What Credit Score Do You Need for a Credit Card? (2026 by Card Type)
Last updated 04/17/2026 by
Ante Mazalin
Edited by
Andrew Latham
Summary:
The credit score you need for a credit card depends on the card tier — secured cards are available with no credit history, while premium rewards cards typically require a score of 720 or higher.
Most standard credit cards fall somewhere in between.
- Secured cards: No minimum score — a refundable deposit replaces creditworthiness, making them accessible to anyone rebuilding or starting from scratch.
- Student and fair-credit cards: Generally require 580–669 and are designed for limited or damaged credit histories.
- Cash back and basic rewards cards: Typically require 670+ (good credit), the entry point for most mainstream card products.
- Premium travel and rewards cards: Usually require 720–740+ (very good credit), with some top-tier cards favoring scores above 740.
Credit card issuers never publish a single cutoff score — approval depends on your full credit profile, not a number in isolation. But understanding where each card tier starts gives you a realistic target before you apply.
Get Competing Personal Loan Offers In Minutes
Compare rates from multiple vetted lenders. Discover your lowest eligible rate.
It's quick, free and won’t hurt your credit score
Credit score requirements by card type
Card issuers use your FICO score as one input among many, but the type of card you’re targeting determines the realistic threshold you need to clear.
| Card Type | Recommended Score | Typical APR Range | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| Secured credit card | 300+ (any score) | 22%–29% | Discover it® Secured, Capital One Platinum Secured |
| Student credit card | 580–669 | 19%–27% | Discover it® Student, Capital One Savor Student |
| Fair-credit card (unsecured) | 580–669 | 24%–30% | Credit One Bank Platinum Visa, Petal 1 |
| Cash back card | 670–699 | 19%–27% | Wells Fargo Active Cash®, Citi Double Cash |
| Travel rewards card | 700–739 | 20%–29% | Chase Sapphire Preferred®, Capital One Venture |
| Premium rewards card | 720–740+ | 21%–29% | Chase Sapphire Reserve®, Amex Platinum |
These are realistic thresholds based on reported approvals — not guaranteed minimums.
A 700 score with high utilization and recent delinquencies may be declined for a cash back card, while a 680 with clean history and low debt may be approved for a travel card.
What card issuers look at beyond your credit score
Your FICO score signals risk, but issuers evaluate your full credit profile before approving any card.
- Credit utilization: Using more than 30% of your available revolving credit is a red flag for most issuers, even if your score is above the threshold.
- Payment history: A single recent late payment (within the last 12 months) can disqualify you from premium cards regardless of your overall score.
- Income: Federal law requires issuers to verify your ability to repay. Higher income increases your chances of approval and typically results in a higher starting credit limit.
- Recent inquiries: Multiple hard pulls within a short window signal financial stress and can push borderline applicants toward a decline.
- Age of accounts: A thin credit file — few accounts with short history — is penalized even if your score is technically in the “good” range.
Pro Tip: Many card issuers offer prequalification tools that use a soft pull — no impact on your score — to show you which cards you’re likely to be approved for before you formally apply. Use these before submitting any application to avoid unnecessary hard inquiries.
What credit score do you need for your first credit card?
If you have no credit history, a secured card is the practical starting point. Secured cards require a refundable deposit — usually $200–$500 — that serves as your credit limit. There is no minimum FICO score required because there’s no unsecured risk for the issuer.
After six to twelve months of on-time payments and low utilization, most secured card issuers will automatically review your account for an upgrade to an unsecured card and return your deposit.
Student cards are the other option if you’re enrolled in college. They’re unsecured but designed for thin or short credit files — most require only a few months of credit history, not a high score.
What credit score do you need for a rewards credit card?
Most cash back and entry-level travel rewards cards require a minimum score of 670 — the floor of the “good credit” range according to FICO’s standard tiers.
Premium travel cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve or the American Express Platinum are more selective. Both target applicants with scores of 720 or above, and Chase additionally enforces its 5/24 rule — no more than five new credit accounts opened in the past 24 months.
