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Best Home Improvement Loans Of 2026

Back to libraryJordan Tarver, Mike CeteraJul 4, 2026
Best Home Improvement Loans Of 2026

Why you can trust Forbes Advisor

Our editors are committed to bringing you unbiased ratings and information. Advertisers do not and cannot influence our ratings. We use data-driven methodologies to evaluate financial products and companies, so all are measured equally. You can read more about our editorial guidelines and the personal loans methodology for the ratings below.

  • 29 nationwide lenders researched
  • 16 data points evaluated and scored
  • Unbiased editorial team
  • No AI writing

Compare the Best Home Improvement Loans

COMPANYFORBES ADVISOR RATINGMINIMUM CREDIT SCOREAPR RANGELEARN MORE
4.0
Does not disclose
6.99% to 35.49%* with all discounts
Via Credible.com’s Website
4.0
660
6.49% to 25.29%
Via Credible.com’s Website
4.0
600
7.99% to 35.99%
Via Credible.com’s Website
3.5
580
7.74% to 35.99%
Via Credible.com’s Website
3.5
560
11.69% to 35.99%
Via Credible.com’s Website
3.5
660
7.99% to 24.99%
Via MoneyLion’s Website
3.5
620
6.60% to 35.99%
Via Credible.com’s Website
3.5
No requirement
8.99% to 18%
Via MoneyLion's Website

Best Home Improvement Loans: A Closer Look

SoFi®

4.0

Our ratings take into account loan cost, loan details, eligibility and accessibility, customer experience and application process. All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team.

Loan amounts

$5,000 to $100,000

APR range

6.99% to 35.49%*

with all discounts

Minimum Credit Score

Does not disclose

Check SoFi Rates Arrow

Via Credible.com’s Website

$5,000 to $100,000

6.99% to 35.49%*

with all discounts

Does not disclose

Our Expert Review

SoFi is an online lending platform that offers unsecured fixed-rate personal loans in every state. Founded in 2011, SoFi has extended over $50 billion in loans and stands out for allowing high loan amounts and its availability of extended loan terms.

Loans are available from $5,000 to $100,000, making SoFi a great option for those with excellent credit who need to borrow a large amount of money. Loan amounts available may vary by the state you live in. Repayment terms range from two to seven years, making SoFi an incredibly flexible option for those with sufficient credit (minimum not disclosed) and annual income (at least $45,000). SoFi also lets prospective borrowers submit joint applications—although co-signers are not permitted.

Approved borrowers are rewarded with comparatively low APRs. What’s more, SoFi doesn’t charge origination fees, late fees or prepayment penalties—a stand-out feature because personal loan lenders often charge origination or late payment fees at a minimum.

However, if you’re considering a debt consolidating loan from SoFi, keep in mind that the lender does not offer direct payment to a borrower’s other creditors. This means the loan proceeds will be deposited to your bank account and you’ll have to pay off your other lenders individually. The platform does offer customers a number of other perks and discounts.

Consumer Sentiment Index
4.2
Consumer Sentiment Index
3,184
Insights Analyzed
  • #
    Interest Rates and Fees
    57%
    14%
    29%
  • #
    Customer Service
    26%
    11%
    63%
  • #
    Loan Terms and Flexibility
    56%
    23%
    21%
  • #
    Ease of Approval and Process
    64%
    10%
    26%

While some borrowers appreciate SoFi’s simple application and disbursement process, others are dissatisfied with communication and customer service. Borrowers are also frustrated with misleading promotional offers and how their loan inquiries were handled.

Pros & Cons
  • Offers comprehensive member benefits and perks
  • Does not charge origination, late payment or prepayment fees
  • Offers direct payment to creditors
  • Loan amounts of up to $100,000
  • Higher minimum loan amount ($5,000)
  • Longer average funding time (4 days)
  • High maximum loan APR ( 35.49%*)
  • Live chat is limited to business hours

Lender Details

Eligibility  

  • Minimum credit score: Does not disclose
  • Co-signers/co-borrowers: Co-borrowers accepted

Funding Speed 

Funds should generally be available within a few days after signing the loan agreement.

