How many Capital One cards can you have?

You’re happy with the Capital One card you have. But some other Capital One cards look good too. Can you have multiple cards from the same credit card issuer? How many? And is it a good idea?

Key takeaways

• You can have more than one Capital One credit card. How many you’re approved for depends on your situation and Capital One’s credit policies.
• You might want multiple Capital One cards to help you boost your buying power or earn you different types of rewards. 
• No matter how many Capital One credit cards you have, the key is to use them responsibly. That includes things like paying on time and keeping your balances low.

In a word, yes. It’s possible to have more than one Capital One credit card. 

You can choose how many cards to apply for. But like other issuers, Capital One has policies that determine whether to approve or deny those applications. 

There’s no rule about how many credit cards you should have. It depends on your needs and circumstances. But it’s always worth asking yourself what an additional Capital One card might do for you, good or bad.

When deciding whether to apply for another Capital One credit card, here are some things to consider:

• When did you last apply for a credit card? If you apply for multiple credit products in a short period of time, it could signal you’re a greater credit risk.  
• Can you manage more accounts? When you have more available credit, it might be tempting to spend more. Plus, multiple payment due dates and balances could be challenging to keep up with. This might be easier if the cards are from the same issuer, though. If your cards have annual fees, there’s also those costs to consider.
• Is a mortgage application in your near future? The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) recommends avoiding other new credit applications if you’re planning to apply for a mortgage. It might impact the lender’s decision or the interest rate it offers you. 

Having multiple credit cards can have a positive or negative impact on your credit. That’s because it affects these factors used to calculate credit scores:

• Credit utilization ratio: This is a measure of how much of your available credit you’ve used versus how much you have. The CFPB recommends keeping your credit utilization ratio below 30%. Adding a new line of credit can decrease the ratio if you maintain the same spending habits. 
• Credit age: The CFPB says that having a higher credit age can help your scores. Opening a new credit card may bring down the average age of your credit accounts. 
• Applications for new credit: Applying for new credit can trigger a hard inquiry. A single hard inquiry generally won’t have a big impact on your credit. But too many hard inquiries may hurt your scores. 

So how can you use multiple cards in ways that might have a positive impact on your credit? Here are some ideas:

• Pay on time. Your payment history plays a major role when companies like FICO® and VantageScore® calculate your credit scores. So no matter how many credit cards you have, it’s crucial to pay on time, every time. 
• Consider payment amounts. You don’t have to pay more than the minimum payment to keep your account in good standing. But the CFPB says that “the more you pay each month, the less interest you will pay over time.” Plus, it could help keep your balances and credit utilization ratios low. 
• Keep older accounts open. It may be tempting to close an old credit card you don’t use as much, but that might lower the average age of your credit accounts. Consider alternatives like using the card lock feature or continuing to use the card for small recurring purchases.
• Monitor your credit reports. Checking your credit reports can help you identify errors or fraud that can potentially hurt your credit scores. You can get free copies of your credit reports at AnnualCreditReport.com. Or you could use CreditWise from Capital One. It gives you free access to your TransUnion® credit report and VantageScore 3.0 credit score. And using it won’t hurt your scores.

You’ve established that you can manage multiple Capital One credit cards by using them responsibly. So you might consider having more than one Capital One credit card if:

• You want to maximize the benefits. You might add a credit card to access benefits you don’t yet have. A travel rewards credit card could help you collect miles for an upcoming vacation. A dining rewards credit card could earn you cash back and other perks when you eat at restaurants, order takeout and more.
• You want to boost your buying power: An additional card can increase your available credit as long as you’re not maxing out your cards. This can be especially helpful in a financial emergency.
• You want a backup card: Having more than one credit card gives you flexibility when a card is damaged, lost, stolen or involved in a case of fraud. You could also consider setting up a digital wallet to avoid using physical cards or cash. Virtual credit card numbers are another way to shop online without giving merchants your actual card number.

There’s no definitive answer to how many Capital One credit cards you can have. But it’s probably more helpful to think in terms of how many you should have, anyway. That depends both on how many you can make work for you and the amount you can responsibly manage.

If you decide to add a new credit card to the mix, the CFPB recommends comparing cards before you apply so you can find the right one for you. You can use Capital One’s credit card comparison tool to filter cards by credit requirements, rewards type and other factors.

And when you’re ready to apply, you can check to see if you’re pre-approved for a Capital One credit card before you apply. Pre-approval is quick and only requires some basic information. Plus, it won’t affect your credit scores.