case. As a result, if you’re worried about the effect that a possible hard pull might have on your credit score, you might want to find this out by speaking with an Amex representative over the phone. If Amex carries out a hard inquiry, it will access your credit report from one of the top three credit bureaus in the country.
MONEYGEEK QUICK TIP:You may qualify for a temporary credit limit increase if you have an upcoming large purchase by calling Amex customer support.
Tell the customer service representative you're speaking with why you deserve the credit limit increase instead of why you need it. Reasons may include receiving a promotion or a hike in pay, an improvement in your credit score, or being a responsible and long-standing Amex card user.
While the customer service representative you're speaking with might immediately inform you of the decision, some people have to wait for a few days to find out.
HOW TO CONTACT AMERICAN EXPRESS:You may add to your overall credit limit by getting a new American Express credit card. Once this happens, you may expect to see your credit utilization ratio — which refers to the amount of credit you’ve used from your total available credit — improve.
Consider this example. You have two credit cards, the combined credit limit of which stands at $10,000. Of this, you’ve used $4,000. This means your credit utilization ratio is 40%. From the credit score point of view, it should be 30% or lower. If your new card comes with a $4,000 credit limit, your total credit limit increases to $14,000. When this happens, and with no newly added debt, your credit utilization ratio drops to around 28.5%.
Applying for a new Amex card results in a hard credit inquiry, and this causes your credit score to drop slightly. However, the impact is typically short-term if you manage your credit responsibly.
MONEYGEEK TIPGet a higher chance of getting a credit limit increase while earning rebates and points. The Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express is a simple card best used for everyday expenses, which lets you earn 1-3% cash back on your purchases.
For families, the Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express offers higher cash back rates at 6% at U.S. supermarkets with a $6,000 annual spending cap and 3% back on transit and at U.S. gas stations, 6% back on select streaming subscriptions and enjoy 1% back on all other purchases.
Or, you can maximize your rewards by completing the Amex Trifecta.
American Express gives individuals and business owners different types of credit cards from which to choose. These include rewards cards, cash back cards, 0% APR cards, airline cards, hotel cards, non-co-branded travel cards and no-annual-fee cards. Amex also offers several cards that don't charge any foreign transaction fees.
The credit limit that applies on your new Amex credit card depends on your income, employment status, creditworthiness and any card-specific limitations.
Amex follows a few rules when reviewing applications for new cards and how often you may earn welcome bonuses.
Most banks have a maximum total credit limit for each customer. If you are unable to get approved for an increase because you are at your limit, ask if you can transfer a portion of your credit limit from another American Express card that you have. — Lee Huffman, credit card expert at BaldThoughts.com
American Express automatically increases the credit limits of cardholders who demonstrate responsible use of their cards by periodically reviewing account activity. These periodic reviews may occur as often as once every 6 to 12 months, although that frequency is not guaranteed, and you may have to request an increase to see if you are eligible to receive one.
People who receive automatic CLIs are usually those who make all their payments on time and have good or excellent credit scores. Paying off your balances in full or maintaining a low credit utilization ratio might also work in your favor. However, there is no guarantee of receiving an increase no matter how well you handle your credit.
If you wish to boost the credit line of a specific Amex credit card with the aim of using it more often, you may consider transferring all or part of its balance to another card. While you may transfer the balance to an existing card, you might also have the option of transferring it to a new balance transfer card. These cards come with 0% APR offers on balance transfers for varied time periods.
Carrying out a balance transfer to a new card might have a slightly negative short-term effect on your credit score because applications for new credit typically result in hard inquiries. In addition, getting a new card might bring down the average age of your credit accounts, which may also ding your credit score. However, these slight dips are easy to overcome in a short time if you maintain responsible credit habits.
What helps is a new card will add to your overall available credit limit. This may improve your credit score by lowering your credit utilization ratio.
The benefits that might come your way through an approved Amex credit limit increase request include higher spending power and an improvement in your credit score. However, you may expect positive results only if you properly manage your credit.
Higher purchasing power
If Amex approves your CLI request, you get more spending power. When this happens, you get more freedom to use your card while still maintaining a desirable credit utilization ratio.
Improved credit score
A higher credit limit on your Amex card increases your total available credit limit. Adding to your overall credit limit without incurring additional debt helps reduce your credit utilization ratio, which, in turn, leads to an improvement in your credit score.
If it’s been at least 60 days since you received your Amex credit card, you may consider requesting a CLI. Bear in mind that Amex might look at your creditworthiness via a soft or hard credit pull when making a decision, so it’s better to check your credit report in advance. People with average credit scores might want to improve their scores before requesting credit limit increases because the odds of approval favor those with good or excellent credit scores.
If you’ve received a promotion at work or benefited from a hike in pay, your CLI request might warrant Amex’s attention. Conversely, Amex might decide to lower your credit limit if there’s been a dip in your income, as well as for a few other reasons.
Take a close look at your finances and your ability to manage debt before you request a CLI. It’s essential to steer clear of maintaining revolving balances in your account from one billing cycle to the next, failing which you might end up paying a tidy sum as interest charges. Unfortunately, around half of all American credit card users don’t pay their balances off in full each month.
Keep in mind that American Express requires you to meet some eligibility criteria if you hope to get a credit limit increase. As a result, it’s best to look at a few aspects before moving forward with your request. Asking yourself a few questions will also help you determine how American Express might view your request.
