ADVERTISEMENT: products from our partners

4 Excellent Home Improvement Personal Loans of 2022

A home improvement loan can help you pay for repairs, renovations and additions to your home. Compare offers from multiple lenders to find the best rates and terms.

Banks, online lenders and credit unions all offer home improvement loans. For most borrowers, they're the fastest way to get cash for your project. This kind of personal loan is among a handful of options for financing home renovations. Consider a home improvement loan if you don’t have a lot of equity in your home or don’t want to use it as collateral. Always compare offers from multiple lenders to find a loan that suits the size of your project and your budget.

Excellent Home Improvement Personal Loans From Our Partners

Excellent for

Personal loans for good to excellent credit

SoFi
Get rate

on SoFi's website

SoFi Personal Loan

5.0

NerdWallet rating 
SoFi

Est. APR

8.99-29.99%

Loan amount

$5,000-$100,000

Min. credit score

None
Get rate

on SoFi's website


Min. credit score

None

Key facts

SoFi offers online personal loans with consumer-friendly features for good- and excellent-credit borrowers.

Pros

  • Joint loan option.

  • Multiple rate discounts.

  • Mobile app to manage loan.

Cons

  • No option to choose initial payment date.

  • High minimum loan amount.

Qualifications

  • Must legally be an adult in your state.

  • Must be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident or non-permanent resident with valid documentation.

  • Must be employed, have sufficient income or have an offer of employment to start within 90 days.

Total Cost of Loan

A 24-month, 5.0k loan at 8.99% will cost a total of $12352.91 excluding lender fees

Available Term Lengths

2 to 7 years

Fees

  • Origination fee: 0% to 7%.

  • Late fee: None.

Disclaimer

Fixed rates from 8.99% APR to 29.99% APR reflect the 0.25% autopay interest rate discount and a 0.25% direct deposit interest rate discount. SoFi rate ranges are current as of 02/06/2024 and are subject to change without notice. The average of SoFi Personal Loans funded in 2022 was around $30K. 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 and will depend on the term you select, evaluation of your creditworthiness, income, and a variety of 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 0%-7%, which 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. Direct Deposit Discount: To be eligible to potentially receive an additional (0.25%) interest rate reduction for setting up direct deposit with a SoFi Checking and Savings account offered by SoFi Bank, N.A. or eligible cash management account offered by SoFi Securities, LLC (“Direct Deposit Account”), you must have an open Direct Deposit Account within 30 days of the funding of your Loan. Once eligible, you will receive this discount during periods in which you have enabled payroll direct deposits of at least $1,000/month to a Direct Deposit Account in accordance with SoFi’s reasonable procedures and requirements to be determined at SoFi’s sole discretion. This discount will be lost during periods in which SoFi determines you have turned off direct deposits to your Direct Deposit Account. You are not required to enroll in direct deposits to receive a Loan.

Read Full Review
Lightstream
Get rate

on LightStream's website

LightStream

4.5

NerdWallet rating 
Lightstream

Est. APR

7.99-25.49%

Loan amount

$5,000-$100,000

Min. credit score

660
Get rate

on LightStream's website


Min. credit score

660

Key facts

LightStream targets strong-credit borrowers with no fees and low rates that vary based on loan purpose.

Pros

  • No fees.

  • Rate discount for autopay.

  • Long repayment terms on home improvement loans.

  • Rate Beat program and Experience Guarantee.

Cons

  • No option to pre-qualify with a soft credit check on its website.

  • No direct payment to creditors with debt consolidation loans.

  • High minimum loan amount.

Qualifications

  • Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.

  • Must be at least 18 years old.

  • Minimum credit score: 660.

  • Must have several years of credit history with multiple account types and few or no delinquencies.

  • Must have assets like retirement, investment and savings accounts.

Total Cost of Loan

A 24-month, 5.0k loan at 7.99% will cost a total of $11387.85 excluding lender fees

Available Term Lengths

2 to 7 years

Fees

  • Origination fee: None.

  • Late fee: None.

Disclaimer

Rates quoted are with AutoPay. Your loan terms are not guaranteed and may vary based on loan purpose, length of loan, loan amount, credit history and payment method (AutoPay or Invoice). AutoPay discount is only available when selected prior to loan funding. Rates without AutoPay are 0.50% points higher. To obtain a loan, you must complete an application on LightStream.com which may affect your credit score. You may be required to verify income, identity and other stated application information. Payment example: Monthly payments for a $10,000 loan at 7.99% APR with a term of 5 years would result in 60 monthly payments of $202.72. Some additional conditions and limitations apply. Advertised rates and terms are subject to change without notice. Truist Bank is an Equal Housing Lender. © 2024 Truist Financial Corporation. Truist, LightStream, and the LightStream logo are service marks of Truist Financial Corporation. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Lending services provided by Truist Bank.

