Best Home Improvement Loans of October 2026
Oct 14, 2025
A home improvement loan is one way to finance home renovations and repairs. The best loan covers your project's cost and fits your budget.
| Lender | NerdWallet rating | Est. APR | Loan amount | Min. credit score | Learn more |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
NerdWallet rating: 4.4 out of 5 stars Best for Long repayment terms | 9.99 - 24.94% | $5K - $100K | 660 | Get a quoteon LightStream's website | |
NerdWallet rating: 4.6 out of 5 stars Best for Joint loans | 6.49 - 35.49% | $5K - $100K | None | Get a quoteon SoFi's website | |
NerdWallet rating: 4.6 out of 5 stars Best for Credit-building tools | 7.74 - 35.99% | $1K - $75K | 600 | Get a quoteon Upgrade's website | |
NerdWallet rating: 4.4 out of 5 stars Best for Secured loans | 6.99 - 35.99% | $2K - $50K | 600 | Get a quoteon Best Egg's website | |
NerdWallet rating: 4.4 out of 5 stars Best for Fast approval | 7.99 - 29.99% | $2K - $75K | 640 | Get a quoteon Rocket Loans's website | |
NerdWallet rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars Best for Existing bank customers | 6.74 - 26.74% | $3K - $100K | None | See my rateson NerdWallet's secure website | |
NerdWallet rating: 4.4 out of 5 stars Best for Credit union members | 8.74 - 18.00% | $250 - $150K | None | Get a quoteon Navy Federal Credit Union's website |
Our pick for
Joint loans
Est. APR
6.49 - 35.49%
Loan amount
$5K - $100K
Min. credit score
None
Loan term
2 to 7 years
Pros, Cons, and Our View
- Time to get funds:
- Same day
- Availability:
- Lends in all 50 states and Washington, D.C.
- Rate discounts:
- Autopay, Direct payment to creditors, and Direct deposit accounts
- Min income:
- No minimum requirement
- Soft credit check:
- Yes
- Loan uses:
- Debt consolidation, Credit card consolidation, Home improvement, Medical/dental, Emergency expenses (car repair, vet bill, etc.), Vacation, Moving/relocation, Wedding, Funeral, Auto/motorcycle/RV/boat financing, and Other large purchase
Pros
- Multiple rate discounts.
- Joint loans.
- Hardship assistance.
Cons
- High minimum loan amount.
- No secured loans.
Our pick for
Long repayment terms
Est. APR
9.99 - 24.94%
Loan amount
$5K - $100K
Min. credit score
660
Loan term
2 to 20 years
Pros, Cons, and Our View
- Time to get funds:
- Same day
- Availability:
- Lends in all 50 states and Washington, D.C.
- Min income:
- No minimum requirement
- Soft credit check:
- No
- Loan uses:
- Debt consolidation, Credit card consolidation, Home improvement, Emergency expenses, Vacation, Moving/relocation, Wedding, Funeral, Auto/motorcycle/RV/boat financing, PreK-12 education, and Other large purchase
Pros
- Competitive APRs
- Rate discounts
- No fees
- Large loans and long repayment terms
- Same-day funding
Cons
- Limited ability to pre-qualify
- High minimum loan amount
- No direct payment to creditors
- No mobile app
Our pick for
Credit-building tools
Est. APR
7.74 - 35.99%
Loan amount
$1K - $75K
Min. credit score
600
Loan term
2 to 7 years
Pros, Cons, and Our View
- Time to get funds:
- 1 day
- Availability:
- Lends in all 50 states and Washington, D.C.
- Rate discounts:
- AutoPay discount, Direct pay to creditors discount, Auto-secured discount, and Existing customer discount
- Min income:
- No minimum requirement
- Soft credit check:
- Yes
- Loan uses:
- Debt consolidation, Credit card consolidation, Home improvement, Emergency expenses (car repair, vet bill, etc), Vacation, Moving/relocation, Wedding, Funeral, Auto/motorcycle/RV/boat financing, and Other large purchase
Pros
- Multiple rate discounts.
- Secured and co-signed loans.
- Fast funding.
- Wide range of loan amounts and repayment terms.