The rewards are better at the top tier, but so is the scrutiny. A 720 credit score is the realistic benchmark to clear before targeting premium cards.
How to improve your credit score to qualify for better cards
Moving from fair credit (580–669) to good credit (670+) is often a matter of a few targeted changes sustained over three to six months.
- Pay down revolving balances: Reducing your credit utilization from 50% to 30% can add 20–40 points to your FICO score within a single billing cycle.
- Make every payment on time: Payment history accounts for 35% of your FICO score — it’s the single highest-impact factor. Set up autopay for at least the minimum to eliminate late payments entirely.
- Avoid opening multiple new accounts at once: Each application triggers a hard inquiry. Space new applications at least six months apart.
- Request a credit limit increase on existing cards: A higher limit on your current cards lowers your utilization ratio without requiring a new account — and typically uses only a soft pull.
- Become an authorized user: Being added to a family member’s long-standing card with low utilization can add positive history to your file immediately.
How to choose the right credit card for your score
Applying for the wrong card is a fast way to collect hard inquiries without getting approved. Follow these steps to target the right product for your current credit profile.
- Check your current credit score for free. Use your bank’s credit monitoring tool or a service like Credit Karma to get your current FICO or VantageScore range before you search for cards.
- Match your score to the appropriate card tier. Use the table above as your starting point. If your score is 640, look at fair-credit unsecured cards — not cash back cards with a 670 threshold.
- Use prequalification tools before applying. Most major issuers — Amex, Chase, Capital One, Discover — offer soft-pull prequalification on their websites. Check these before submitting any formal application.
- Prioritize cards that report to all three bureaus. Especially when rebuilding credit, make sure your card issuer reports payment activity to Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion so your on-time payments are working for you everywhere.
- Apply for one card at a time. Submit one application, wait for a decision, and if approved, give the new account 90 days before applying for another. This protects your score from stacking hard inquiries.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum credit score for a credit card?
There is no universal minimum — it depends on the card. Secured cards have no credit score requirement and are available to applicants with scores as low as 300. Unsecured fair-credit cards typically require 580+.
Most standard rewards cards require 670 or higher, and premium travel cards generally require 720–740+.
Can you get a credit card with a 500 credit score?
Yes, through secured cards and some fair-credit unsecured products. A 500 credit score will be declined by most mainstream card issuers, but secured cards from Discover, Capital One, and OpenSky are accessible at this range.
The deposit — typically $200–$500 — becomes your credit limit and is returned when you close or upgrade the account.
Does applying for a credit card hurt your credit score?
Yes, by a small amount and temporarily. Each credit card application triggers a hard inquiry, which typically lowers your score by 5 points or fewer and remains on your credit report for two years. The impact diminishes after about 12 months. Using a prequalification tool before applying generates only a soft pull, which has no score impact.
What credit score do you need for a store credit card?
Store credit cards — like the CareCredit card or the Amazon Store Card — typically require 620–640, making them more accessible than general-purpose rewards cards. Because they carry higher APRs and limited usability, they’re best suited for specific purchases where you can pay the balance in full before a promotional period ends.
How long does it take to build credit for a good rewards card?
Most people can move from a secured card to a basic rewards card in 12–18 months of responsible use. Reaching the 720+ threshold needed for premium travel cards typically takes two to four years of consistent on-time payments, low utilization, and a growing account history — assuming no major derogatory marks along the way.
Key takeaways
- Secured cards require no minimum credit score — a deposit replaces creditworthiness for the issuer.
- Most cash back and entry-level rewards cards require a credit score of 670 or higher.
- Premium travel cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve and Amex Platinum typically require 720–740+.
- Credit score is one factor — utilization, payment history, income, and recent inquiries all influence approval decisions.
- Prequalification tools use a soft pull and let you gauge your approval odds before committing to a hard inquiry.
- Reducing credit utilization is the fastest lever for raising your score before a card application.
Ready to find the right card for your score? Compare options across every credit tier at SuperMoney’s credit card comparison.
Share this post:
Table of Contents