How do I qualify for higher credit limit cards?

You can qualify for higher credit limit cards by paying your bills on time, using only a small portion of your available credit, and not having too much debt compared to your income. Those also happen to be some of the most important ingredients for a good or excellent credit score.

So, it should come as no surprise that people with good credit or better tend to get the highest credit card limits. But anyone can try to get a higher credit limit, either on a card they already have or by applying for a new one.

Here are some tips to get higher credit limit cards:

• Get your score to 700+. Cards that require good or excellent credit for approval are more likely to have higher minimum credit limits (up to $5,000-$10,000 in some cases). Also, you can get more than the minimum, based on your creditworthiness. The higher your score the better.
• Practice responsibility. Using less than 30% of your current credit lines and always paying your bills on time are some of the best ways to demonstrate that you can handle a higher limit.
• Show all your income and assets. Credit card companies have to make sure you can afford the spending power they give you. So, the more money you have available, the better your chances of getting a high limit will be. When you apply, be sure to give the correct total income, including both your salary and assets, as well as any additional sources you may have.
• Reduce your debt. You’re unlikely to get a higher credit limit if you already owe a lot to other lenders. You can only afford to pay a certain amount per month. And the combination of high debt levels and an appetite for more spending power is a sign of risk.
• Apply for a credit limit increase. If you’ve been making on-time payments on your current credit accounts for at least six months, inquire about a credit limit increase. You can typically do so either by submitting a request through your online account or by calling the number you see on the back of your card. Some companies may require a hard pull of your credit report for this inquiry, but they will always ask your consent beforehand.

It’s also important to note that credit card companies may offer you a higher limit without even asking. After months of paying on time, you might receive an automatic credit limit increase. How much this increase is will again depend on your credit history. But any more credit you can get will be beneficial for your score, as it lowers your overall utilization.

You can ask the bank to increase your credit limit if you've been a good customer for at least 6 months. That means your card isn't maxed out and you've never missed or been late with a payment.

Usually, they say you should have at least 6 months of paying on time with the card itself. I'd say it's more than just that: you should show that you can afford getting a higher limit, that your income has changed, and that you don't have a lot of old debt hanging around.