Disclosures

*Terms and conditions apply. SOFI RESERVES THE RIGHT TO MODIFY OR DISCONTINUE PRODUCTS AND BENEFITS AT ANY TIME WITHOUT NOTICE. To qualify, a borrower must be a U.S. citizen or other eligible status, be residing in the U.S., and meet SoFi’s underwriting requirements. Not all borrowers receive the lowest rate. Lowest rates reserved for the most creditworthy borrowers. If approved, your actual rate will be within the range of rates at the time of application and will depend on a variety of factors, including term of loan, evaluation of your creditworthiness, income, and other factors. If SoFi is unable to offer you a loan but matches you for a loan with a participating bank, then your rate may be outside the range of rates listed above. Rates and Terms are subject to change at any time without notice. SoFi Personal Loans can be used for any lawful personal, family, or household purposes and may not be used for post-secondary education expenses. Minimum loan amount is $5,000. The average of SoFi Personal Loans funded in 2024 was around $33K. Information current as of 06/03/26. SoFi Personal Loans originated by SoFi Bank, N.A. Member FDIC. NMLS #696891 (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org). See SoFi.com/legal for state-specific license details. See SoFi.com/eligibility for details and state restrictions.

*Fixed rates from 6.99% APR to 35.49% APR. APR reflect the 0.25% autopay interest rate discount and a 0.25% SoFi Plus interest rate discount. SoFi Platform personal loans are made either by SoFi Bank, N.A. or , Cross River Bank, a New Jersey State Chartered Commercial Bank, operating from its Delaware branch, Member FDIC, Equal Housing Lender. SoFi may receive compensation if you take out a loan originated by Cross River Bank. These rate ranges are current as of 06/03/26 and are subject to change without notice. Not all rates and amounts available in all states. See SoFi Personal Loan eligibility details at https://www.sofi.com/eligibilitycriteria/#eligibility-personal. Not all applicants qualify for the lowest rate. Lowest rates reserved for the most creditworthy borrowers. Your actual rate will be within the range of rates listed above and will depend on a variety of factors, including evaluation of your credit worthiness, income, and other factors.
Loan amounts range from $5,000– $100,000. The APR is the cost of credit as a yearly rate and reflects both your interest rate and an origination fee of 9.99% of your loan amount for Cross River Bank originated loans which will be deducted from any loan proceeds you receive and for SoFi Bank originated loans have an origination fee of 0%-7%, will be deducted from any loan proceeds you receive.

Autopay: The SoFi 0.25% autopay interest rate reduction requires you to agree to make monthly principal and interest payments by an automatic monthly deduction from a savings or checking account. The benefit will discontinue and be lost for periods in which you do not pay by automatic deduction from a savings or checking account. Autopay is not required to receive a loan from SoFi.

Member Rate Discount: To be eligible for an additional 0.25% interest rate reduction on a Personal Loan, you must, within 31 days of loan funding, either (1) meet SoFi Plus eligibility criteria, (2) receive an Eligible Direct Deposit into a SoFi Checking or Savings account, or (3) receive at least $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits into a SoFi Checking or Savings account. You must continue to meet at least one of the above eligibility criteria every 31 days to maintain the discount. See the SoFi Plus terms for details on SoFi Plus subscription. For more details on Eligible Direct Deposit or Qualifying Deposits, please see https://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet.

Once you become eligible during the initial period, the discount will be removed or reinstated depending on whether the criteria have been met. Each time your loan is re-amortized, your monthly payment amount will change based upon the interest rate that was in place. SoFi reserves the right to modify or terminate this offer at any time for unenrolled participants. You are not required to meet these criteria to be approved for a loan.

LendingPoint

4.0

Our ratings take into account loan cost, loan details, eligibility and accessibility, customer experience and application process. All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team.

Minimum Credit Score

Does not disclose

APR range

7.99% to 35.99%

with autopay

Loan amounts

$2,000 to $25,000

Compare Rates Arrow

Via Credible.com’s Website

Does not disclose

7.99% to 35.99%

with autopay

$2,000 to $25,000

Our Expert Review

LendingPoint is an online lender based in Atlanta that offers personal loans to prospective borrowers in 48 states and Washington D.C.; it does not offer loans in Nevada and West Virginia. Prospective borrowers in eligible states can apply online and benefit from quick funding.

