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Having an excellent credit score (740+ FICO) can allow you to qualify for nearly all of the best credit cards. These cards often boast valuable perks like high reward rates, lower interest rates and premium benefits. You’ve already done the work of building and maintaining a high credit score, so you deserve a card that rewards you for that effort.
Keep reading to learn which credit cards we recommend for people with excellent credit scores.
Our top picks for the best credit cards for excellent credit
Earn 5X points on Chase Travel℠ purchases, 3X points on dining, online grocery purchases, and select streaming services, and 1X points on other purchases.
Earn 10X miles on hotel and rental car purchases made through Capital One Travel, 5X miles on airfare and vacation rentals purchased through the portal, and 2X miles per dollar spent on all other purchases.
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Earn 10X points on hotels and car rentals booked through Chase Travel℠, 10X points on Chase Dining purchases, 5X points on flights booked through Chase Travel, 3X points on non-Chase travel and dining, and 1X points on all non-bonus spending.
Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel (on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year), 5X points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel, and 1X points on other eligible purchases.
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Enjoy 6.5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 4.5% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services, and 3% on all other purchases (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year). After your first year or $20,000 spent, enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.
Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X. Earn 4 points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1 point per dollar), 3 points per dollar on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com, and 1 point per dollar on other eligible purchases
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Earn 5X miles per dollar on hotel stays, vacation rentals or rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 2X miles on all other purchases.
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According to FICO®, a credit score of 800+ qualifies as excellent or exceptional. However, scores within the higher end of “very good” (740+) are often considered to be within this range. When you apply for a credit card, the issuer will look up your FICO® score to determine if you are eligible. If you apply for a credit card intended for excellent credit consumers, you must have a credit score to match, as a score in this range demonstrates to lenders that you’re a low-risk borrower.
With an excellent credit score, you can:
Positive payment history is one of the strongest drivers of excellent credit. That means you’re paying all your bills on time and in full. Low credit utilization, long credit history going back several years and continually getting fresh credit sources all contribute to strong credit scores.
Here are some of the ways you can increase your credit score to achieve excellent credit:
Achieving an excellent credit score is one thing. Maintaining an excellent score is another. Here are some of the things you can do to ensure your score doesn’t dip:
If your score is between 800 and 850, go ahead and bask in the glory by owning a premium credit card designed for those with excellent credit. However, these cards shouldn’t necessarily just be picked for clout.
Make sure the card you’re choosing actually has the benefits that work for you. You should also be confident that the “math” works on whatever you pay for the annual fee versus the perks you’ll get back based on your real-world habits.
As credit cards for excellent credit are typically more luxury cards, they often include superior benefits not generally seen with traditional credit cards.
These include:
Choosing the right credit card can be challenging, especially when credit cards with excellent credit requirements offer numerous premier perks. We’ve broken down some factors to consider when picking the perfect card.
Annual fees for high credit score credit cards range from $0 to just under $700. While high-fee credit cards generally offer access to more exclusive perks, you have to balance your actual lifestyle with what’s being offered for the cost.
If flying is part of your life, going for cards with airport lounge access at hundreds of airports across the globe but with a higher annual fee looks like a steal. However, that same card would be a drain for someone locked in place by a busy work year.
If you are just dipping your toes into the world of premium cards, you may be more comfortable sticking with a low fee or no-annual-fee card to test-drive the concept.
Annual percentage rate (APR) is the interest rate with any additional lender fees added on. This rate will apply to your balance whenever it’s not paid in full at the end of the month. Be sure to compare APRs even if you plan to avoid carrying a balance. Opt for a 0% APR card if you anticipate carrying a balance.
Rewards are where credit cards become personal. The best rewards cards are the ones that will align with your spending habits. While focusing on cash back and points when assessing the best cards for excellent credit is natural, seeing 10X or 5X back shouldn’t get your heart racing without some context.
Higher miles and cash back on travel typically require booking either directly with airlines and hotels or through the credit card’s proprietary travel portal. A card with fewer miles on travel but generous rewards on groceries and dining could be more impressive when all is said and done.
While largely considered afterthoughts, the consumer benefits accompanying many credit cards for excellent credit add to peace of mind. Most offer travel cancellation insurance, trip delay insurance and car rental insurance.
Statement credits can also be used for TSA PreCheck and Global Entry. Some even offer price protection and extended warranties to let you confidently make purchases. The fraud detection on these cards is also typically pretty elite and responsive.
For most people who qualify, credit cards for excellent credit pay off handsomely. However, some consumers may resent the high annual fee if their spending doesn’t align with reward categories. If you can exceed the annual fee through your travel habits or point-matched everyday spending, you’re very likely to earn cash back from your card, which makes ownership worthwhile.
The best card if you have excellent credit is one that pays you back for your actual spending habits. Someone with a high credit score looking for the best credit card has the luxury of choosing one based on their personal preferences, without necessarily worrying about other factors. In general, travel credit cards offer the best perks and rewards.
Credit card companies generally want you to apply online through their official websites. Some companies allow you to do a preauthorization to see if you will likely be approved, such as Amex pre-approval. However, pre-qualifying does not guarantee you will be approved.
In the ultra-elite space, the Centurion® Card from American Express, The Platinum Card® from American Express, Chase Sapphire Reserve® and the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card are considered the hardest credit cards to get because of their strict credit score requirements and other criteria.
For those capable of qualifying for cards at this level, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® and The Platinum Card® from American Express are considered the most elite options. However, an option like the Chase Freedom Unlimited® puts you in an elite space with great perks without a sky-high annual fee.
While the answer is subjective, most people consider the Centurion® Card from American Express and The Platinum Card® from American Express to represent the ceiling for premium consumer cards.
Carrie O’Connell is a prolific writer specializing in consumer finance and credit cards. Her extensive portfolio includes content for prominent clients such as First American Bank, American Savings Bank Hawaii, Smartfinancial.com, Trustedcompanyreviews.com, United Debt Settlement, Ways to Wealth, and Investorade.
Carrie’s writing covers a wide range of topics, from credit card reviews and approval strategies to maximizing credit card benefits and navigating credit card use during economic downturns. Her expertise helps readers make informed decisions about their personal finance and credit card choices.
Blake Esken has over 15 years of experience in product management and has been a member of the Los Angeles Times staff for over five years.
As part of his role at the Los Angeles Times Commerce Team, Blake acts as the in-house reviewer and fact checker for LA Times Compare. He supervises all content for compliance and accuracy and puts to use skills he has honed through years of experience managing high-stakes projects for a range of industry-leading companies.
He has a strong background in data analysis, compliance, and communication, which allows him to support LA Times Compare through fact-checking in an effort to provide up-to-date and factual information across our content.
* Opinions expressed here are those of the LA Times Compare Cards Team and have not been reviewed or approved by any advertiser or entities included within this content. See our editorial policy for more details.
All products or services are presented in this content without warranty. The information, including card details such as rates and fees, is accurate at the time of publish. Please visit each bank's website directly for the most current information.