Cons
- Origination fee
- No option to choose repayment date
Our pick for
Secured loans
Est. APR
6.99 - 35.99%
Loan amount
$2K - $50K
Min. credit score
600
Loan term
3 to 5 years
Pros, Cons, and Our View
- Time to get funds:
- Next business day
- Availability:
- Unavailable in IA, VT, WV, and DC
- Rate discounts:
- None
- Min income:
- Varies by state
- Soft credit check:
- Yes
- Loan uses:
- Debt consolidation, Credit card consolidation, Home improvement, Medical/dental, Emergency expenses (car repair, vet bill, etc.), Vacation, Moving/relocation, Wedding, Funeral, Business expenses, Education expenses, Auto/motorcycle/boat financing, and Other large purchase
Pros
- Offers secured and unsecured loans.
- Works with a variety of credit situations.
- Lets you pre-qualify with a soft credit check.
- Will directly pay your creditors when the loan is for debt consolidation.
Cons
- Has an origination fee.
- Requires at least a 600 credit score.
- Doesn't offer co-signed or joint loans.
- Short repayment terms aren't available.
Our pick for
Fast approval
Est. APR
7.99 - 29.99%
Loan amount
$2K - $75K
Min. credit score
640
Loan term
3 to 5 years
Pros, Cons, and Our View
- Time to get funds:
- Same day
- Availability:
- Unavailable in IA, NV, WV, and MD
- Rate discounts:
- Autopay discount: 0.25 percentage points
- Min income:
- $24,000 annual gross income
- Soft credit check:
- Yes
- Loan uses:
- Debt consolidation, Credit card consolidation, Home improvement, Medical/dental, Emergency expenses (car repair, vet bill, etc), Vacation, Moving/relocation, Wedding, Funeral, Business expenses, Auto/motorcycle/RV/boat financing, and Other large purchase
Pros
- Relatively low rates.
- Fast funding.
- Wide range of loan amounts.
Cons
- Origination fee up to 9.99%.
- Must have a 640 credit score or higher.
- No options for joint, co-signed or secured loans.
Our pick for
Existing bank customers
Est. APR
6.74 - 26.74%
Loan amount
$3K - $100K
Min. credit score
None
Loan term
1 to 7 years
Pros, Cons, and Our View
- Time to get funds:
- Same day
- Availability:
- Lends in all 50 states and Washington, D.C.
- Rate discounts:
- 0.25 or 0.50 percentage points if you have a Wells Fargo checking account and set up automatic payments.
- Min income:
- Undisclosed
- Soft credit check:
- Yes
- Loan uses:
- Debt consolidation, Credit card consolidation, Home improvement, Medical/dental, Emergency expense (car repair, vet bill, etc.), Vacation, Moving/relocation, Wedding, Funeral, and Other large purchase
Pros
- Competitive APRs.
- No origination fee.
- Offers direct payments to creditors.
- Fast funding.
- Wide variety of loan amounts and repayment terms.
Cons
- Only available to Wells Fargo customers.
- Requires at least fair credit.
- No small loans.
- No co-signed, joint or secured loans.
Our pick for
Credit union members
Est. APR
8.74 - 18.00%
Loan amount
$250 - $150K
Min. credit score
None
Loan term
6 months to 5 years
Pros, Cons, and Our View
- Time to get funds:
- Same day
- Availability:
- Lends in all 50 states and Washington, D.C.
- Rate discounts:
- Discount for active-duty or retired military members., Discount for senior enlisted military., and Discount for 25- and 50-year membership anniversaries.
- Min income:
- N/A
- Soft credit check:
- No
- Loan uses:
- Debt consolidation, Credit card consolidation, Home improvement, Medical/dental, Emergency expenses (car repair, vet bill, etc), Vacation, Moving/relocation, Wedding, Funeral, Auto/motorcycle/RV/boat financing, and Other large purchase
Pros
- Wide range of amounts and terms.
- Joint and co-signed loans.
- Secured loans.
- Rate discount for active and retired military
Cons
- No option to pre-qualify.
- No direct payment to creditors.
- No option to pick your due date.
What is a home improvement loan?
A home improvement loan is an unsecured personal loan that you use to cover the costs of home upgrades or repairs. They're sometimes called home renovation loans or home remodeling loans.
Lenders provide loans of up to $100,000 in a lump sum, which you repay in monthly installments, usually over two to 12 years. A loan with a long repayment term may have low monthly payments, but you’ll pay more interest over the life of that loan than one with a shorter repayment term.