LendingPoint personal loans range from $1,000 to $36,500; Georgia loans have a minimum loan amount of $3,500. Repayment terms range from 24 to 72 months—or two to six years.

There are two main disadvantages to LendingPoint: high maximum APRs and origination fees. While you can typically avoid high APRs by maintaining a high credit score, LendingPoint origination fees (up to 10%) depend on the state you live in.

Pros & Cons
  • Quick funding
  • Eligibility based on more than credit score
  • No prepayment penalty
  • Origination fee up to 10%
  • Co-signers or joint loans not permitted
  • Not available in Nevada and West Virginia

Details

Eligibility: To qualify for a LendingPoint personal loan, you must have a minimum credit score of 600 and live in one of the 48 eligible U.S. states or Washington D.C. Loans are not available to prospective borrowers in Nevada or West Virginia.

Turnaround time: Once approved, you could receive your funds as soon as the next business day.

Upgrade

3.5

Our ratings take into account loan cost, loan details, eligibility and accessibility, customer experience and application process. All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team.

Minimum Credit Score

580

APR range

7.74% to 35.99%

Loan amounts

$1,000 to $50,000

Compare Rates Arrow

Via Credible.com’s Website

580

7.74% to 35.99%

$1,000 to $50,000

Our Expert Review

Upgrade was launched in 2017 and provides accessible online and mobile credit and banking services. Since that time, the platform has made more than $3 billion in credit available to over 10 million applicants and continues to expand its online and mobile services. Although maximum APRs are on the high end compared to other online lenders, Upgrade makes loans available to those with poor credit history.

Loans amounts, which range from $1,000 to $50,000. Upgrade has two to seven years terms available. Upgrade charges an origination fee between 0% and 12% of the loan, and borrowers will encounter a $10 fee if their payment is more than 15 days late or if the payment does not go through; there are no discounts for autopay. That said, Upgrade borrowers are not subject to a prepayment penalty, so you can reduce the overall cost of the loan if you’re able to pay it off early.

Beyond offering accessible personal loans, Upgrade streamlines the lending process with a mobile app that lets borrowers view their balance, make payments and update personal information. Upgrade’s Credit Heath tool also makes it easy to track your credit score over the life of your loan.

Pros & Cons
  • No prepayment penalty fees
  • Rate discounts for using autopay
  • Rate discounts for direct paying creditors
  • Origination fees
  • High potential APRs
  • Funding may take longer than a day

Lender Details

Eligibility

  • Minimum credit score: 580
  • Co-signers/co-borrowers: Accepted

Funding Speed

Funding may occur within one business day of clearing verification.

Universal Credit

3.5

Our ratings take into account loan cost, loan details, eligibility and accessibility, customer experience and application process. All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team.

Minimum Credit Score

Does not disclose

APR range

11.69% to 35.99%

Loan amounts

$1,000 to $50,000

Compare Rates Arrow

Via Credible.com’s Website

Does not disclose

11.69% to 35.99%

$1,000 to $50,000

Our Expert Review

Universal Credit is an online lending platform that offers personal loans between $1,000 to $50,000 through its partners. Repayment terms range from three to seven years.

While Universal Credit makes finding a personal loan accessible even to those with damaged credit, it comes with a few tradeoffs. First, it charges high APRs, well above the most competitive rates seen on our list. Second, Universal Credit charges a 5.25% to 9.99% origination fee on all personal loans. Because this is deducted from your loan proceeds, you’ll need to factor this in when determining your loan amount to ensure you receive the necessary amount after the fact.

Pros & Cons
  • Flexible qualification requirements
  • Next-day funding
  • No prepayment penalty
  • High APRs
  • All personal loans charge a 5.25% to 9.99% origination fee

Details

Eligibility: Universal Credit does not disclose its minimum credit score, but the lender considers several factors when making lending decisions.

Turnaround time: Once approved, Universal Credit will send your funds to your bank within one business day. However, the availability of your funds depends on how quickly your bank can process the transaction. If you’re using funds to directly pay off another creditor, it may take up to two weeks.