Read Full Review

Excellent for

Personal loans for bad, fair, or good credit + Personal loans for fast funding

Upstart
Get rate

on Upstart's website

Upstart

4.5

NerdWallet rating 
Upstart

Est. APR

7.80-35.99%

Loan amount

$1,000-$50,000

Min. credit score

None
Get rate

on Upstart's website


Min. credit score

None

Key facts

Upstart personal loans offer fast funding and may be an option for borrowers with low credit scores or thin credit histories. Upstart is a solid financing choice for large purchases.

Pros

  • Accepts borrowers new to credit.

  • Fast funding.

  • Option to change your payment date.

  • Option to pre-qualify with a soft credit check.

  • Seven-day customer service availability.

Cons

  • May charge origination fee.

  • No joint, co-signed or secured loans.

  • No mobile app to manage loan.

  • Only two repayment term options.

Qualifications

  • Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.

  • Must be at least 18 in most states.

  • Must have a valid email address and Social Security number.

  • Must have a bank account at a financial institution with a routing number.

  • No bankruptcies in the last 12 months.

  • No current delinquent accounts.

  • Minimum credit score: None.

  • Minimum annual income: $12,000; this lender accepts income from employment, alimony, retirement, child support, Social Security, rentals, trusts, pensions, disability and scholarships.

  • Must have a full-time job or be starting a full-time job within six months.

Total Cost of Loan

A 36-month, 1.0k loan at 7.8% will cost a total of $3009.47 excluding lender fees

Available Term Lengths

3 to 5 years

Fees

  • Origination fee: 0% to 12%.

  • Late fee: 5% of past due amount or $15, whichever is greater.

  • Returned check fee: $15.

Disclaimer

The full range of available rates varies by state. A representative example of payment terms for a Personal Loan is as follows: a borrower receives a loan of $10,000 for a term of 60 months, with an interest rate of 21.58% and a 9.84% origination fee of $984, for an APR of 26.82%. In this example, the borrower will receive $9016 and will make 60 monthly payments of $275. APR is calculated based on 5-year rates offered in December 2023. There is no downpayment and no prepayment penalty. Your APR will be determined based on your credit, income, and certain other information provided in your loan application. Not all applicants will be approved.

Read Full Review

Excellent for

Personal loans for fair credit + Co-signed and joint loans

Upgrade
Get rate

on Upgrade's website

Upgrade

5.0

NerdWallet rating 
Upgrade

Est. APR

8.49-35.99%

Loan amount

$1,000-$50,000

Min. credit score

560
Get rate

on Upgrade's website


Min. credit score

560

Key facts

Upgrade personal loans offer multiple rate discounts and direct payment to creditors. A low minimum credit score requirement makes the perks stand out even more.

Pros

  • Secured and joint loans.

  • Multiple rate discounts.

  • Mobile app to manage loan payments.

  • Direct payment to creditors with debt consolidation loans.

  • Long repayment terms on home improvement loans.

Cons

  • Origination fee.

  • No option to choose your payment date.

Qualifications

  • Minimum credit score: 560.

  • Minimum number of accounts on credit history: One account.

  • Maximum debt-to-income ratio: 75%, including the loan you're applying for.

  • Minimum length of credit history: Two years.

  • Minimum income requirement: None. Lender accepts income from alimony, retirement, child support, Social Security and other sources.

Total Cost of Loan

A 36-month, 1.0k loan at 8.49% will cost a total of $3228.16 excluding lender fees

Available Term Lengths

3 to 7 years

Fees

  • Origination fee: 1.85% to 9.99%.

  • Late Fee: $10.

  • Failed payment fee: $10.

Disclaimer

Personal loans made through Upgrade feature Annual Percentage Rates (APRs) of 8.49%-35.99%. All personal loans have a 1.85% to 9.99% origination fee, which is deducted from the loan proceeds. Lowest rates require Autopay and paying off a portion of existing debt directly. Loans feature repayment terms of 24 to 84 months. For example, if you receive a $10,000 loan with a 36-month term and a 17.59% APR (which includes a 13.94% yearly interest rate and a 5% one-time origination fee), you would receive $9,500 in your account and would have a required monthly payment of $341.48. Over the life of the loan, your payments would total $12,293.46. The APR on your loan may be higher or lower and your loan offers may not have multiple term lengths available. Actual rate depends on credit score, credit usage history, loan term, and other factors. Late payments or subsequent charges and fees may increase the cost of your fixed rate loan. There is no fee or penalty for repaying a loan early. Personal loans issued by Upgrade's bank partners. Information on Upgrade's bank partners can be found at https://www.upgrade.com/bank-partners/.

