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Perhaps it’s finally time to expand your tiny kitchen, replace your carpet with hardwood or add a second bathroom to your home. But costs add up quickly, especially when it comes to unforeseen extras and upgrades. Using the right credit card can offer far more than just cash back or travel rewards. You may also be able to take advantage of interest-free purchasing periods, extended warranty options, return or purchase protection benefits and even free cellphone insurance. Here are some of the best credit cards to consider for home improvement projects, as well as some tips to get the most out of your purchases.

The Best Cards for Home Improvement Purchases

Whether you are embarking on a DIY home remodel or upgrading your appliances, here are a few cards to consider for your home improvement purchases.

Chase Freedom Unlimited®

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Secure application on issuer’s website

  • Our Rating 4.5/5 How our ratings work Read the review
  • APR20.49% - 29.24% (Variable)
  • Annual Fee$0
  • 1.5% 1.5%Extra Cash Back More Info

    Earn 1.5% bonus cash back (up to $20,000 in purchases) during your first year. Worth up to $300 in cash back.

We like that the card offers a high flat rewards rate but also provides accelerated rewards on some common everyday spending categories. You’ll also get access to the Chase Ultimate Rewards Travel portal, which allows you to use your cash-back earnings for travel rewards, gift cards and more. If you make this your primary card for most purchases you can quickly rack up a lot of rewards.

Overview

The Chase Freedom Unlimited card is unique for a couple of reasons. First, it comes with purchase protection and extended warranty protection you don’t see with some other cash-back cards. Second, you earn cash back in the form of points (Chase Ultimate Rewards) and when paired with another annual-fee earning Chase product, you can get even more value if you love to travel by transferring to partners.

That’s because while the Freedom cards are marketed as cash-back credit cards, they actually offer points. You can use those points to book travel through Chase at a rate of 1 cent per point. But if you have the Chase Sapphire Preferred® or Chase Sapphire Reserve®, you’ll get 25% and 50% more value on those travel redemptions, respectively. (Plus, the ability to transfer your points, too.)

Pros

  • No category bonuses to remember; earn at least 1.5% back on everything
  • No annual fee
  • Generous travel and purchase protection benefits

Cons

  • Can't transfer Chase points unless paired with another annual-fee Chase product

Why We Like It

The Chase Freedom Unlimited® card remains the Slickdeals top choice for everyday use, and a great option for home improvement purchases both great and small. 

You’ll earn a flat rate of 1.5% cash back for every dollar spent, whether that’s $2 on screws and nails or $20,000 in lumber and flooring. This easy rewards scheme makes the Freedom Unlimited a no-brainer to keep in your pocket for last-minute store runs or as your everyday spending card, where you'll earn 3% on dining out and at drugstores. 

As always, you can choose to redeem your rewards as cash back or convert them into free travel through Chase’s Ultimate Rewards program, where points are worth 25% more when redeemed through the travel portal.

Benefits

  • 1.5% flat-rate back per dollar spent
  • 0% Intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers, followed by a 20.49% - 29.24% (Variable) APR
  • Purchase protection
  • Extended warranty protection
  • No annual fee

Best For: People who already collect and use Chase Ultimate Rewards credit cards, particularly the Chase Sapphire Reserve® or Chase Sapphire Preferred® for additional value. 

Wells Fargo Reflect® Card

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Secure application on issuer’s website

Rates & Fees

Anyone looking to make a large purchase will appreciate the Wells Fargo Reflect Card’s intro 0% APR promotion, which lasts for 21 months and applies to both new purchases and qualifying balance transfers. After the intro 0% APR offer concludes, a 18.24%, 24.74%, 29.99% variable APR will apply based on creditworthiness. It also includes perks like cellphone protection, roadside dispatch assistance and admittance into My Wells Fargo Deals to activate cash rewards deals with select retailers and restaurants.

Overview

Anyone looking to make a large purchase will appreciate the Wells Fargo Reflect Card’s intro 0% APR promotion, which runs for 21 months and applies to both new purchases and qualifying balance transfers. After the intro 0% APR offer concludes, a 18.24%, 24.74%, 29.99% variable APR will apply based on creditworthiness.

It also includes some handy minimal perks, such as cellphone protection, access to roadside dispatch assistance and admittance into My Wells Fargo Deals, which allows you to activate cash rewards deals with select retailers and restaurants.

Pros

  • Ideal for intro APR offer and balance transfers
  • Cellphone protection against damage and theft when you pay your recurring monthly bill
  • No annual fee

Cons

  • No earnings categories or rewards
  • Limited cardholder benefits

Why We Like It

The Wells Fargo Reflect® Card doesn’t offer much by way of rewards or purchase protection, but it does come with two great benefits: One of the longest interest-free introductory APR periods in the industry and complimentary cellphone insurance worth up to $600 in repairs as long as you pay your monthly cellphone bill with the card. Their strong intro APR period can come in handy if you want to pay off a large purchase, with no interest, over a longer period of time.