Pros
- Fixed payments.
- Fast funding, typically within a few days.
- No collateral required.
Cons
- Higher interest rates than a home equity loan or home equity line of credit.
- You can’t claim a tax deduction on the interest paid.
How do home improvement loans work?
Home improvement loans do not require collateral. Missed or late loan payments will negatively impact your credit, but you won’t risk losing your home.
Your credit and income will determine whether you qualify and the interest rate you receive. Once approved, you may receive your loan within one to two days.
Some lenders let you add a co-signer or co-borrower to your application. Adding someone with better credit or higher income to the loan application may reduce your annual percentage rate (APR) or increase the amount you can borrow.
Home improvement loan rates
Home improvement loan annual percentage rates range from about 7% to 36%. APRs represent the entire cost of the loan, including fees the lender may charge.
Lenders decide your rate on the loan primarily by evaluating your credit score, credit history and debt-to-income ratio. Here's what current personal loan rates look like, on average:
Borrower credit rating | Score range | Estimated APR |
|---|---|---|
Excellent | 720-850. | 11.81%. |
Good | 690-719. | 14.48%. |
Fair | 630-689. | 17.93%. |
Bad | 300-629. | 21.65%. |
Where to get a personal loan for home improvements
Online lender
Online lenders offer a convenient way to find and compare personal loans from anywhere.
Bank
Some national banks offer personal loans with competitive rates and in-person support.
Credit union
Credit unions may offer lower annual percentage rates and flexible terms for their members.
» MORE: Where to get a personal loan
How to get a home improvement loan
Get a firm cost estimate. Identify the size of your project and get quotes or estimates to determine how much you need to borrow. Knowing the total cost can help you decide which financing option is best.
Compare options. Compare the best home improvement lenders against other financing options, like credit cards and home equity financing. You're looking for the one that costs the least in total interest, has affordable monthly payments and fits your project cost and timeline.
Check your rate and monthly payments. Many online lenders and some banks let borrowers pre-qualify to see potential personal loan offers before applying. Pre-qualifying involves a soft credit pull that doesn’t impact your score.
Prepare documents. Once you've chosen a lender, gather the documents you'll need to apply, which may include W-2s, pay stubs, proof of address and financial information.
Apply. You may have to apply in person at smaller banks and credit unions, but larger ones and online lenders have online applications. Many lenders can give you a decision the same day you apply. After that, expect to see the funds in your bank account in less than a week.
How to use loans for remodeling your home
Unsecured loans can cover almost any home improvement project. How much you need varies based on your location, home size and how extensive your plans are.
Here are some common projects and how much you could pay for each, based on the most recent cost estimates available:
Project type | Estimated cost |
|---|---|
$82,793. | |
$26,138. | |
$18,263. | |
$31,135. | |
$31,871. | |
$65,909. | |
$3,515. |
Home improvement loans vs. equity financing
Home improvement lending makes sense if you don’t have enough equity in your home or don’t want to use it as collateral. Equity is your home’s value minus what you owe.
If you have equity, you could get a lower monthly payment with a home equity loan or line of credit. This type of financing can take longer to fund because it typically requires a home appraisal since your house is used as collateral.
Home equity loan
Home equity loans come in lump sums and have fixed interest rates, so monthly payments never change. You repay this loan in monthly installments over a term as long as 30 years.
Compare to personal loans: Home equity loans work similarly to personal loans, but they often have lower rates and longer repayment terms.
Home equity line of credit
A HELOC is an open credit line that you draw on as needed and pay interest only on what you borrow. This variable-rate option works best if you don’t know how much the home improvement will cost and are comfortable with a fluctuating monthly payment.
Compare to personal loans: A HELOC lets you borrow at any time for about 10 years, which can be ideal for long-term projects or unexpected expenses. A personal loan is a fixed amount you receive at one time.
Other types of home improvement financing
Government assistance
Some government programs can help pay for a home renovation. The Federal Housing Administration has two programs: Title I loans and Energy Efficient Mortgages. You can search for a “Title I Property Improvement” lender in your state on the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development website.
The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, or IRA, allows homeowners to get tax credits for energy-efficient updates, like new doors, windows, insulation, heat pumps and air conditioners. The Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit and Residential Clean Energy Credit are listed on the IRS website.
