Best Credit Cards for Home Improvement Projects
At a Glance
One of the most common expense categories that may arise in a homeowner’s life over time is home improvement. The expenses associated with this category can vary drastically, but home improvement can cost a homeowner as much as hundreds of thousands of dollars throughout the years. This is why finding the best credit card for home improvement is crucial, as it will allow a homeowner to earn something back for their expenses and even reduce the upfront cost.
In this article, you’ll learn:
Comparing the top credit cards for home improvement
When looking at the best credit card for home improvement purchases, there are a variety of factors to consider. While these will be examined further down below, the following table gives an overview of the standout best credit cards for home improvement:
| Credit Card |
Rewards Rate |
Welcome Offer |
|---|---|---|
Chase Sapphire Preferred |
Earn 5x points on travel through Chase Travel, 3x points on dining, and 2x on all other travel purchases | Earn 60,000 rewards points after spending $4,000 on the card within six months of account opening |
Citi Double Cash |
Earn 1% cash back when you purchase and 1% when you pay off that purchase. | N/A |
Prime Visa |
Earn 5% cash back on Amazon purchases, 2% cash back on gas station, restaurant, and transit purchases, as well as 1% on everything else | Earn a $100 cash bonus instantly |
U.S. Bank Cash+ Visa Signature |
Earn 5% cash back on your first $2,000 in eligible purchases each quarter in categories of your choice, 2% on everyday purchases, and 1% on everything else | N/A |
Bank of America Custom Cash |
1%-3% cash back depending on which category a person chooses. | Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after making at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days. |
Capital One Venture Rewards |
Earn 5x miles back on purchases through Capital One travel and 2x miles on all else | Earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on the card within three months from account opening |
A closer look at the best credit cards for home improvement purchases
With the primary benefits of each card outlined above, looking at the finer details for why the above cards are the best credit cards for home improvement projects can help a person make their decision:
Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
Rewards Rate: Earn 5x points on travel through Chase Travel, 3x points on dining, and 2x on all other travel purchases.
Annual fee: $95
Intro APR: N/A
Regular APR: 21.49%-28.49% Variable APR.
Signup bonus: Earn 60,000 rewards points after spending $4,000 on the card within six months from account opening.
Our verdict: First and foremost, the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card is one of the best rewards credit cards for home improvement options due to its sizable welcome bonus. Offering a cardholder 60,000 bonus points, equivalent to $600 when redeemed, a person can make the majority of their home improvement purchases on this card and then be rewarded with the welcome bonus amount in return. Additionally, the Chase Sapphire Preferred offers multiple rewards earnings categories across common expenses such as dining and travel.
Pros:
- Multiple rewards earnings categories with earnings amounts ranging from 2-5x points back.
- Low annual fee associated with the card.
- Large signup bonus that beats out other cards in the industry.
Cons:
- No introductory APR period.
- There could be better hotel and airline partners through Chase Travel.
Apply now: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Citi Double Cash Card
Rewards Rate: Earn 1% cash back when you purchase and 1% when you pay off that purchase.
Annual fee: $0
Intro APR: 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 18 months.
Regular APR: 19.24% to 29.24% Variable.
Signup bonus: N/A
Our verdict: What the Citi Double Cash Card doesn’t offer in the form of a sign-up bonus it makes up for with stable rewards earnings. The 1% cash back on all purchases means any home improvement purchase will earn you funds back, but the fact that you earn an additional 1% when those amounts on the card are paid off makes it all the sweet by encouraging beneficial credit habits. When looking at what is the best credit card for home improvement, the Citi Double Cash Card must be on the list simply due to its lack of an annual fee coupled with the above earning potential.
Pros:
- Two different ways to earn points back on purchases.
- No annual fee associated with the card.
- Long-lasting introductory APR period.
Cons:
- No signup bonus with the card.
Apply now: Citi® Double Cash Card
Learn more: Citi Double Cash Card Review
Prime Visa Card
Rewards Rate: Earn 5% cash back on Amazon purchases, 2% cash back on gas station, restaurant, and transit purchases, as well as 1% on everything else.
Annual fee: $0
Intro APR: 0% promo APR for six or twelve months on purchases of $50 or more.
Regular APR: 19.49%-27.49% Variable.
Signup bonus: Earn a $100 cash bonus instantly.
Our verdict: For those who live and die by Amazon, consider the Prime Visa Card as one of the best cash-back credit cards for home improvement options. With no annual fee and a long-lasting introductory APR period, a person can make all their much-needed purchases on Amazon while earning 5% back. As a bonus perk, once your home improvement is complete this card will keep earning you cash back in other common expense categories such as dining, gas, and even transit.
Pros:
- Purchases on Amazon earn a large 5% cash back with the potential to earn more in different categories.
- Long-lasting introductory APR period.
- No annual fee.
Cons:
- The welcome bonus is not as sizeable as some would like.
