Diamond status: Which credit card should I use to buy an engagement ring?
If you’re ready to pop the question, congratulations! But first, you’ll want to ask a different one: How will you actually pay for the ring?
According to The Knot’s Jewelry and Engagement Study, the average engagement ring costs around $5,500. Understandably, you’ll want to maximize a big purchase like this with the right credit card.
So what is the best way to pay for it with a credit card? First, decide which factor is most important to you:
- If you want to pay off the ring purchase over time: Look for cards with the best introductory 0% annual percentage rate offer.
- If you want to hit a sign-up bonus for a large influx of points: Look for cards with great welcome offers.
- If you want the best return on your purchase: Look for cards with a solid flat-rate earning structure.
- If you want to make sure your ring is protected: Look for cards with great purchase protection.
Here are some of our favorite cards for each category.
Best intro APR offer
Winner: Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card
Annual fee: $0 (see rates and fees)
Rewards on your engagement ring: Earn a $200 cash bonus once you spend $500 on purchases within three months of account opening. You’ll also earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases, including your ring purchase.
Why we love it: With Capital One Quicksilver (see rates and fees), you’ll get 0% intro APR for the first 15 months on new purchases starting when you open your account (19.99%—29.99% variable APR after). Plus, that cash bonus will help offset the ring cost a bit.
If you use this card to purchase a $6,000 engagement ring, you’ll need to pay at least $400 a month to pay that off over 15 months without interest with this card. The best part is that you’ll also get 1.5% back in cash-back rewards (around $90 for a $6,000 ring purchase).
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For more details, check out our full review of the Capital One Quicksilver.
Learn more: Capital One Quicksilver
For additional options, check out our list of best cards with a 0% APR intro offer.
Best welcome bonus
When choosing a card for your engagement ring, a welcome bonus can be a great deciding factor, as this welcome bonus can be used to fund your honeymoon.
Winner: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Annual fee: $95
Rewards on your engagement ring: Earn 60,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points after spending $4,000 in the first three months from account opening. This bonus is worth $1,230 according to TPG’s August 2024 valuations. In addition to this bonus, you’ll earn one point per dollar spent on your ring purchase.
Why we love it: The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is offering a valuable welcome offer, so if you’re looking to purchase an engagement ring and earn a healthy bonus, the timing may be perfect. But beyond earning a solid welcome bonus, you’ll also enjoy a variety of bonus categories, a $50 annual hotel credit for reservations made through Chase Travel℠ and terrific travel protections, all for a reasonable $95 annual fee.
The Sapphire Preferred does have a purchase protection benefit that covers theft or damage to eligible items purchased with your card in the past 120 days, but you’ll only be reimbursed for up to $500 per claim. That’s likely not going to come close to covering the full price of the ring.
For more details, check out our full review of the Chase Sapphire Preferred.
Apply here: Chase Sapphire Preferred
Runner up: The Platinum Card® from American Express
Annual fee: $695 (see rates and fees)
Rewards on your engagement ring: Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on the card in your first six months of card membership. This bonus is worth $1,600, according to TPG’s August 2024 valuations. In addition to this bonus, you’ll earn one point per dollar on your ring purchase.
Why we love it: If you’re willing to splurge for a higher annual fee in exchange for additional perks, The Platinum Card from American Express could be a great option. It has a solid welcome bonus offer of 80,000 Membership Rewards points, but it’s possible to get targeted for a much bigger bonus through CardMatch (offer subject to change at any time) or via a referral. Not only does this card have a healthy bonus, but the Amex Membership Rewards points it earns are some of the most valuable transferable rewards you can get.
The Amex Platinum has a slew of great benefits, and one that’s particularly useful in a ring purchase is its purchase protection. When you pay with this card, you’ll be covered for damage and theft for 90 days from the date of purchase. You can be reimbursed for the amount charged to the card for up to a maximum of $10,000 per incident ($50,000 max per account per calendar year). Enrollment is required for select benefits.*
* Eligibility and benefit levels vary by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details. Policies are underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.
For more details, check out our full review of the Amex Platinum Card.
Apply here: Amex Platinum
For additional options, check out our full list of cards with the most valuable welcome bonuses.
Best flat-rate earning
Winner: Chase Freedom Unlimited®
Annual fee: $0
Rewards on your engagement ring: Earn 1.5% cash back on non-bonus spending. Plus, earn a sign-up bonus of an additional 1.5% on all purchases, up to $20,000 in the first year. This means you’ll get a 3% return on your engagement ring if you purchase it within the first year of opening the card.
