Some offers on this page are from advertisers who pay us, which may affect which products we write about, but not our recommendations. See our Advertiser Disclosure.
As a general guideline, if you want multiple credit cards, it's a good idea to wait at least six months between credit card applications. That period gives your credit time to recover from credit inquiries, keeps your average account age healthy, and shows creditors you can manage your debt responsibly.
On average, American adults have 3.7 active cards, according to 2025 data from Experian.
Experts typically recommend waiting at least six months between credit card applications to protect your credit.
Each new credit card application can affect your credit because of hard credit checks and a lower average account age.