In need of a personal loan and wondering how much you can borrow? Let’s cut right to the chase. Personal loans are typically capped at $100,000. It’s not often that a financial institution will extend more than that. In fact, many offer a considerably lower maximum borrowing amount—such as $50,000 or less.
And, no matter what a lender’s maximum loan amount, the unique figure you may qualify for depends on a few factors specific to your borrowing profile. Here’s what to consider as you research your personal loan options and think through how much you need.
What factors affect the amount you can borrow from a personal loan?
Here are some of the most common elements that may either empower you to borrow up to a lender’s max, or cause them to restrict you to a lower amount when you apply.
Credit score
Your credit score effectively serves as a report card for how you’ve treated your current and previous loans. It scores you based on:
- Payment history (whether or not any of your creditors have reported late payments)
- Credit utilization (revolving credit lines like credit card balances should stay below 30%)
- Length of credit history (the average age of your current accounts)
- Credit mix (a diverse mix of account types, such as revolving credit like credit cards and installment credit like personal or auto loans, shows you can manage credit responsibly)
- New credit (applying for new credit too often can be detrimental to your score)
If they trust that you’ll repay the money you borrow, lenders will typically be willing to extend a higher loan to you than to an applicant whose credit profile exhibits irresponsible behavior.
Income/employment history
A lender wants to know that you have steady income to pay back what you borrow. The bank, credit union or online lender may look at both the amount you make and your current employment status. For example, if you’ve only had your current job for a few weeks, the lender could be hesitant to extend you a large sum. Some may even require months worth of paystubs.
Existing debt
On a related note, your debt-to-income ratio (DTI) is the amount of your monthly income that goes toward monthly debt payments. A high DTI means you have fewer excess funds to repay a new loan. This may put off lenders, as it can raise red flags surrounding your ability to repay debt.
Purpose of the loan
The amount you get approved to borrow—or whether you’re approved at all—may depend on the reason you need the money in the first place. For example, a lender may not approve a personal loan if the applicant is hoping to use the funds to invest or fund a down payment on a house.
That said, personal loans are fairly flexible as long as the purpose you’re borrowing for is legal, and can be used for such purposes as home renovations, moving, debt consolidation, covering veterinary care for a pet, and more.
Self-imposed loan caps
Lenders stipulate the minimum and maximum amounts you can borrow from them regardless of your creditworthiness. If a bank’s highest possible loan doesn’t fit your needs, it’s not the lender for you.
How to improve your chances of qualifying for a high loan amount
Lenders have proprietary algorithms to decide how much you can borrow from a personal loan. While you may not be privy to all elements of that algorithm, there are simple strategies you can follow to give yourself the best chance at approval for a big loan when you need it:
- Improve your credit score: Again, the better your credit score, the more creditworthy you appear to lenders. Focus on making on-time payments with your current loans and keeping your credit utilization on revolving lines of credit like credit cards and HELOCs low.
- Lower your DTI: If you’ve got credit card debt, an auto loan, even another personal loan, consider waiting until you’ve paid off one or two of those items before applying for another loan.
- Apply with a cosigner: Opening a loan with a cosigner can carry greater weight with a lender—particularly if your cosigner has more impressive credit than you. The lender will examine both credit profiles when making a decision. Just note that if you’re late on a payment, the credit scores of both you and your cosigner are affected; you both have equal responsibility for repaying the loan.
- Offer collateral: It’s often easier to be approved for a large sum when applying for a secured loan. This means that you provide some form of security deposit to the lender (a vehicle, jewelry, etc.) which it can sell to recoup its losses in case you default on your loan. This is a riskier option, but it can be worthwhile if you’re certain you can pay the money back. Double and triple check your budget and repayment plan, however, to ensure you’re not taking on more risk than you can responsibly manage.
What to consider when deciding upon a loan amount
Just because you can borrow a significant amount of money via a personal loan doesn’t mean you necessarily should. Before deciding on a specific loan amount, ask yourself the following questions.
Are you borrowing just because you can’t afford something?
There are myriad perfectly rational motives for taking out a personal loan. Whether you’re trying to consolidate debt to pay off balances faster, make improvements to your home to increase equity, or pay unexpected emergency expenses, these can all be valid situations where a loan is the right tool for the situation.
That said, we don’t advise taking out a loan for discretionary and recreational spending. Whether it’s a vacation or a big-ticket item like a new TV, opting for careful budgeting is generally the wiser move rather than putting it on financing.