Discover

3.5

Our ratings take into account loan cost, loan details, eligibility and accessibility, customer experience and application process. All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team.

Minimum Credit Score

660

APR range

7.99% to 24.99%

Loan amounts

$2,500 to $40,000

Compare Rates Arrow

Via MoneyLion’s Website

660

7.99% to 24.99%

$2,500 to $40,000

Our Expert Review

Discover is an online bank that also offers customers credit cards, retirement solutions and personal loans in all 50 states. As a lending platform, Discover stands out because of its online application and mobile banking tools, well-reviewed customer support team and quick funding.

In general, loans are available from $2,500 to $40,000 and may be issued for between three and seven years. So, while borrowers may get a larger loan from another lender, the repayment terms are fairly flexible. Discover charges a late payment fee and does not offer an autopay discount; however, it does not charge any origination fees or prepayment penalties, making it competitive with other top personal loan providers.

Pros & Cons
  • No fees
  • Same-day lending decisions available
  • Funding as soon as the next business day after approval
  • Co-borrowers are not permitted
  • Must demonstrate household annual income of at least $25,000
  • Lower borrowing limit than some lenders

Details

Eligibility: 

  • Minimum credit score required. 660
  • Minimum annual income. $25,000
  • Co-borrowers. Not permitted
  • Co-signers. Not permitted

Expert’s Take

It’s no surprise that Discover personal loans are popular. Discover was the original rewards credit card with a large, diverse customer base. It utilizes its app and website to make the application process easy (especially for existing customers). In some cases, the funds are available the next day. Discover doesn’t have an application fee and is flexible with repayment options. The entire process is consistent with the brand and experience Discover’s customers are familiar with.

— Herman Thompson, Jr., advisory board member

Upstart

3.5

Our ratings take into account loan cost, loan details, eligibility and accessibility, customer experience and application process. All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team.

Minimum Credit Score

620

APR range

6.60% to 35.99%

Loan amounts

$1,000 to $75,000

Compare Rates Arrow

Via Credible.com’s Website

620

6.60% to 35.99%

$1,000 to $75,000

Our Expert Review

Upstart has made a mark on the personal loan space because of its artificial intelligence- and machine learning-based approach to borrower qualification. In fact, Upstart estimates that it has been able to approve 27% more borrowers than possible under a traditional lending model. With competitive APRs, Upstart is not a top lender for borrowers who can qualify for more competitive rates. Even so, the platform’s minimum 620 credit score makes it an accessible option to those with fair credit.

Upstart also offers a pretty flexible range of loan options, with amounts ranging from $1,000 to $50,000 so you don’t have to borrow (or pay interest on) more than you really need. And, while Upstart’s loan cap is lower than some lenders—this is likely to be enough for many prospective borrowers.

Even though Upstarts three- or five-years loan terms are more restrictive than other lenders, it’s likely to be an acceptable tradeoff for applicants who might not be approved in a more traditional lending environment. Plus, it’s available in every state except West Virginia and Iowa, so it’s as widely available as many other top lenders.

Pros & Cons
  • Accessible to borrowers with fair credit
  • Offers prequalification with a soft credit check
  • Ability to choose a custom payment date
  • Charges an origination fee up to up to 12% of the loan amount
  • No secured or co-signer option
  • Loans only available for three- or five-years terms

Details

Eligibility:  Upstart stands out because it uses an AI-based platform to consider a range of non-conventional variables when evaluating borrower applications. And, while the platform advertises a minimum credit score of 620, Upstart may even accept applicants who don’t have enough credit history to have a score. When evaluating prospective borrowers, Upstart considers college education, job history, residence, debt-to-income ratio, bankruptcies and delinquencies and number of credit inquiries.

Borrowers also must have a full-time job or offer starting in six months, a regular part-time job or another source of regular income—with a minimum annual income of $12,000. Co-signers and co-applicants are not permitted.

Loan uses:  Upstart’s personal loans can be used for credit card and other debt consolidation, special events, moving and relocation, medical and dental costs and home improvements. In contrast to many other traditional and online lenders, Upstart also lets borrowers use personal loan funds to cover educational expenses (except in California, Connecticut, Illinois, Washington and the District of Columbia).

