What Credit Score Do You Need for Chase Sapphire?
Last updated 04/16/2026 by
Ante Mazalin
Edited by
Andrew Latham
Summary:
Chase offers two Sapphire credit cards with different credit score thresholds — the Sapphire Preferred, aimed at good credit, and the Sapphire Reserve, which targets excellent credit.
Your score is one requirement, but Chase also applies its 5/24 rule, which blocks approval regardless of your score if you’ve opened five or more credit cards in the past 24 months.
- Chase Sapphire Preferred: A score of 700 or above gives you strong approval odds — some applicants get through at 670, but it’s not reliable below 700.
- Chase Sapphire Reserve: Requires excellent credit — most approved applicants have a score of 740 or higher, and the card carries a $550 annual fee.
- The 5/24 rule: Chase won’t approve either card if you’ve opened five or more credit cards across any issuer in the past 24 months, no matter how strong your score is.
The Sapphire cards are among the most sought-after travel rewards cards on the market — but Chase’s underwriting is stricter than most issuers, and the 5/24 rule catches a lot of applicants off guard.
Knowing both requirements before you apply can save you a hard inquiry and a rejection.
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What credit score does the Chase Sapphire Preferred require?
Chase recommends a score of 700 or above for the Sapphire Preferred, though the practical minimum sits closer to 670.
Applicants in the 670–699 range do occasionally get approved, particularly if they have a long Chase banking relationship or low existing debt. But approval at that range isn’t consistent — 700 is where approval odds become reliably strong.
| Credit Score | FICO Category | Sapphire Preferred Approval Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Below 670 | Fair or below | Very unlikely |
| 670–699 | Fair–Good | Possible, but inconsistent |
| 700–739 | Good | Good odds for most applicants |
| 740–799 | Very Good | Strong odds; better credit limits |
| 800+ | Exceptional | Best odds and highest limits |
What credit score does the Chase Sapphire Reserve require?
The Chase Sapphire Reserve targets excellent credit. Most approved applicants have a score of 740 or higher, and the card carries a $550 annual fee — so Chase underwrites it more conservatively than the Preferred.
Applicants in the 700–739 range occasionally get approved for the Reserve, but the pattern from data aggregators points clearly toward 740 as the reliable floor. If you’re below that, the Preferred is the more appropriate target.
| Credit Score | FICO Category | Sapphire Reserve Approval Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Below 700 | Good or below | Very unlikely — apply for Preferred instead |
| 700–739 | Good | Possible but inconsistent |
| 740–799 | Very Good | Good odds for most applicants |
| 800+ | Exceptional | Best odds and highest limits |
What else does Chase look at beyond your score?
Credit score is a necessary condition for Chase Sapphire approval — but not a sufficient one. Chase evaluates several additional factors:
- The 5/24 rule: Chase will not approve you for either Sapphire card if you’ve opened five or more credit cards (with any issuer) in the past 24 months. This rule applies regardless of your credit score.
- Income: Chase doesn’t publish income minimums, but both Sapphire cards are premium products. Applicants with higher incomes and lower debt-to-income ratios consistently see better approval odds and higher starting limits.
- Existing Chase relationship: Long-standing Chase banking or credit customers tend to fare better at the margins — particularly at the 670–699 score range for the Preferred.
- Recent inquiries: Multiple recent credit applications signal risk and reduce your odds, independent of the 5/24 rule.
- The one-Sapphire rule: Chase will not approve you for both Sapphire cards simultaneously. You can hold one or the other, but not both at the same time.
Pro tip: Check your 5/24 count before applying. Add up every credit card you’ve opened in the past 24 months across all issuers — store cards and charge cards count too. If you’re at four or below, you’re clear. At five or above, no credit score will get you approved for a Chase Sapphire card. Wait until older cards age out of the 24-month window before applying.
What to do if your score doesn’t qualify yet
If you’re below 700 and targeting the Preferred — or below 740 and targeting the Reserve — the gap is closable with deliberate action over 3–6 months.
How to build your score toward Chase Sapphire approval
These steps address the factors Chase weighs most heavily in its underwriting:
- Pay down revolving balances. Credit utilization is the fastest lever you have. Getting balances below 30% of your total available credit — ideally below 10% — can add meaningful points within a single billing cycle.
- Dispute inaccurate items on your credit report. Pull your free report at AnnualCreditReport.com and challenge anything incorrect directly with the bureau. Removing a false negative mark can move your score significantly.
- Avoid new card applications. Each hard inquiry drops your score temporarily and adds to your 5/24 count — the exact opposite of what you need when building toward a Chase Sapphire card.
- Keep old accounts open. The length of your credit history is a meaningful factor in your FICO score. Closing older cards shortens your average account age and can suppress your score.
- Make every payment on time. Payment history is the single largest component of your FICO score. Autopay for the minimum on every account eliminates the risk of accidental lates while you’re building.
Frequently asked questions
Does Chase do a hard inquiry for the Sapphire Preferred and Reserve?
Yes. Both Chase Sapphire cards require a hard inquiry when you submit a full application. Chase primarily pulls from Experian, though it may use Equifax or TransUnion depending on your state. There is no official pre-qualification tool for the Sapphire cards that uses a soft pull.
Can I apply for both Chase Sapphire cards at the same time?
No. Chase’s one-Sapphire rule prohibits holding both the Preferred and the Reserve simultaneously. You can product-change between them — upgrading from Preferred to Reserve or downgrading from Reserve to Preferred — without a new application or hard inquiry.
Does the $95 annual fee on the Sapphire Preferred affect approval?
No, but it affects the value calculation. The Preferred’s $95 annual fee is easily offset for anyone who earns 3x on dining and 2x on travel regularly. Earning 10,000 points per year — roughly $125 in travel redemptions via Chase Travel — covers the fee with room to spare.
What is the Chase 5/24 rule?
Chase will not approve any Sapphire card if you’ve opened five or more credit cards with any issuer in the past 24 months. The count includes cards from all banks — not just Chase — and store cards typically count as well. Business cards from most issuers (other than Chase itself) do not count toward 5/24.
Can I upgrade from the Chase Sapphire Preferred to the Reserve?
Yes, after holding the Preferred for at least 12 months. A product change to the Reserve doesn’t require a new application or a hard inquiry — Chase simply adjusts your terms and begins charging the Reserve’s $550 annual fee at your next renewal. You also won’t receive a new sign-up bonus through a product change.
Key takeaways
- Chase Sapphire Preferred requires a score of 700 or above for reliable approval odds; the minimum is around 670 but inconsistent at that range.
- Chase Sapphire Reserve requires excellent credit — 740 or above — and carries a $550 annual fee.
- The Chase 5/24 rule blocks approval for both cards if you’ve opened five or more credit cards in the past 24 months, regardless of your score.
- Chase also considers income, existing debt, and your Chase banking relationship — score alone doesn’t determine the outcome.
- You cannot hold both Sapphire cards simultaneously, but you can product-change between them after 12 months without a new application.
To compare the Sapphire Preferred and Reserve on rewards, fees, and reader ratings, see SuperMoney’s reviews: Chase Sapphire Preferred and Chase Sapphire Reserve.
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