What’s the Capital One Credit Card Interest Rate & Is It Good?

When it comes to credit cards, one of the most important features is a card’s interest rate. Credit card interest is expressed as an APR (annual percentage rate), meaning the yearly rate of interest.

Where do Capital One credit card interest rates land? Find out whether you’re getting a good deal when borrowing through Capital One, which cards charge the highest rates, which charge the lowest, and which Capital One credit cards will let you pay no interest at all.

What are the interest rates on Capital One credit cards?

The interest rate on a Capital One credit card depends on if it’s for personal or business use:

• Personal credit cards range from 16.49%–26.99%.
• Business credit cards range between 10.74%–26.99%.

Capital One also offers a variety of 0% APR credit cards. These cards have periods of 9–15 months in which no interest will be charged. The 0% APR period starts the day your account is activated, so you should use those interest-free months wisely, especially if you’re planning on making a large transaction (such as consolidating your credit card debt or buying something expensive).

Which Capital One cards have the highest and lowest interest rates?

Different Capital One credit cards have different rates and ranges, some higher or lower than others.

Here’s a look at the Capital One cards with the highest and lowest interest rates.

Highest APR Capital One credit cards

*All of the above APRs are variable, meaning they fluctuate based on market conditions (i.e., the prime rate).

Notably, Capital One charges higher interest rates on bad-credit and fair-credit credit cards, like their secured credit card options. This is a common practice across credit card issuers; cards available to consumers with poor or limited credit scores tend to have worse borrowing terms (like annual fees and high interest rates).

Lowest APR Capital One credit cards

When looking for low-APR Capital One credit cards, there are two types of cards that you need to consider. You can look for a Capital One credit card with consistently low APR (i.e., ongoing APR), or a Capital One card with a 0% APR introductory offer.

We’ve compiled lists of both types of low-APR Capital One credit cards so you can decide which card has the right interest rate for you.

Capital One credit cards with the lowest ongoing APR

*All of the above APRs are variable, meaning they fluctuate based on the prime rate.

Capital One credit cards with 0% APR

*All of the above APRs are variable, meaning they fluctuate based on the prime rate.

All of the Capital One personal credit cards with 0% APR offer this introductory rate for both purchases and balance transfers. This isn’t the default, as many credit cards will offer 0% interest for only one or the other, so this is a significant perk.

Given the flexibility of the 0% APR periods, Capital One 0% APR credit cards are good for consolidating debt onto a single credit card or for financing major expenses while deferring interest.

Does Capital One have good interest rates?

The national average credit card interest rate is around 20%. However, this is accounting for all types of cards, issuers, and borrowers, and interest rates vary widely based on these factors. For example, the average credit card APR for a borrower with excellent credit is just 16%–18%.

Considering the averages, Capital One charges fairly standard interest rates. However, the ranges on Capital One’s potential interest rates can go a bit high, usually up to around 26%.

What interest rate you get within a range is determined by your creditworthiness. Because Capital One’s ranges skew higher than their competitors’, it’s possible you’ll get a higher APR on one of their cards than you would get on an equivalent card from another issuer.

This means that, for example, even if you have good enough credit to get one of Capital One’s prime rewards cards, you still may get a high interest rate (say, 24%) based on your borrowing history. For a borrower with excellent credit, a 24% credit card APR is quite high.

How do I find the interest rate on my Capital One credit card?

There are three ways you can find your Capital One credit card interest rate:

1. Check online: Go to your online account or log into your mobile Capital One app. Find the “Account Details” page to check your card’s rates and fees, including your APR.
2. Call customer service: Call the number on the back of your Capital One credit card to talk to a customer service representative. You’ll need to enter your credit card number, so keep your card handy. Ask the representative about your account’s current APR.
3. See your offer letter: If you still have your original credit card offer letter from Capital One, it will list your account details, including your APR.

If you’re just curious about the possible APR range on a given credit card, go directly to Capital One’s website and find the card. The rates, fees, and rewards for each credit card will be listed directly on the page.

How to lower your Capital One interest rate

If you’re worried your Capital One credit card interest rate is too high, there are three ways to lower it.

Upgrade cards

If you’ve used your Capital One credit card responsibly (i.e., made on-time payments and kept your account in good standing), you can call Capital One directly and discuss possible card upgrades with a customer service agent.

Depending on your borrowing history and current credit standing, you may qualify for a better card than you currently have. A better card may allow for lower APR and higher rewards earnings. You can set your sights on a specific card or ask the agent directly what card you may be qualified to upgrade to.

Keep in mind that you can usually only upgrade within a series. For example, upgrading one Quicksilver card to another, or one Venture card to another.

Transfer your balance

If you have too much credit card debt on a Capital One card with a high interest rate, it may be time to consolidate your debt by transferring your credit card balance.

However, you can only do this by first getting a credit card with a different issuer, as you cannot transfer a balance from one Capital One card to another. Instead, look for a non-Capital-One credit card with a 0% APR period on balance transfers or a lower balance transfer interest rate.

Open the account, transfer your balance in the designated time frame, then pay down your debts with a lower interest rate.

Negotiate your APR

One of the best ways to get a lower interest rate on a Capital One card is simply to ask for one. Call the number on the back of your card, follow the automated prompts to speak with a customer service representative, then say you’d like to negotiate a lower credit card interest rate.

Two circumstances in which you’re more likely to get approved for this request are if you recently underwent hardship (like the loss of a job or medical emergency) or if your credit score has improved since you opened the card and you believe you should qualify for a better interest rate.

If the agent denies your request, ask if there are other options, such as deferring your interest or lowering the rate for just a year.