Best Credit Cards for Home Improvement and New Homeowners of February 2023
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Renovating a home or buying a new one comes with a lot of costs. Everything from floor tiles to furniture to food is suddenly on your shopping list. Choosing the right credit card for those expenses can make your dollars go farther, either by earning rewards on spending or getting discounts on purchases.
Some of our best credit cards for home improvement and new homeowners can be applied for through NerdWallet, and some cannot. Below, you'll find application links for the credit cards from our partners that are available through NerdWallet, followed by the full list of our picks.
Renovating a home or buying a new one comes with a lot of costs. Everything from floor tiles to furniture to food is suddenly on your shopping list. Choosing the right credit card for those expenses can make your dollars go farther, either by earning rewards on spending or getting discounts on purchases.
Some of our best credit cards for home improvement and new homeowners can be applied for through NerdWallet, and some cannot. Below, you'll find application links for the credit cards from our partners that are available through NerdWallet, followed by the full list of our picks.
Find the right credit card for you.
Whether you want to pay less interest or earn more rewards, the right card's out there. Just answer a few questions and we'll narrow the search for you.
Best Credit Cards for Home Improvement and New Homeowners From Our Partners
Our pick for
Fixer-uppers
on Bank of America's website, or call (877) 754-6706
on Bank of America's website, or call (877) 754-6706
$0
1%-3%
Cashback
$200
The Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card earns 3% cash back in a category you choose — and one option is "home improvement and furnishings." That includes not only places like Home Depot or Williams-Sonoma, but also a wide array of contractors and services. From air conditioning repair and antique shops to florists and floor covering stores, the list of what qualifies here is lengthy (see below).
The Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card earns 3% cash back in a category you choose — and one option is "home improvement and furnishings." That includes not only places like Home Depot or Williams-Sonoma, but also a wide array of contractors and services. From air conditioning repair and antique shops to florists and floor covering stores, the list of what qualifies here is lengthy (see below).
Pros
The card earns 3% back on a category of your choice (from a list of six) and 2% back on grocery stores and wholesale clubs, on the first $2,500 spent per quarter in these categories combined. All other purchases earn 1% back. You can change your 3% category once a month. The introductory APR offer and the sign-up bonus on this card also make it a great option for a big project.
Cons
The $2,500 quarterly spending cap on your 2%/3% bonus cash back can be a bummer, especially if you're taking on large and expensive home improvement projects.
$200 online cash rewards bonus after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.
Earn 3% cash back in the category of your choice, automatic 2% at grocery stores and wholesale clubs (up to $2,500 in combined choice category/grocery store/wholesale club quarterly purchases) and unlimited 1% on all other purchases.
If you're a Preferred Rewards member, you can earn 25%-75% more cash back on every purchase. That means you could earn 3.75%-5.25% cash back on purchases in your choice category.
No annual fee and no expiration on rewards.
New longer intro period! 0% Introductory APR for 18 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the intro APR offer ends, 18.24% - 28.24% Variable APR will apply. A 3% fee applies to all balance transfers.
Contactless Cards - The security of a chip card, with the convenience of a tap.
This online only offer may not be available if you leave this page or if you visit a Bank of America financial center. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.
Our pick for
Filling your home
on US Bank's website
on US Bank's website
$0
1%-5%
Cashback
$200
With the U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card, you get to choose two 5% cash back categories, and the list of options includes furniture stores; department stores; electronics stores: home utilities; and TV, internet and streaming services. That covers a lot of ground for a new homeowner with a house to fill and utility bills to pay.
With the U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card, you get to choose two 5% cash back categories, and the list of options includes furniture stores; department stores; electronics stores: home utilities; and TV, internet and streaming services. That covers a lot of ground for a new homeowner with a house to fill and utility bills to pay.
Pros
You earn 5% cash back in two categories you choose from a list (on up to $2,000 spent per quarter on combined purchases); unlimited 2% cash back in an "everyday" category (gas/EV charging, groceries or restaurants); and 1% cash back on other purchases. There's a good intro APR offer and a solid bonus offer for new cardholders, too.
Cons
If you've got a lot of spending to do, you could quickly run into the quarterly cap on 5% bonus cash back. You also need to opt in to your bonus categories each quarter, which is a hassle.
$200 bonus after spending $1,000 in eligible purchases within the first 120 days of account opening.
5% cash back on your first $2,000 in combined eligible purchases each quarter on two categories you choose
5% cash back on prepaid air, hotel and car reservations booked directly in the Rewards Center
2% cash back on one everyday category, like Gas Stations/EV Charging Stations, Grocery Stores or Restaurants
1% cash back on all other eligible purchases
0% Intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 billing cycles. After that, a variable APR currently 18.99 - 28.99%
No Annual Fee
Terms and conditions apply.