Additional rebates for larger energy-efficient updates are in progress in some states. You can check your state’s progress on the Department of Energy website.
Cash-out refinancing
When it’s best: Consider applying if your project and finances meet the criteria outlined by these programs. They can help make upgrades more affordable.
You can refinance your existing mortgage into a higher loan amount and use the difference to pay for your renovation.
When it’s best: Consider this option if mortgage rates are lower than the one you're paying now.
Credit card
Strategic use of a credit card can cover the cost of your upgrades. Home improvement store cards can earn cash back as you upgrade, while a card with a 0% introductory APR can cover short-term home renovations.
When it’s best: Use a credit card for projects small enough that you won’t max it out. You should typically aim to pay your full balance every month. You’ll need good or excellent credit (690 credit score or higher) to qualify for a zero-interest or rewards card.
How do I choose the right home improvement financing option?
"Sometimes, the project itself will give one type of financing an edge. When I needed a new roof on my house, I went with a personal loan because that repair wouldn't wait, and borrowing against my home equity would have taken way too long. But if you're looking to borrow a larger amount for a major renovation or you want a longer time to pay back the loan, borrowing against your home equity may make more sense."
Last updated on October 14, 2025
Methodology
How we chose the best personal loans
Our team of consumer lending experts follows an objective and robust methodology to rate lenders and pick the best.
30+Lenders reviewed
We review over 35 lenders, including major banks, top credit unions, leading digital platforms, and high interest installment lenders operating across multiple states.
25+Categories assessed
Each lender is evaluated across five weighted categories and 27 subcategories, covering affordability, eligibility, consumer experience, flexibility, and application process.
60+Data points analyzed
Our team tracks and reassesses hundreds of data points annually, including APR ranges, fees, credit requirements, and borrower tools, ensuring up to date, accurate comparisons.
Star rating categories
We evaluate more categories than competitors and carefully weigh how each factor impacts your experience.
NerdWallet’s review process evaluates and rates personal loan products from more than 30 financial technology companies and financial institutions. We collect over 60 data points and cross-check company websites, earnings reports and other public documents to confirm product details. We may also go through a lender’s pre-qualification flow and follow up with company representatives. NerdWallet writers and editors conduct a full fact check and update annually, but also make updates throughout the year as necessary.
Our star ratings award points to lenders that offer consumer-friendly features, including: soft credit checks to pre-qualify, competitive interest rates and no fees, transparency of rates and terms, flexible payment options, fast funding times, accessible customer service, reporting of payments to credit bureaus and financial education. Our ratings award fewer points to lenders with practices that may make a loan difficult to repay on time, such as charging high annual percentage rates (above 36%), underwriting that does not adequately assess consumers’ ability to repay and lack of credit-building help. We also consider regulatory actions filed by agencies like the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. We weigh these factors based on our assessment of which are the most important to consumers and how meaningfully they impact consumers’ experiences.
NerdWallet does not receive compensation for our star ratings. Read more about our ratings methodologies for personal loans and our editorial guidelines.
To recap our selections...
NerdWallet's Best Home Improvement Loans of October 2026
- SoFi Personal Loan: Best for Joint loans
- LightStream: Best for Long repayment terms
- Upgrade: Best for Credit-building tools
- Best Egg: Best for Secured loans
- Rocket Loans: Best for Fast approval
- Wells Fargo Personal Loan: Best for Existing bank customers
- Navy Federal Credit Union Personal Loan: Best for Credit union members
Frequently asked questions
How do home improvement loans work?
A home improvement loan is a lump sum of money that you repay in fixed monthly installments over two to 12 years. Unlike home equity loans or home equity lines of credit, the loans are not secured by your home, and approval is based mainly on your creditworthiness.
How much can you borrow with a home improvement loan?
Home improvement loan amounts range from $1,000 to $100,000. However, many lenders cap amounts at $30,000 to $50,000. If you think your project will cost more than that, look for a lender that offers larger loans.
What type of loan is best for home improvements?
The best way to finance home improvements depends on factors such as your home equity, how much money you need to borrow and your credit score. Compare home improvement loans with home equity loans, home equity lines of credit, cash-out refinancing and federal programs.
What are home improvement loan rates?
Home improvement loan rates typically range from about 6% to 36%. The best personal loan rates typically go to borrowers with high credit scores and credit histories showing consistent on-time payments toward other loans and credit cards.