Depending on your loan terms, you could potentially pay thousands of dollars above the sticker price in interest by the time you’re submitting your final installment.
Can you afford the monthly payments?
A personal loan (particularly a large one) is a commitment that may stick with you for several years. Before you open an account, consider whether your monthly budget can afford an extra payment for the foreseeable future.
One tactic to help you keep expenses low is to opt for the longest possible loan term. This will decrease your minimum payment—though the amount of interest you pay over the life of your loan will increase unless you make extra payments.
Hypothetically, let’s say you take out a $70,000 loan with a four-year term at 12% APR. That works out to approximately $1,843 in equal monthly payments. But if you were to choose a seven-year term instead, your monthly payment would drop to around $1,235. This gives your budget more breathing room. You can still pay off the personal loan early by throwing extra money toward the principal whenever you can—but this way you’re not obligated to make such high payments each month.
Can you stomach the APR?
Even for the most creditworthy borrowers, personal loan interest can add up quickly. Repaying that aforementioned $70,000 loan at a reasonable 7.00% APR would amass an estimated $18,000+ in interest charges over seven years.
Is the expense for which you’re taking out a personal loan worth the upcharge over saving the money first? Emergency expenses, debt consolidation, or renovations that increase your net worth can be sound reasons. But opening a loan for a nonessential purchase or a “rainy day fund” is almost certainly not worth the interest.
Which lenders offer the biggest personal loans?
Below are a few lenders that we’ve found to offer some of the highest personal loan amounts.
Lender details checked March 10, 2026.
What to do when you need more than a personal loan can offer
Just because you can’t get approved for a personal loan sizable enough to accomplish your goals doesn’t mean you’re out of luck. There are other ways to finance your purchases, including:
- Home equity loan: A home equity loan allows you to use the equity you’ve built in your home in the form of an installment loan. You can typically borrow 80% or more of your home equity. Depending on the amount you’ve built in your home, this could be considerably more than a lender may be willing to give you.
- Home equity line of credit (HELOC): Similar to a home equity loan, a HELOC lets you spend home equity (again, 80% or more depending on the lender) in the form of a revolving line of credit. Similar to a credit card, you’ll only be charged interest for the amount you actually spend. This can be useful if you intend to make multiple large purchases over the next several years.
- Borrow money in phases: Instead of searching for a loan that can cover the entirety of your large purchase, consider requesting smaller amounts and completing your project in increments. For example, if you’re making home repairs, take out a loan to redo the kitchen. When that’s paid off, take out another loan to improve the roof.
It’s worth noting that borrowing from your home equity can be riskier than taking out a personal loan, as your home serves as collateral for the lender. Failing to repay your loan can result in losing your property.
The takeaway
Many lenders offer loans of up to $100,000. A select few offer even more. But the answer as to how much you can personally get from a loan hinges on factors such as your credit score, income and employment history, debt-to-income ratio, and even the reason for the loan.
Lower your current monthly debts, reduce your credit utilization, and stay faithful to your current monthly payments to give yourself a shot at the highest loan amount. You may also consider using a cosigner or shopping for a secured loan.
Frequently asked questions
What credit score do I need to get a personal loan?
For most loans, you should have at least a “fair” credit score (580 or above, according to FICO). Expect lower borrowing amounts and higher APR if you’re approved, however, compared to applicants with a good credit score (typically meaning a FICO Score of 670 or higher) or better.
How does a cosigner affect the loan amount I can get?
A cosigner can in some cases dramatically affect the loan amount you can get if their credit is superior to your own. For example, if you have a sub-580 credit score, you may have a hard time qualifying for a personal loan in the first place. Adding a cosigner with a 700+ credit score will likely give you greater access to loan options, as lenders will examine both credit profiles when making a decision.
How do personal loan origination fees affect the amount I receive?
Some personal loans come with origination fees that are charged upon account opening. These are often baked into your loan, effectively reducing the amount you can borrow. For example, if you open a $50,000 loan and pay a $2,000 origination fee, the sum that will be deposited into your bank account will be $48,000—but your outstanding loan amount will be $50,000.
Can prequalification tell me how much I can borrow?
Prequalifying for a loan can give you an idea of the terms and borrowing amount you may qualify for. It’s not an official offer, and you won’t know if you’re approved until you formally apply for the loan.
How much can I typically get from a personal loan?
Several lenders extend up to $100,000 for a personal loan. It’s abnormal for a bank to offer more—though some do, such as BHG Financial.