- View Rates & Fees
Our pick for
Smaller-scale jobs
on Citibank's application
on Citibank's application
$0
1%-5%
Cashback
$200
The Citi Custom Cash℠ Card earns 5% cash back on up to $500 spent per billing cycle in the eligible category where you spend the most money. Home improvement stores are one of the options. That makes it a solid choice for smaller projects.
The Citi Custom Cash℠ Card earns 5% cash back on up to $500 spent per billing cycle in the eligible category where you spend the most money. Home improvement stores are one of the options. That makes it a solid choice for smaller projects.
Pros
Unlike similar cards that require you to choose your bonus category, the Citi Custom Cash℠ Card automatically applies 5% cash back in your top spending category. All other purchases (including spending above $500 in your top category) earn 1% cash back. A good bonus offer and a great intro APR promotion even make this card worth considering for larger projects when you first get it.
Cons
The $500-per-billing-cycle cap on spending eligible for 5% cash back isn’t ideal for big-ticket items like most new refrigerators or washer-dryer sets.
Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.
0% Intro APR on balance transfers and purchases for 15 months. After that, the variable APR will be 18.49% - 28.49%, based on your creditworthiness.
Earn 5% cash back on purchases in your top eligible spend category each billing cycle, up to the first $500 spent, 1% cash back thereafter. Also, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
No rotating bonus categories to sign up for – as your spending changes each billing cycle, your earn adjusts automatically when you spend in any of the eligible categories.
No Annual Fee
Citi will only issue one Citi Custom Cash℠ Card account per person.
Our pick for
0% financing for projects
on Wells Fargo's website
on Wells Fargo's website
$0
N/A
N/A
If you're embarking on a major home improvement project that will take time to pay off, consider the Wells Fargo Reflect® Card. It comes with a 0% intro APR period that can approach two years, as long as you make your monthly payments on time.
If you're embarking on a major home improvement project that will take time to pay off, consider the Wells Fargo Reflect® Card. It comes with a 0% intro APR period that can approach two years, as long as you make your monthly payments on time.
Pros
Few if any cards offer a promotional window like this one: You'll get a 0% intro APR on Purchases for up to 21 months and 0% intro APR on Balance Transfers up to 21 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers, and then the ongoing APR of 17.49%-29.49% Variable APR.
Cons
You won't get rewards on your spending, but the money you save on interest could easily exceed any cash back you might have earned.
0% intro APR for 18 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers. Intro APR extension for 3 months with on-time minimum payments during the intro period. 17.49% to 29.49% variable APR thereafter; balance transfers made within 120 days qualify for the intro rate and fee of 3% then a BT fee of up to 5%, min $5.
$0 Annual Fee
Get up to $600 of cell phone protection against damage or theft when you pay your monthly cell phone bill with your eligible Wells Fargo card (subject to a $25 deductible).
Through My Wells Fargo Deals, you can get access to personalized deals from a variety of merchants. It's an easy way to earn cash back as an account credit when you shop, dine, or enjoy an experience simply by using an eligible Wells Fargo credit card.
Select "Apply Now" to learn more about the product features, terms and conditions
- View Rates & Fees
Our pick for
Stocking the pantry
on American Express' website
on American Express' website
$0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.
1%-6%
Cashback
$250
With the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express, you'll enjoy an industry-leading cash-back rate while stocking your kitchen and setting up your entertainment center with streaming services. Plus, if you're driving more to get to and from your new neighborhood, you'll appreciate the great rewards at gas stations. Those are a lot of homeowner-friendly categories that will put more money back in your wallet.
With the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express, you'll enjoy an industry-leading cash-back rate while stocking your kitchen and setting up your entertainment center with streaming services. Plus, if you're driving more to get to and from your new neighborhood, you'll appreciate the great rewards at gas stations. Those are a lot of homeowner-friendly categories that will put more money back in your wallet.
Pros
This card’s 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $6,000 a year in spending, then 1%) and 3% at U.S. gas stations have long made it a NerdWallet favorite. On top of that, you get 6% cash back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions and 3% on transit, including such things as taxis, rideshares, parking, tolls, trains and buses. All other purchases earn 1% back. The welcome offer adds even more appeal. Terms apply.
Cons
The annual fee will be a sticking point for some, but the rewards will offset the fee if you spend just $31 a week at the supermarket. If you don't have significant grocery expenses, however, this simply isn't the card for you.
Earn a $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.
$0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.
Buy Now, Pay Later: Enjoy $0 intro plan fees when you use Plan It® to split up large purchases into monthly installments. Pay $0 intro plan fees on plans created during the first 12 months from the date of account opening. Plans created after that will have a monthly plan fee up to 1.33% of each eligible purchase amount moved into a plan based on the plan duration, the APR that would otherwise apply to the purchase, and other factors.
Low intro APR: 0% for 12 months on purchases from the date of account opening, then a variable rate, 18.49% to 29.49%
6% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%).
6% Cash Back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions.
3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations and on transit (including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more).
1% Cash Back on other purchases.
