Best Credit Cards for Large Purchases for December 2022

American Express is a well-known credit option for big-ticket items. The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express offers the best of all worlds: a potentially high credit limit for big buys, 0% introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers for 12 months from the date of account opening (18.24% to 29.24% variable APR thereafter) and the chance to earn cash back.

This card is quite generous with cash back, though the categories with the highest rewards don’t usually match up with large purchases. Still, you can still enjoy multiple uses with this card by earning a whopping 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%), 3% on transit and U.S. gas stations, and 1% on other purchases. Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit.

For more details, check out our full review of the Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express.

Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.

If you need to stretch out payments on a big purchase, consider this card. The U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card gives you 18 billing cycles of 0% introductory APR on purchases. After the introductory period, the APR is 18.74% to 28.74% variable. This offer could save you hundreds of dollars in interest and finance charges, as long as you consistently meet the minimum payment every month and pay the balance in full before the 18 billing cycles end. This card is a top pick on our best 0% introductory APR credit cards list.

For more information, see our full review of the U.S. Bank Visa Platinum Card.

Because with American Express cards you are expected to pay the balance in full each month (though you can use the Pay Over Time feature on eligible purchases), there is no preset spending limit. No preset spending limit means your spending limit is flexible. Unlike a traditional card with a set limit, the amount you can spend adapts based on factors such as your purchase, payment and credit history. If you’re making a large purchase and afraid it won’t fit on one card, the American Express® Gold Card may be a good choice. You can also earn American Express Membership Rewards® Points on your purchases, and a large purchase could net you the welcome offer at one fell swoop. Do note that there’s a $250 annual fee to keep this account open.

For more information, check out our full review of the American Express Gold Card.

Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visitamericanexpress.comto learn more.

It isn’t easy to find a credit card with a limit high enough for a big-ticket purchase if you have only fair credit, but the Petal® 2 Visa® Credit Card (issued by WebBank) fits the bill with a credit limit of up to $10,000, based on creditworthiness. If the Petal 2 Visa Credit Card can cover your large purchase, you’ll be able to build your credit as you go. Meanwhile, you can enjoy 1% cash back on your eligible large purchase, and even more if you spend at select merchants.

As long as you make payments on time, you may be eligible for a credit limit increase, potentially boosting your credit score. In another effort to motivate your credit-building, you can earn an additional 0.5% cash back after you make 12 monthly on-time payments on eligible purchases. Alternatively, check out some of our other picks for fair or average credit.

This online only offer may not be available if you leave this page or if you visit a Bank of America financial center. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.

The BankAmericard® credit card offers cardholders a good opportunity to finance a large purchase or transfer a balance from another card and avoid interest charges on both. Cardholders will have 21 billing cycles to pay down a new purchase or a transferred balance at (see terms) introductory interest (then see terms variable; balance transfers must be completed within 60 days of account opening). It’s one of the longest promotions available.

While there aren’t any rewards, 21 billing cycles – about 21 months – is still a generous amount of time to pay down a new, large purchase. If you have a trip coming up or a home improvement project, consider using the BankAmericard to pay for it.

For more details, see our full review of the BankAmericard credit card.

According to the Federal Reservethe average credit card interest rate these days is 16.30%. Financing a large purchase at such a high interest rate could be costly. Unless you can take advantage of a low- or no-interest introductory credit card offer and can commit to paying off your balance on time, it may be cheaper to look for financing alternatives such as a personal loan or drawing on your savings.

To maximize what you can earn for large purchases, choose a rewards credit card that offers points that can be redeemed for merchandise, travel or cash. Stay informed on which credit card categories offer bonus earnings. The way you redeem your points could also make a big difference. You may be able to redeem accrued rewards for bonus points when you make redemptions at a specific website or merchant, stretching your rewards even further.

American Express cards typically offer high credit limits, making it possible to make larger purchases. If you’re not sure of your spending limit, contact your card issuer for more information. You may also be able to request a credit limit increase if you foresee the need to make a large purchase in the near future and your current credit limit isn’t enough.

You should only open a new account to make a large purchase if you have a plan to pay off your purchase in a reasonable timeframe. You should avoid opening a new credit card if you are expecting to apply for a mortgage or other large loan in the upcoming months because it could impact your debt-to-income ratio and add a hard pull to your credit reports.