Upstart borrowers cannot use personal loans to finance illegal activity or purchase weapons, firearms or illegal drugs.

Turnaround time:  Upstart provides next-business day funding for borrowers whose loans are accepted before 5 p.m. Eastern time Monday through Friday. Loans that are approved after 5 p.m. are typically funded the following business day, or the day after that. That said, Upstart reports that 99% of loan applicants receive their money one business day after accepting their loan terms. Loans for education-related expenses may take up to an additional three business days after loan acceptance.

Most Popular is calculated from the number of times each affiliate product was selected by Forbes Advisor users over a six month time period.

How to Compare Home Improvement Loans

Consider these tips when comparing home improvement loans:

  • Consider how much money you need. Different home improvement loans offer various loan limits. Before applying for a loan, review your project and identify how much it is going to cost. Based on that information, compare loan options that can provide a sufficient amount of funds.
  • Where possible, prequalify. Many personal loan providers offer the ability to prequalify for a loan with only a soft credit inquiry, so it won’t ding your credit score. This means you can submit details about your renovation financing needs, income, housing situation and other relevant information to find out what kind of loan amounts, rates and repayment terms you’re likely to qualify for.
  • Keep an eye out for additional fees. Some lenders offer fee-free home improvement loans that can help you avoid origination fees, late payment fees, prepayment penalties and other common loan costs. However, this is more the exception than the rule, so ask about fees when shopping for the best loan terms.
  • Evaluate the lender’s customer support options. While customer support may not seem like a big deal in the honeymoon phase of your loan, it can make a huge difference if you encounter issues with payments or face a financial hardship during your repayment period. Review the lender’s customer service resources and read reviews from past and current borrowers to make sure it’s a good fit.

What Is a Home Improvement Loan?

A home improvement loan is typically an unsecured personal loan that you can use to finance home improvements, remodeling, repairs or upgrades. If you qualify, you’ll receive the funds as a lump-sum amount and repay the balance over the course of one to seven years, depending on your specific terms. If you’re a homeowner with equity in your home, you can also finance home improvement projects through home equity loans and home equity lines of credit (HELOCs).

How Do Home Improvement Loans Work?

When you get a personal home improvement loan, you’ll receive a lump-sum payment from your lender. Repayment starts as soon as the funds are disbursed, and you’ll make fixed monthly payments. You’ll pay interest on the full loan amount, which varies depending on your lender and creditworthiness. Some home improvement loan companies also charge origination fees that typically range from 1% to 10% of the loan amount, although some loans are fee-free.

You can use your funds to finance your home upgrade expenses, such as redoing your kitchen or upgrading the electrical in your house. Unlike a credit card, which has a limit you can reuse as you repay your balance, you cannot reuse your loan funds. Once you use your funds, and if you need additional financing, you would need to apply for a second home improvement loan. Be cautious opening a second loan, though, because another hard inquiry can damage your credit.

Home Improvement Loan Rates

Home improvement loan rates depend on factors like your credit score, loan amount and repayment term. The lowest rates are typically reserved for borrowers with the highest credit scores. While personal loan rates generally range from 5% to 36%, you can prequalify with some lenders to check your personalized rate without impacting your credit score.

Pros and Cons Of Home Improvement Loans

Pros

  • Require no collateral. Unlike home equity loans where your house secures the loan, home improvement loans don’t require you to pledge your house as collateral. This means you won’t lose it if you fall behind on payments or default.
  • Flexible eligibility requirements. Personal loans tend to have more flexible eligibility requirements compared to home equity loans. If you have no equity in your home, you may have a higher chance of approval for a home improvement loan.

Cons

  • May have high interest rates. Home improvement loans sometimes have high interest rates, especially if you’re taking out a large sum of money or you have limited credit.
  • Short repayment terms. Home renovation loans have relatively short repayment terms compared to other financing options. If you need more time to pay back the money, consider a home equity loan.

Home Improvement Loan Calculator

Before choosing a loan, use a home improvement loan calculator to estimate your monthly payments and long-term costs.

To use the calculator, simply enter your project budget, interest rate and loan term in months or years. The calculator will show the monthly payment, long-term interest costs and total repayment amount.

