What Is a Good APR for a Credit Card?
What the numbers look like
Credit card APRs are high compared with other borrowing, and the national average has hovered around 20 to 24 percent. A good APR is meaningfully below that average, and the lowest rates on a cards range go to applicants with excellent credit. Most cards quote a range (for example, 19 to 29 percent), and your score determines where you land.
Why it usually does not matter
Here is the part issuers do not emphasize: if you pay your statement balance in full every month, you are in the grace period and pay zero interest, so the APR is irrelevant. For people who never carry a balance, a card rewards and perks matter far more than its rate.
When to prioritize a low APR
The APR only matters if you carry a balance or might. If so, prioritize a low ongoing APR or a 0 percent intro card over rewards, since interest dwarfs any points. And know your penalty APR, which can apply after a missed payment. See how interest works.
Frequently asked questions
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