What’s a typical personal loan limit?
Typically, personal loan lenders have both minimum and maximum loan amounts. SoFi, for example, offers personal loans ranging from $5,000 to $100,000. SoFi’s minimum is relatively high for those looking for small amounts, but its maximum is one of the highest on the market. Because SoFi offers such high loan amounts, you may need good credit or higher to qualify for one of these loans.
An example of a more middle-of-the-road lender is Upstart. It offers personal loans from $1,000 to $75,000. LendingClub offers loans up to $60,000. Keep in mind, though, that loan minimums and maximums from lenders may vary by state.
Most personal loan lenders are middle-of-the-road lenders, requiring you to borrow at least in the low thousands. However, lenders like OppLoans, which has a minimum of $500, may be a better option if you don’t want to risk taking out more than you can afford.
For even smaller purchases, other financing options such as credit cards may be a better approach.
What determines your personal loan limit?
Just because you want a $100,000 personal loan doesn’t mean you have the qualifications to get it. Lenders have strict requirements, and they take a hard look at your finances and your past use of credit to get a sense of how likely you are to pay them back.
Lenders typically look at the four factors below to determine how much to lend you.
Credit score
Your credit score is based on your financial history and is the clearest way for lenders to understand your borrowing habits. A high score indicates responsible borrowing habits, so you're more likely to get approved for a higher loan amount.
While there are loan options for bad credit borrowers, personal loans with good interest rates are mostly reserved for borrowers with good credit or better. Since many personal loans are unsecured (meaning you’re not putting up collateral to back the loan), these loans are riskier for lenders. Lenders offset this risk by requiring higher credit scores and assigning higher interest rates than they would for secured loans.
Income
Lenders should only approve you for a loan you can realistically afford based on your income. When you apply for a personal loan, you must submit verification of your income, typically through bank statements or pay stubs.
Higher-income borrowers often qualify for higher loan amounts, while lower-income borrowers only qualify for smaller amounts to ensure they can pay back the loan on time.
Debt-to-income ratio
Your debt-to-income ratio (DTI) measures your monthly debt payments against your monthly income. If you already have multiple personal loans, student loans, credit card debt and a mortgage, it may be more difficult to qualify for another loan. The more loans you have, the higher your DTI.
Lenders see too many loans as a red flag that you’re taking on more debt than you can handle. Conversely, if you have low outstanding balances relative to your income, you may have the means to repay additional debt.
“A lower DTI indicates a borrower has sufficient income to cover existing debts and the potential new loan payment,” explained Seth Jacobs, branch manager of LeaderOne Financial Corporation in Brunswick, Maine. “Generally, lenders prefer a DTI below 40% when considering loan amounts. This signals to lenders that you can manage another loan easily.”
Collateral
Personal loans come in two forms: secured and unsecured. Unsecured personal loans are more common, especially for those with good credit. You qualify for these loans based solely on your financial profile.
Secured loans are better for lower-credit borrowers. They require an item to be used as collateral, such as a car, boat or investment. This allows the lender to seize the asset if you stop making loan payments, which offsets the risk the lender takes.
Lenders consider the collateral’s value when assessing a secured loan application, so they weigh your financial and credit profiles less than they would for an unsecured loan application.
Secured vs. unsecured personal loans
It’s possible that you could be approved for a higher loan amount or more favorable terms if you take out a secured personal loan, putting up an asset such as your car for collateral, because there’s less risk for the lender.
Let’s say your credit score isn’t quite ideal for an unsecured loan for the amount you need or the interest rate you’re hoping for. If you don’t want to take out a secured loan or you don’t have the assets to serve as collateral for the loan amount you need, do you have another option?
In this case, you may consider asking someone to co-sign or co-borrow with you.
How joint applications and co-signers can increase your loan amount
Asking someone to take on debt with you (or to take responsibility for your debt if you’re unable to pay) is a huge ask. Before you approach a family member or friend about helping you get a loan, be sure this is something you want to do, and be prepared to answer any questions they have about your finances or what you intend to use the loan for.
After all, the loan would affect their credit score, too.
That being said, if someone on your loan application has a high credit score and a responsible credit history, you might qualify for a higher loan amount or a lower interest rate.
