Best Credit Cards for Home Improvement Projects

Most products on this page are from partners who may compensate us. This may influence which products we write about and where and how they appear on the page. However, opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain.

Not all available financial products and offers from all financial institutions have been reviewed by this website.

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 warranties, 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.

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.

Recommended Credit Cards for Home Improvement

Card	Welcome Offer	Rewards Rate	Best for	Learn More
Chase Freedom Unlimited® Apply Now	1.5%Extra Cash Back More Info Earn an extra 1.5% on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) — worth up to $300 cash back. That's 6.5% on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 4.5% on dining and drugstores, and 3% on all other purchases.	1.5% - 5%Cashback More Info 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 unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.	Chase Ultimate Rewards fans	Apply Now
Wells Fargo Reflect® Card Apply Now Rates & Fees	$0	N/A	Strong intro APR offer	Apply Now Rates & Fees
Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card Apply Now Rates & Fees	$200Cash Bonus More Info Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months.	2%Cashback More Info Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases.	Simple cash-back rewards	Apply Now Rates & Fees
Home Depot Consumer Credit Card Apply Now	$0	N/A	Home Depot shoppers	Apply Now
Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card Apply Now	$750Cash Bonus More Info Earn $750 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening	1.5%Cashback More Info Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase made for your business. The advertised rewards type is cash back, but it’s important to note that you’re technically earning Chase Ultimate Rewards points (which can then be converted to cash back).	Businesses	Apply Now

Chase Freedom Unlimited®

Apply Now

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
• Sign Up Bonus 1.5%Extra Cash Back More Info

  Earn an extra 1.5% on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) — worth up to $300 cash back. That's 6.5% on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 4.5% on dining and drugstores, and 3% on all other purchases.

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 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
• Pros & Cons

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.)

Read the review Read More

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

Apply Now

Secure application on issuer’s website

Rates & Fees

• Our Rating 4/5 How our ratings work Read the review
• APR 18.24%, 24.74%, 29.99% (Variable)
• Annual Fee$0
• Welcome Bonus $0

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
• Pros & Cons

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.

Read the review

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 eligible repairs and damage 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 for 21 months, followed by a 18.24%, 24.74%, 29.99% (Variable) APR
• Cellphone protection 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

Apply Now

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
• Welcome Bonus $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
• Pros & Cons

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.

Read the review Read More

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 cellphone protection if you pay your phone bill with this card. 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

Apply Now

Secure application on issuer’s website

• Our Rating 2/5 How our ratings work Read the review
• APR29.99% (Variable)
• Annual Fee$0
• Sign-Up Bonus $0

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
• Perks
• Pros & Cons

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.

Read the review

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 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.

Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card

Apply Now

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
• Sign-Up Bonus $750Cash Bonus More Info

  Earn $750 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
• Pros & Cons

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.

Read the review

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 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.

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. 

Frequently Asked Questions

• What makes a credit card good for home improvement purchases?

  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.

• Can I use a credit card for home renovation expenses?

  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.

• Do I have to pay interest on home improvement 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.

• Should I get a store-branded credit card for home improvement purchases?

  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.