Get $7 back each month after using your Blue Cash Preferred Card to spend $12.99 or more each month on an eligible subscription to The Disney Bundle, which includes Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+. Enrollment required.
Terms Apply.
- View Rates & Fees
Our pick for
Simplicity
on Citibank's application
on Citibank's application
$0
1%-2%
Cashback
N/A
The Citi® Double Cash Card is ideal for the homeowner who has a million things to keep track of and doesn't want to worry about which credit card to use where. It earns a high cash back rate on every purchase.
The Citi® Double Cash Card is ideal for the homeowner who has a million things to keep track of and doesn't want to worry about which credit card to use where. It earns a high cash back rate on every purchase.
Pros
This card's lack of bells and whistles is what makes it so appealing to so many people. It earns 2% cash back on all purchases — 1% on every dollar you spend, plus another 1% for every dollar you pay off — with no categories or complications to worry about.
Cons
The card's standard offer does not include a sign-up bonus, so its power rests on its ongoing benefits alone. You can earn significantly higher rewards in specific categories with other cards (although that defeats the purpose of choosing a card for simplicity).
Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases.
To earn cash back, pay at least the minimum due on time.
Balance Transfer Only Offer: 0% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 18 months. After that, the variable APR will be 18.49% - 28.49%, based on your creditworthiness.
Balance Transfers do not earn cash back. Intro APR does not apply to purchases.
If you transfer a balance, interest will be charged on your purchases unless you pay your entire balance (including balance transfers) by the due date each month.
There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, your fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5).
FULL LIST OF EDITORIAL PICKS: BEST CREDIT CARDS FOR HOME IMPROVEMENT AND NEW HOMEOWNERS
Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card
Our pick for: Fixer-uppers
U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card
Our pick for: Filling your home and paying your bills
If you don't mind putting some work into your rewards, check out the U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card. It might be the most customizable cash back card available. You pick which categories earn the most cash back — you get two 5% categories and a 2% category — and you can change those options every quarter. There's a good bonus offer for new cardholders, too. Read our review.
Citi Custom Cash℠ Card
Our pick for: Smaller-scale jobs
U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards™ Visa Signature® Card
Our pick for: Big rewards at specific retailers
Wells Fargo Reflect® Card
Our pick for: 0% financing for projects
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
Our pick for: Stocking the pantry
Citi® Double Cash Card
Our pick for: Simplicity
Lowe's Advantage Card
Our pick for: Big box home improvement shopping
IKEA Visa® Credit Card
Our pick for: Ikea fans
Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card
Our pick for: Getting it all online
• • •
OTHER RESOURCES
Using credit cards strategically on home improvement projects
By Kimberly Palmer, NerdWallet
Americans spend a lot on their homes — not just buying them, but also maintaining them. NerdWallet’s 2022 Home Improvement Report found that Americans embarked on 134.8 million significant home improvement projects in the 2019-2021 period, with total spending of $624 billion. Of those projects, 53 million projects were DIY.
Fewer than half (42%) of the respondents in a NerdWallet survey for the report said they were able to "easily" pay for their recent home improvement projects, 20% said they had to make sacrifices in other areas, and 12% took on debt for the projects.
That's where using the right credit cards can help. With extra rewards in home improvement categories, 0% introductory APR periods that help you finance big purchases without interest, and generous sign-up bonuses, credit cards can stretch your home dollars further.
Here are ways to use credit cards to help offset the cost of home improvement expenses:
1. Reward yourself as you renovate
The simplest way to use credit cards to save on home improvement is to earmark your rewards for home purchases. For example, use a flat-rate cash-back card to earn 1.5% or 2% cash back on every purchase everywhere, then redeem those rewards for statement credit against purchases made for your project.
Taking it a step further, you can get a card that offers bonus cash back in relevant categories, like one of the cards described above. A card that offers 5% on home improvement, for example, generates a more-or-less-instant $50 in savings on a $1,000 project.
2. Leverage sign-up bonuses
Many credit cards offer sign-up bonuses of $150 to $200 or more when you spend a certain amount of money in the first few months after opening your account. Get a new card for your project, and you may be able to hit the requirement easily. Then you can put that “free money” toward the project and lower your overall costs even more.
3. Use a 0% intro APR offer for financing
If you'll need to spread the cost of a project over several months, consider applying for a card with a 0% intro APR period, which can save you money on interest. Some of the best rewards credit cards — including those that offer high rates on home improvement — come with 0% periods of well over a year. Just be sure to pay off the cost before the promotional period ends and interest charges kick in.
4. Evaluate store cards
If you plan to spend a significant amount at a particular store as you spruce up your home, take a look at that store’s branded credit card. Keep in mind, though, that while store cards tend to pay solid rewards for in-store shopping, they tend not to offer sign-up bonuses and they rarely come with a 0% interest period. Some of them may offer interest-deferred "special financing" on larger purchases, but be careful with these.
A version of this section was originally published by Forbes.
• • •
Last updated on February 22, 2023