A co-borrower joins you in taking out a loan; it’s their loan, too, and you’re both equally responsible for it. A married couple might take out a joint personal loan to pay expenses associated with making a major move across the country, for example.
A co-signer, on the other hand, is someone who agrees to assume your loan payments if you aren’t able to make them. In the meantime, the loan is your responsibility. Unlike a co-borrower, your co-signer doesn’t have access to the loan funds.
Should you borrow to your max?
Accessing $100,000 almost overnight may sound great, but you should think about how much you really need to fund your expenses. If you take out more than you need, you’ll pay for it in interest charges over the life of the loan. Plus, your monthly payments will be higher than they need to be.
Generally, lenders prefer a DTI below 40% when considering loan amounts.”
To illustrate just how much interest you’ll pay, here’s a table comparing three different loan amounts, all with 10% interest. We used Upstart’s interest rate calculator to get an estimate of the monthly payment and total interest paid for each loan.
| Loan amount | Term length | Monthly payment | Total interest paid |
|---|---|---|---|
| $5,000 | 36 months | ~$161 | ~$808 |
| $10,000 | 60 months | ~$212 | ~$2,748 |
| $15,000 | 84 months | ~$249 | ~$5,917 |
As you can see, keeping your loan amount low with a short repayment period is the best way to avoid paying more than you’d want in interest. The larger the loan and the longer your term, the more the lender charges you. For a $15,000 loan, you’ll pay close to $6,000 in interest alone. And that’s for a 10% interest rate; you’ll pay more if your loan has a higher interest rate.
» MORE: Interest rates and how they work
Other ways to get a large loan amount
While personal loans are arguably the easiest loans to get (assuming you have a good financial record), they aren’t the only option for obtaining a large loan. Depending on what you plan to use the money for, you may have other options.
Home equity loans
Borrowers with substantial equity in their homes may qualify for large home equity loans. These long-term loans use your home as collateral, making it a less risky loan for lenders but a riskier loan for you.
That said, home equity loans still beat out personal loans for some borrowers. Assuming you qualify, you may be able to borrow between 80% and 90% of your loan-to-value ratio (the percentage of the loan amount relative to the appraised value of your home). If you have a high-value home, you may qualify for a substantial loan.
Your credit score, income, how much equity you have and other financial details all factor into your home equity loan amount.
Traditional bank loans
Although they tend to take longer to qualify for, traditional bank loans are traditional for a reason. Well-known banks offer loans of all shapes and sizes, depending on your credit profile. With good to excellent credit, you’ll likely qualify for large loans.
The relationship you have with your bank may result in a lower loan interest rate than what you can get from online lenders. Some online lenders may keep interest rates relatively high to offset the risk of offering such fast-turnaround loans. Plus, traditional bank loans may offer a wider range of term lengths than those from online lenders.
Peer-to-peer loans
A peer-to-peer (P2P) loan connects borrowers directly with investors who fund their loans. The P2P lending platform itself acts as an intermediary, facilitating the loan origination and servicing processes.
P2P loans overlap with personal loans in many ways, offering fast funding, loans you can use for a variety of reasons and large loan amounts. P2P lenders such as Prosper often offer loan amounts up to $50,000 or so.
FAQ
What can a personal loan be used for?
A personal loan can generally be used for any legal purpose. This may include paying for home improvement projects, a vacation or a car. However, some lenders prohibit borrowers from using a personal loan to pay for college tuition or to invest.
What’s the biggest personal loan I can get?
Personal loans generally top out at $100,000. If you need a loan larger than that, you might consider other options designed for such large purchases.
Where can I get a large personal loan?
A few reputable lenders that offer large personal loan amounts include SoFi, LightStream and Upgrade.
Bottom line
Personal loans not only have a nearly endless amount of uses, but they also have a wide range of terms. From interest rates to loan amounts, there’s an option that works for most borrowers. Some lenders offer loans up to $100,000 for borrowers with excellent credit, but others max out at around $50,000 or $75,000.
Article sources
ConsumerAffairs writers primarily rely on government data, industry experts and original research from other reputable publications to inform their work. Specific sources for this article include:
- TransUnion, "Super Prime and Subprime Segments Are Fueling Growth." Accessed Dec. 19, 2025.
- Upstart Network, Inc., "Loan Calculator." Accessed Dec. 19, 2025.