You can adjust each input to find a monthly payment that works for you. You can also use the calculator to see how much you’d have to pay each month to pay off your loan ahead of schedule.

Average Home Improvement Project Costs

The cost of renovating or improving a house typically depends on where you live and the room you are working on. For example, kitchen and bathrooms typically cost the most, while bedrooms, living rooms and basements are more affordable. Here’s a look at common home improvement projects and their average costs, according to Forbes Home:

PROJECTCOST RANGE
Kitchen remodeling
$5,000 to $60,000
Bathroom renovations
$2,500 to $30,000
Minor roof repairs
$150 to $1,500
Major roof repairs
$1,500 to $7,000
Window replacement
$200 to $1,200
Exterior painting
$1,800 to $13,000
Interior painting
$950 to $2,900

When Should You Get a Home Improvement Loan?

Unless you save up enough money to pay for your home improvement project in cash or have a robust home emergency fund, you may be on the hunt for financing to help with a project or repair. Just like any other type of personal loan, though, you should only use a home improvement loan when you know you can afford the repayment. If you have inconsistent income or a new monthly payment doesn’t fit into your budget, you may set yourself up for a debt trap by getting a home improvement loan.

Before applying for a home improvement loan, outline the scope of your project to understand how much money you need to borrow and estimate your monthly payments. Compare this estimate with your current budget to determine if it’s a debt obligation you can take on safely. If you can’t afford the loan, take time to save up the necessary money or consider alternatives like a family loan.

How to Get a Home Improvement Loan

While the process varies by lender, follow these general steps to apply for a personal loan:

  • Check your credit score. You can check your credit score for free through your credit card issuer or another website that offers free scores. This will give you an understanding of your approval odds. Aim for a score of at least 670; however, a score of at least 720 will yield the most favorable terms.
  • If necessary, take steps to improve your credit score. If your score falls below 610 or you want to boost it to receive more favorable terms, improve your score before you apply, such as by lowering your credit usage or paying off unpaid debts.
  • Determine your home improvement budget. Calculate how much your home improvement project will cost to determine how much money you need to borrow. You’ll receive your money as a lump sum and pay interest on the entire amount—so only borrow what you need.
  • Shop around for the best terms and interest rates. Many lenders will let you prequalify prior to submitting your application so you can see the terms you would receive based on a soft credit inquiry. This lets you find the best terms without damaging your credit score.
  • Submit a formal application and await a lending decision. After you find a lender that offers you the best terms for your situation, submit your application online or in person. Depending on the lender, this process can take a few hours to a few days.

How To Get a Home Improvement Loan With Bad Credit

Bad credit can make it challenging to qualify for a home improvement loan, but there are steps you can take to obtain a home improvement loan with bad credit, including:

Improve your credit

Research lenders

Consider a secured loan

Apply with a co-signer

How To Qualify for a Home Improvement Loan

There aren’t universal requirements you’ll need to qualify for a home improvement loan; each lender determines its own criteria. That said, most lenders look for the same general qualifications in a borrower, although their specific cutoff points within each category may vary, including:

  • Sufficient income. Lenders want to make sure you’ll earn enough money to cover your payments and that your income will be stable while you repay the loan.
  • Good or excellent credit score. If you have a credit score of at least 670, you stand a much better chance of getting favorable terms like low interest rates.
  • Low debt-to-income (DTI) ratio. Your DTI measures the percentage of your monthly income that goes toward debt payments. It’s another measure lenders use to check whether you can afford the loan.
  • Citizenship status. Some lenders only lend to U.S. citizens. Others extend that umbrella to permanent residents, and sometimes DACA recipients and non-permanent residents.
  • Collateral or co-signer. If you can’t meet the loan qualifications on your own, some lenders allow you to use a co-signer or offer collateral for the loan to qualify.

Other Types of Loans for Home Improvement

Personal loans are not your only source of home improvement financing. Depending on your current situation, there are other options available that can get you the money you need.

Home Equity Loans & HELOCs

If you’re a homeowner with equity in your home—the home’s current market value minus the remaining mortgage balance—you may be able to get a home equity loan or home equity line of credit (HELOC). Both let you draw against your home, which means your home secures the transaction and the lender can repossess it if you fail to repay.