Benefits

  • 0% Intro APR on purchases and qualifying balance transfers for 21 months, followed by a 18.24%, 24.74%, 29.99% (Variable) APR
  • Cellphone repair reimbursement for up to $600 per claim
  • Roadside dispatch benefits 
  • No annual fee

Best For: Homeowners who want to carry a credit card balance for more than one year without having to pay interest.  

Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card

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Secure application on issuer’s website

Rates & Fees
  • Our Rating 4.0/5 How our ratings work Read the review
  • APR20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% (Variable)
  • Annual Fee$0
  • $200 $200Cash Bonus More Info

    Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months

If you’re a fan of earning cash rewards for your everyday spending, you need a credit card that rewards you for purchases outside of popular bonus categories like travel, grocery stores and gas stations. With the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card (Rates and Fees), you earn 2% back for every dollar spent without the fuss of tracking specific bonus categories.

Overview

While many rewards credit cards tempt you with bonus rewards for specific purchases, these cards invariably offer a mere 1% rewards rate on the vast majority of charges that don’t qualify for a bonus. And with many of these cards, the amount of purchases that are eligible for your bonus is capped, restricting the overall potential value.

But with the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card, you simply receive a high level of cash rewards on purchases. There’s no need to register for anything, and there are no limits on the amount of cash rewards you can earn.

Pros

  • Earn an unlimited 2% cash back on every single purchase
  • No annual fee
  • Automatic cellphone protection when you pay your monthly bill with the card

Cons

  • Points don't transfer to travel partners unlike other card currencies
  • No bonus earning categories

Why We Like It

If you don’t need an exceptionally long intro APR offer, consider getting the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card for home purchases instead. 

The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card gets you unlimited 2% cash rewards on all purchases, so you don't need to worry about tracking categories or activating your quarterly rewards. It also comes with free cellphone insurance if you pay your phone bill with this card and a generous welcome bonus.

Cardholders can enjoy a strong introductory APR offer on new purchases as well.

Benefits

  • 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and qualifying balance transfers, followed by a 20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% (Variable) APR
  • Cellphone repair reimbursement for up to $600 per claim
  • Earn an unlimited 2% cash back on every single purchase
  • No annual fee

Best For: Home renovators who want a simple, flat-rate cash-back rewards card.

Home Depot Consumer Credit Card

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Secure application on issuer’s website

  • Our Rating 2/5 How our ratings work Read the review
  • APR17.99% - 26.99% (Variable)
  • Annual Fee$0
  • $50 $50Cash Bonus More Info

    Save $50 on a future qualifying purchase over $50 when approved for a credit or debit RedCard

If you frequently shop at The Home Depot, you might make good use of this no-annual-fee card, especially if you have a big purchase to make there and need some time to pay off the bill before interest kicks in.

Overview

The Home Depot Consumer Credit Card is designed for frequent shoppers of the home improvement store, offering new cardholder purchase discounts, longer time to make returns and deferred financing for up to two years.

Perks

  • 6 months financing on all purchases of $299 or more
  • Up to 24 months financing on other purchases, depending on the current promotional offer
  • 1 year to make returns

Pros

  • No annual fee
  • New cardholder discounts
  • Promotional financing
  • Extended time period for returns

Cons

  • No rewards
  • Can only use at The Home Depot
  • Deferred financing can lead to high interest charges if you don’t pay off the bill in time

Why We Like It

Store-branded credit cards aren't always a great choice, but the Home Depot consumer card stands out as an exception for home improvement-related expenses and appliance purchases. Cardholders can access deferred financing options, sometimes as long as 24 months during special promotions. The store also offers up to one year to return items.

However, the biggest downside is that you can only use the Home Depot consumer card at the store, and you won't earn rewards either. There are many other rewards credit cards to choose from that can offer extended warranties and purchase protection, while earning you rewards. 

Benefits

  • One-year return policy on Home Depot purchases (4x the standard return period)
  • 0% interest for six months on purchases of $299 or more
  • Up to 24 months of no-interest financing during special promotion periods

Best For: Those who prefer to shop at Home Depot for their projects, especially for major purchases like appliances.

Quick Tip

Buy Home Depot goods using gift cards purchased at grocery stores or office supply stores during 5x promotional periods, instead of losing out on reward-earning potential with the Home Depot consumer card.

Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card

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Secure application on issuer’s website

  • Our Rating 4.5/5 How our ratings work Read the review
  • APR18.49% - 24.49% (Variable)
  • Annual Fee$0
  • $900 $900Cash Bonus More Info

    Earn $900 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening

If you’re looking for a solid business credit card with unlimited earning potential, this could be it. With a 1.5% cash-back rate, it earns less than the other Ink Business cards, but you can put earning on autopilot with no spending limits or categories to juggle.

