European Union credit card limit calculator
Enter one applicant or cardholder. The tool compares card behaviour and income after other debts with the lender’s own income cap and the European Union rules, then names the lowest limit.
Credit limit
The limit is €7,500, set by behaviour limit. Behaviour gives €7,500, income carries €12,000, and the market’s rules allow no cap, which reflects an income cap in some markets and a repayment test in others.
High utilisation with enough statements paid in full earns the large increase.
Candidate limits
The lowest candidate is the limit, and a candidate with no cap has no bar.
Market rules for this person
| Rule | Cap for person | Applies |
|---|---|---|
| There is no cap on the limit, and from 20 November 2026 a new card or a significant limit increase is allowed only where the creditworthiness assessment shows the payments are likely to be met, which the affordability limit stands for here. | Yes |
These summaries cover each regulator’s rule for this tool and do not reproduce the full text. The issuer checks the current text. The lowest applicable cap is the market’s cap.
Behaviour decision table
| Months on book | Missed payments | Utilisation | Paid in full | Limit action |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| <6 | ANY | ANY | ANY | Hold limit |
| >=6 | >=2 | ANY | ANY | Cut by 50% |
| >=6 | 1 | ANY | ANY | Hold limit |
| >=6 | 0 | >=70% | >=50% | Raise by 50% |
| >=6 | 0 | >=70% | <50% | Hold limit |
| >=6 | 0 | >=30% | ANY | Raise by 25% |
| >=6 | 0 | <30% | ANY | Hold limit |
Rows paste as decision table cells, and the first matching row wins.
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Run these limit rules inside the credit decision for every application and cardholder, read limits held elsewhere from the bureau at that moment, and test threshold changes on past decisions before they go live. Start free
Show formulas
Behaviour limit, New applicant = Starting income multiple × Monthly net income Behaviour limit, Cardholder = Today’s limit × (1 + Large increase | Small increase) or × (1 − Cut after missed payments) Affordability limit = (Income share for all debt payments × Monthly net income − Other debt payments) ÷ Card payment share of limit Own income cap = Own income cap × Monthly net income Market = Lowest applicable market cap Credit limit = min(Behaviour limit, Affordability limit, Own income cap, Market), Rounded down Rounding step
The affordability limit assumes the card is fully drawn, and the behaviour rules are an example policy to edit, not a standard. Regulatory caps are summaries for this tool and are not legal advice.
How European Union credit card limits are set
From 20 November 2026, Article 18 of the Consumer Credit Directive (EU) 2023/2225 allows credit, or a significant limit increase, only where the creditworthiness assessment shows the obligations are likely to be met. The directive sets no figure for the limit, so the calculator uses the affordability limit as the figure for that assessment.
The credit card limit is the lowest of the behaviour limit, affordability limit, the lender’s own income cap and any market cap. Which one binds varies by applicant or cardholder, and you can use the result to review a case and edit the example behaviour policy.
European Union credit card limit questions
How is a credit card limit set in the European Union?
The directive sets no cap on the credit card limit. It requires the creditworthiness assessment to show that the obligations are likely to be met before credit is given or a limit is raised significantly.
Does the EU set a maximum credit card limit?
The European Union rule sets no numerical cap on the credit card limit. The calculator uses the affordability limit as the figure for the creditworthiness assessment.
What does EU creditworthiness assessment mean for a limit increase?
A significant limit increase is allowed only where the assessment shows the obligations are likely to be met. The calculator uses the affordability limit to represent that assessment.
How does affordability affect a credit card limit in Europe?
The affordability limit estimates what income can carry after other debt payments. The calculator compares it with the behaviour limit and the lender’s own income cap to find the lowest limit.
When does Article 18 apply to credit cards in the EU?
Article 18 of the Consumer Credit Directive (EU) 2023/2225 applies from 20 November 2026 through each member state’s law. It requires the creditworthiness assessment to show that the obligations are likely to be met.