Home equity loans are disbursed as lump-sum amounts, while HELOCs let you withdraw funds on an as-needed basis. Either way, you can use these funds to help finance your home improvement projects.

RelatedHELOC Vs. Home Equity Loan: Which Is Right For You?

Cash-out Refinance

cash-out refinance replaces your existing mortgage with a new, larger mortgage. You withdraw the difference between the two mortgages and use the money however you want, including for home improvements. However, you’ll need at least 10% to 20% equity left after the refinance. This percentage varies depending on your lender and whether you’re willing to pay for private mortgage insurance (PMI) on the new loan.

Credit Cards

Alongside home remodeling loans and lines of credit, you may also be able to use credit cards. However, these are typically suited for smaller home improvement projects, not your $20,000 bathroom remodel. Nonetheless, credit cards can be an excellent way to access a credit limit that you can reuse as you repay your balance. And you’ll only pay interest on unpaid balances at the end of your billing cycle.

However, if you have a credit score of at least 670, you may qualify for a 0% APR credit card. These cards typically offer 0% interest for an extended period of time, usually for six months to 21 months. During the introductory period, your balance won’t accrue interest; however, unpaid balances at the end of the introductory period will. This means if you repay your balance before the 0% APR period ends, your home improvement project could be interest free.

Government Assistance

There are various government programs that can make it easier to afford home improvements, such as rehabilitation, repair and property improvement loans and the 203(k) rehabilitation mortgage insurance program from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Eligibility requirements include income level, age and property type, though some are available for special groups such as Native Americans, rural residents, veterans and servicemembers.

You can also use this database from HUD to search for assistance programs from your local government.

Home Equity Loan vs. Home Improvement Loan

A home improvement loan is a personal loan that borrowers can use for home remodels, repairs and renovations. House improvement loans are unsecured, which means the home is not used as collateral to secure the loan.

Home equity loans, on the other hand, use the home’s equity as collateral. Borrowers can put the money toward home improvement projects, but they are not required to do so.

Home equity loans often have lower interest rates because your property backs the loan. If you default, the lender can seize your home to recoup its losses. Home improvement loans usually have higher interest rates because there’s more risk to the lender, but the borrower doesn’t take the chance of losing their home.

Methodology

We reviewed 29 popular lenders based on 16 data points in the categories of loan details, loan costs, eligibility and accessibility, customer experience and the application process. We chose the six best lenders based on the weighting assigned to each category:

  • Loan details: 20%
  • Loan cost: 35%
  • Eligibility and accessibility: 20%
  • Customer experience: 15%
  • Application process: 10%

Within each category, we also considered several characteristics, including loan amounts, repayment terms, APR ranges and applicable fees. We also looked at minimum credit score requirements, whether each lender accepts co-signers or joint applications and the geographic availability of the lender. Finally, we evaluated each provider’s customer support tools, borrower perks and features that simplify the borrowing process—like prequalification and mobile apps.

Where appropriate, we awarded partial points depending on how well a lender met each criterion.

To learn more about how Forbes Advisor rates lenders, and our editorial process, check out our Loans Rating & Review Methodology.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What kind of loan should I get for a home improvement?

Borrowers have several options when it comes to home improvement loans. Be sure to talk with your lender about the different loans you qualify for and that fit within your budget, while meeting your goals.

If you have equity in your home (and you want to refinance into a lower rate), you can do a cash-out refinance, which could allow you to get a new mortgage at rock-bottom rates.

There are also home equity loan products like a home equity line of credit (HELOC) that carries slightly higher interest rates than a cash-out refinance, but is much more cost-effective than most personal loans or credit cards.

Many lenders offer their own twist on home improvement loans, including unsecured home improvement loans (meaning they do not use your home as collateral). These loans typically have higher interest rates than secured loans, but the advantage is that you won’t lose your home if you cannot repay the loan.

How long are home improvement loans?

Home improvement loans typically have terms between one and seven years, depending on your lender. Your credit score and overall creditworthiness determine the terms you’ll receive. To receive the most favorable terms, aim to have a credit score of at least 720.

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