- The intro APR only applies on larger purchases.
Apply now: Amazon Prime Visa
US Bank Cash+ Visa Signature
Rewards Rate: Earn 5% cash back on your first $2,000 in eligible purchases each quarter in categories of your choice, 2% on everyday purchases, and 1% on everything else.
Annual fee: $0
Intro APR: 0% intro APR on balance transfers for the first 18 billing cycles.
Regular APR: 19.49%-29.49% Variable.
Signup bonus: N/A
Our verdict: One of the best cards to consider for home improvement-related purchases is the US Bank Cash+ Visa Signature card. While there may not be a welcome bonus with this card that can be put towards your purchases, you will earn 5% cash back on the first $2,000 you spend in a chosen category. Furniture stores, department stores, home utilities, and more are all eligible spend categories, meaning you can earn hundreds back on your improvement purchases.
Pros:
- 15 different earning categories to choose from for 5% and 2% back on purchases.
- No annual fee on the card.
- Long-lasting introductory APR period.
Cons:
- No sign-up bonus offered for the card.
Apply now: US Bank Cash+ ® Visa Signature ® Card
Bank of America Custom Cash
Rewards Rate: 1%-3% cash back depending on which category a person chooses.
Annual fee: $0
Intro APR: 0% introductory APR for 15 billing cycles on purchases.
Regular APR: 18.24%-28.24% Variable.
Signup bonus: Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after making at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days.
Our verdict: Similar to the prior card, yet arguably more versatile, the Bank of America Custom Cash card allows a holder to choose from many categories to earn up to 3% cash back. The difference, however, is that the Bank of America custom cash card offers a dedicated home improvement category for those with big expenses on the horizon.
Pros:
- Multiple rewards earnings categories to choose from.
- No annual fee on the card.
- Long-lasting introductory APR period.
- Sign-up bonus offered.
Cons:
- The percentage back in cash is not as high as other cards on this list.
Apply now: Bank of America Custom Cash
Learn more: Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card
Capital One Venture Rewards
Rewards Rate: Earn 5x miles back on purchases through Capital One travel and 2x miles on all else.
Annual fee: $95
Intro APR: N/A
Regular APR: 20.99%-28.99% Variable.
Signup bonus: Earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on the card within three months from account opening.
Our verdict: Finally, last but certainly not least, the Capital One Venture Rewards card earns a place as the best credit card to use for home improvement, specifically for avid travelers. This is because the Venture Rewards card rewards holders with airline miles, rather than with pure points or cash back. These miles can be put towards future flights, making it ideal for travelers. However, there is also a large 75,000 bonus mile reward that is earned after spending $4,000 on the card, which is another primary reason it makes this list.
Pros:
- Low annual fee of only $95.
- Large sign-up bonus compared to other cards.
- Multiple ways to earn when using the card.
Cons:
- No introductory APR period on the card.
Apply now: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
How to choose a credit card for home improvement?
Finding the right credit card that suits your needs can feel impossible, especially if you don’t know where to start. That’s why breaking down the most important factors to consider is crucial. Those factors are:
- Does the credit card offer you a bonus for signing up or once you have spent a certain amount?
- Does the credit card offer ample opportunity to earn cash back in the future?
- Does the credit card offer an introductory APR period?
- Does the card offer you any long-term value beyond its initial offerings?
How to maximize credit cards for home improvement?
Even after considering the above factors, you may not understand how to maximize the cards you hold for home improvement purposes. In short, the best way to achieve this maximization is to make sure that all your home improvement expenses, or as many as possible, align with the rewards categories outlined by your cards. Going beyond this, if the card you sign up for has a welcome bonus then do your best to meet the requirements of that bonus by making home improvement purchases.
Methodology
The primary methodology used to determine the best credit cards for home improvement outlined above was to take the following factors into consideration:
- The welcome bonus offered by the card, if any at all.
- Whether there was an introductory APR rate offered on the card and, looking further, what the actual APR rate is.
- The various rewards categories associated with the credit card.
- The annual fee of the credit card, if any at all.
- The ease of redemption for points on the credit card.
The product information provided here is based on research conducted up to a specific date and may have changed. For the latest and most accurate information, we recommend you to visit the respective card’s website before proceeding.
FAQs
While no credit card is technically easy to get, the Citi Double Cash card is one of the easiest for a person to get approved for. This is partially because it has a lower reward earning amount than other cards, which is why the card issuer can afford to make the requirements for the card slightly looser. Generally, it is considered better practice to pay a contractor with a credit card because the payment will occur right then and there, rather than the contractor having the risk of cashing a check that bounces at a later time. Putting home renovations on credit cards can certainly be a good idea as it can give a person hundreds of dollars, if not more, back in terms of cash rewards. Just be careful to watch how much you are putting on your card and not take on more debt than you can reasonably afford.
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