Why we love it: An engagement ring purchase likely won’t fall into a bonus-earning category with most cards, so you’ll want to use a card that has a solid flat-earning rate (like the Chase Freedom Unlimited) to earn maximum rewards on your purchase. This card earns 1.5% cash back on all purchases, including your ring. But what really sets the Freedom Unlimited apart is that those rewards can turn into transferable Ultimate Rewards points if you also have the Chase Sapphire Reserve® or Chase Sapphire Preferred Card. Based on TPG’s August 2024 valuations, this would increase the value of your points to just over 2 cents each.
The Freedom Unlimited does offer 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 months your account is open. Although this can give you additional time to pay off your purchase, the APR will jump to a variable 20.49% — 29.24% based on your creditworthiness once the first 15 months are over. Additionally, items you purchase that have a manufacturer’s warranty of three years or less will be covered by an extra year of extended warranty protection for up to $10,000 per claim. You’ll also be protected against theft or damage to your purchases within the first 120 days, but only for up to $500 per item.
For more details, check out our full review of the Chase Freedom Unlimited.
Apply here: Chase Freedom Unlimited
Cash-back runner up: Citi Double Cash® Card
Annual fee: $0 (see rates and fees)
THE POINTS GUY
Rewards on your engagement ring: Earn 2% back (1% when you buy and 1% when you pay your bill) on all purchases, including an engagement ring. Plus, earn $200 cash back after spending $1,500 on purchases in the first six months of account opening.
Why we love it: If you’re looking for cash back, the Citi Double Cash® Card (see rates and fees) is another great option with a solid flat-rate return on all purchases. It doesn’t come with an introductory purchase APR offer or purchase protections like the Chase Freedom Unlimited, but it doesn’t charge an annual fee and comes with a better cash-back return if you don’t have another Chase card to pair with the CFU.
For more details, check out our full review of the Citi Double Cash.
Apply here: Citi Double Cash
Travel rewards runner-up: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Annual fee: $95
Rewards on your engagement ring: Earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening. In addition, upon opening your account, you’ll receive a one-time $250 credit for Capital One Travel — which is valid for one year. This offer ends Sept. 9. This bonus is worth $1,639 according to TPG’s August 2024 valuations. Plus, earn an unlimited 2 miles per dollar on every purchase, including an engagement ring.
Why we love it: The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is another card with a great flat-rate earning structure. While the card does come with a $95 annual fee, you’ll also get a solid sign-up bonus, extended warranty protection and the flexibility to redeem miles as a statement credit for travel or by transferring to partners.
For more details, check out our full review of the Capital One Venture Rewards credit card.
Learn more: Capital One Venture Rewards Card
For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the above benefits are provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply
For additional options, check out our full list of best cash-back cards and best travel rewards cards.
Best for purchase protection
Winner: American Express® Gold Card
Annual fee: $325 (see rates and fees)
Rewards on your engagement ring: Earn 60,000 bonus American Express Membership Rewards points after spending $6,000 on your card in the first six months of account opening. Plus, receive 20% back in statement credits on eligible restaurant purchases (up to $100) within the first six months of card membership. This bonus is worth $1,300 according to TPG’s August 2024 valuations. You’ll also earn 1 point per dollar on your engagement ring purchase with this card.
Why we love it: If you want a card that offers great purchase protection but aren’t ready to pay the Amex Platinum‘s hefty annual fee, the Amex Gold Card is a great option. Just like with the Amex Platinum, you’ll be covered for damage and theft for 90 days from the date of purchase. You can be reimbursed for the amount charged to the card, for up to a maximum of $10,000 per incident ($50,000 max per account per calendar year). Enrollment required for select benefits.*
* Eligibility and benefit levels vary by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details. Policies are underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.
For more details, check out our full review of the Amex Gold Card.
Apply here: Amex Gold
For additional options, check out our favorite cards with purchase protection.
Bottom line
An engagement ring is probably one of the biggest purchases you’ll make, so think carefully about which card you’ll use when the time comes. Make sure you choose a credit card that’s best suited to your purchase priorities, and have a plan to pay off the balance before you get hit with interest on this large purchase. If you follow our advice, your rewards balance will sparkle almost as much as the new ring when you pop the big question.
Related: The most romantic all-inclusive honeymoon resorts around the world
For the rates and fees of the Amex Platinum, click here.
For rates and fees of the Amex Gold, please click here.