Overview

The Chase Ink Business Unlimited® credit card is one of the best business credit cards on the market, and if you use it right by pairing it with a Chase card with an annual fee, you can unlock access to valuable transferable Ultimate Rewards points that you can move to travel partners.

Pros

  • No annual fee
  • Easy earning structure of 1.5X back on everything with no limits
  • Robust travel and purchase protections

Cons

  • Businesses that spend more on bonus categories won't earn more in rewards
  • 1.5X isn't the highest earning rate

Why We Like It

The Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card is the business equivalent of the Chase Freedom Unlimited, offering an unlimited flat rate of 1.5% on all purchases regardless of category. The Ink Unlimited does not have an annual fee, comes with free employee cards, and rewards can be transferred to partners or other cards for better redemption opportunities.

If you're an independent contractor or run a business that purchases home improvement supplies regularly, you'll be able to rack up a lot of rewards over time.

Benefits

  • Intro APR offer of 0% for first 12 months on purchases, followed by a 18.49% - 24.49% (Variable) APR
  • Free employee cards
  • Generous sign-up bonus 
  • Purchase protection
  • Extended warranty protection
  • Flat 1.5% back per dollar spent

Best For: Professional home renovators who value Chase Ultimate Rewards and want to earn a high flat cash-back rate on purchases.

Tips to Maximize Your Benefits on Home Improvement Purchases

  • Look for sign-up bonuses: Earn a sign-up bonus to offset large expenses. If you’re going to spend a lot of money, you might as well sign up for a new card that requires a high amount of spend within a short amount of time. 
  • Use gift cards: If your credit card offers rewards on grocery store or drugstore purchases, buy a gift card for Lowe's or Home Depot to use instead. This is one way you can earn rewards on your home improvement purchase.
  • Use a shopping portal: Order products through a shopping portal to stack rewards. Some sites, like Slickdeals, offer cash back from participating stores.
  • Consider a store credit card: Some store credit cards can come with incentives, such as a discount on your purchase, deferred interest financing or other extended return benefits. If you shop at a store regularly, it might be worth opening a store card.
  • Set a deal alert: Set up product alerts for expensive, important, or regular purchases. You can set up a custom Deal Alert at Slickdeals for the item you need, and you'll get notified when there is a sale on that item.
See Home Depot Deals

How To Choose the Right Home Improvement Credit Card

When you're choosing a credit card for your home improvement purchases, make sure your cards come with most or all of these benefits.

  • Purchase protection: Purchase protection can save you money, time, and stress if you end up buying a faulty product. In some cases, you may even be compensated if an item is stolen from your home or damaged while in your possession.
  • Extended warranty benefits: Extended warranty benefits can repair, replace or reimburse you for expenses associated with a purchase that is no longer covered under warranty.
  • 0% introductory APR periods: Leverage a new card's 0% APR introductory benefits to your advantage. Some cards offer intro APR periods between 12-15 months, allowing you to pay off a balance without interest during this time frame. But be sure to pay off the final balance before your offer ends, or you'll be on the hook for hefty interest charges.  
  • Cash back or travel rewards: Cards that reward you for spending money can soften the sting of a big expense by offering a silver lining for something to look forward to: A future vacation, a trip home to see family, or even a staycation if you need to leave your home for a few days. 

Quick Tip

Add your 0% introductory APR expiration date to your calendar, with reminders two weeks and two months in advance. That way, you won’t be caught off guard with a big bill to pay on short notice.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • A good credit card for home improvement expenses should reward you for your spending, provide a 0% introductory APR period for large purchases and offer purchase protection or extended warranty benefits.

  • Some contractors and vendors allow you to pay for home repair or remodel expenses via credit card. You can also purchase your own supplies in some cases, which means more opportunities to earn credit card rewards on big purchases.

  • Some credit cards offer introductory periods where you don’t pay interest on new purchases, which allows you to pay off your bill over time at no additional cost.

  • In some cases, a store-branded home improvement credit card can provide homeowners with special benefits that regular credit cards do not have. For example, the Home Depot consumer credit card offers extended return times and financing options on larger purchases. Lowe's also offers discounts on your store purchases and special financing deals.

KF

Katherine Fan

Katherine Fan is a Personal Finance writer, travel journalist, and small business owner with over 6 years of experience writing for the top rewards travel and personal finance publications. Katherine has written more than 1,500 articles on personal finance and travel for media publications such as NerdWallet, The Points Guy, CreditCards.com, LendingTree, Forbes Advisor, USA TODAY and Upgraded Points in addition to Slickdeals.