Read Full Review

What is a home improvement loan?

A home improvement loan is an unsecured personal loan that you use to cover the costs of upgrades or repairs. Lenders provide these loans for up to $100,000. A home improvement loan comes in a lump sum, and you repay it in monthly installments, usually over one to 12 years.

Because you don’t use the house as collateral for this type of loan, the interest rate is based on information like your credit and income. If you can’t repay a home improvement loan, your credit will take a hit.

Home improvement loans vs. equity financing

A home improvement loan makes sense if you don’t have enough equity in the home or don’t want to use it as collateral. Equity is the difference between the home’s value and the amount owed on your mortgage.

If you have equity, you could get a lower monthly payment on a home equity loan or line of credit, but the lender may require an appraisal before approval.

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 on a term of up to 15 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 during a renovation and only pay interest on what you borrow. This is a variable-rate option that works best if you don’t mind a fluctuating monthly payment and need more borrowing flexibility.

Compare to personal loans: A HELOC lets you borrow at any time over a period of about 10 years, which can be ideal for long-term projects or unexpected expenses. A personal loan offers a one-time cash influx.

Home improvement loan pros and cons

Here are the pros and cons of using personal loans for home improvement projects.

Pros

  • Payments are fixed. Personal loans have fixed monthly payments, so you can reliably budget for them.

  • Funding is fast. Online applications typically take a few minutes, and funds are available within a day or two at some lenders, while funds from a HELOC or home equity loan can take a few weeks.

  • No collateral required. Unlike an auto or home loan, personal loans don’t require collateral, so the lender can’t take your possessions if you don’t make the payments.

Cons

  • They can have high rates. Since the loan is unsecured, the interest rate may be higher than on a home equity loan or home equity line of credit, which typically have rates in the single digits.

  • No tax benefits. You can’t claim a tax deduction on the interest on personal loans as you might be able to do with mortgage interest.

How to compare home improvement loans

Shopping around and pre-qualifying can help you find the loan with the best rate and features. These are a few important features to compare among home improvement loans:

  • Annual percentage rates: APRs represent the entire cost of the loan, including any fees the lender may charge. If you’re a member of a credit union, that may be the best place to start. The maximum APR at federal credit unions is 18%.

  • Loan amount: Some lenders cap amounts at $35,000 or $40,000. If you think your project will cost more than that, look for a lender that offers higher loan amounts.

  • Loan term: 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. You can use a home improvement loan calculator to see estimated payments on loans with different terms.

  • Ability to add a co-signer or co-borrower: Some lenders will let you add a co-signer or co-borrower to your loan application. Adding someone with better credit or higher income to the loan application may help reduce your APR or increase the amount you can borrow.

Home improvement loan rates

Current home improvement loan rates are between 4.49% and 35.99%. Lenders decide your rate on a home improvement loan primarily by using your credit score, credit history and debt-to-income ratio.

Here's what personal loan rates look like, on average:

Borrower credit rating

Score range

Estimated APR

Excellent

720-850.

12.64%

Good

690-719.

14.84%

Fair

630-689.

18.69%.

Bad

300-629.

21.74%.

Source: Average rates are based on aggregate, anonymized offer data from users who pre-qualified through NerdWallet from March 1, 2024, through March 31, 2024. Rates are estimates only and not specific to any lender. The lowest credit scores — usually below 500 — are unlikely to qualify. Information in this table applies only to lenders with maximum APRs below 36%.

How to use a home improvement loan

Unsecured loans can cover almost any purchase. How much you’ll need will vary 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.

Other types of home improvement financing

Federal programs

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 HUD website.

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.

Cash-out refinancing

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 current mortgage rates are lower than the one you're paying now.

Credit cards

You can strategically use a credit card to cover the cost of your upgrades. Rewards cards can get you paid 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 or higher) to qualify for a zero-interest or rewards card.

To recap our selections...

NerdWallet's Excellent Home Improvement Personal Loans of 2022

  • SoFi Personal Loan: Excellent for Personal loans for good to excellent credit
  • Upstart: Excellent for Personal loans for bad, fair, or good credit + Personal loans for fast funding
  • LightStream: Excellent for Personal loans for good to excellent credit
  • Upgrade: Excellent for Personal loans for fair credit + Co-signed and joint loans