Credit Building > Understanding Credit Limits: How to Get More

Understanding Credit Limits: How to Get More

Wollit Team2 minute read · Updated 8th October 2025

Getting a higher credit limit can significantly improve your financial flexibility and boost your overall credit profile. Whether you're looking to increase limits on existing cards or secure new credit with higher thresholds, understanding the key strategies and requirements is essential for success.

What Factors Influence Your Credit Limit?

Credit card companies evaluate several crucial elements when determining your credit limit:

Income and Employment Your annual income directly impacts the credit limit you're offered. Lenders assess your ability to repay by examining your salary, employment stability, and debt-to-income ratio. Higher earners typically qualify for more generous limits.

Credit Score and History A strong credit score demonstrates responsible borrowing behaviour. Those with excellent scores, typically 720 and above, are more likely to receive substantial credit limits. Your payment history, account age, and consistent on-time payments all contribute to this evaluation.

Credit Utilisation Lenders review how much credit you're currently using across all accounts. Maintaining a low credit utilisation ratio, ideally below 30%, shows you can manage credit responsibly without overextending yourself.

How to Request a Credit Limit Increase

Most credit card companies allow you to request increases through online banking, mobile apps, or by calling customer service. The process has become increasingly streamlined, with many providers offering instant decisions.

Timing Your Request Wait at least six months after opening an account or receiving your last increase. Choose a time when your financial situation has improved, such as after receiving a pay rise or reducing existing debt levels.

The Application Process Most requests simply require you to confirm or update your current income and employment status. The system typically processes these details automatically to determine your eligibility.

Credit Limit Increase Strategies That Work

Before requesting increases, focus on building your credit score through consistent payments and responsible credit management. Even small improvements can make a significant difference to your application's success.

Key strategies include:

Regularly updating your income details with credit card companies, especially after pay rises
Maintaining consistent on-time payments across all accounts
Reducing overall debt levels before applying

Consider having multiple cards with moderate limits rather than putting all your credit needs on one card. This approach can provide the same total credit whilst potentially improving your credit score through better utilisation management.

Managing Higher Credit Limits Responsibly

A good credit utilisation ratio stays well below 30% of your total available credit. With higher limits, you have more flexibility to make larger purchases whilst maintaining this healthy ratio.

Essential Management Tips

Establish personal spending boundaries that align with your income
Keep track of spending across all credit accounts through regular monitoring
Treat increased limits as emergency buffers rather than invitations to spend more

This helps you stay within your utilisation targets and spot any unauthorised transactions quickly.

Understanding the Risks and Timeline

Higher credit limits can tempt some people to overspend, leading to increased debt burdens. Additionally, requesting increases too frequently may result in hard credit inquiries that temporarily lower your credit score.

What to Expect: Credit limit increases are often processed within minutes for existing customers with good payment histories, though some may take up to 30 days for more complex reviews. Automatic increases from responsible account management typically occur every 6-12 months.

Building healthy credit habits takes time, but the benefits extend far beyond higher credit limits. Focus on consistent financial management, and credit limit increases will naturally follow as part of your improved overall financial profile.