Best home improvement loans in May 2025

Best for thin or no credit

PERSONAL LOAN

4.7

6.60- 35.99%

Min credit score

300

$307

Loan amount

$1k-$50k

Best for short repayment terms

PERSONAL LOAN

4.6

11.49- 20.49%

Min credit score

Not disclosed

$330

Loan amount

$2k-$30k

on Bankrate

Best for lowest starting rate

PERSONAL LOAN

4.6

6.99- 35.99%

Min credit score

600

$309

Loan amount

$2k-$50k

Best for co-borrowers

PERSONAL LOAN

4.7

7.90- 35.99%

Min credit score

600

$313

Loan amount

$1k-$40k

Best for customer experience

PERSONAL LOAN

4.6

7.99- 35.99%

with AutoPay

Min credit score

580

$314

Loan amount

$1k-$50k

Best peer-to-peer lender

PERSONAL LOAN

4.5

8.99- 35.99%

Min credit score

600

$318

Loan amount

$2k-$50k

on Bankrate

Best for excellent credit borrowers

PERSONAL LOAN

4.8

7.99- 24.99%

Min credit score

660

$314

Loan amount

$2.5k-$40k

Best for rate discounts

PERSONAL LOAN

4.5

8.99- 29.99%

Min credit score

620

$318

Loan amount

$5k-$50k

Read our review

on Bankrate

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A closer look at our top home improvement loan lenders

Here we take a deeper dive into the details that earned each lender a spot as the best in its category. We also offer some guidance about who specifically may benefit most from the lender’s products.

LightStream: Best for large loan amounts

4.5

Est. APR

6.99%–21.19%

Loan amount

$5k–$100k

Min credit score

695

Loan term

2-12 yrs

Origination fee

Not specified

Pros

High maximum loan amount
Low APRs
No fees

Cons

Good to excellent credit required
High minimum loan amount
No due date flexibility

Pros

Cons

WHO'S IT FOR:

Borrowers with excellent credit seeking high loan amounts and flexible terms at some of the lowest APRs available can qualify. LightStream’s unsecured personal loans are big enough for major home projects and come with competitive rates for qualified borrowers. Besides that, the lender offers terms as long as 12 years for home improvement loans, giving you a lower monthly payment option than most personal loan lenders allow.

Known qualification requirements

Good to excellent credit

A credit history of at least several years

A low debt-to-income ratio
Fees

None
Time to receive funds

Same-day funding available if loan is approved by 2:30 p.m. ET

Truist Bank is an Equal Housing Lender. © 2025 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.

Upstart: Best for thin or bad credit

4.7

Est. APR

6.60%–35.99%

Loan amount

$1k–$50k

Min credit score

300

Loan term

3-5 yrs

Origination fee

Up to 12%

Pros

Low minimum loan amount
15-day grace period
No credit score minimum

Cons

No co-borrowers allowed
Limited loan terms
High fees

Pros

Cons

WHO'S IT FOR:

Borrowers with low or no credit credit who need extra help to finance small or midsize projects may benefit from a loan from Upstart. Its low minimum loan amount is also good for smaller home fix-up jobs.

Known qualification requirements

Valid physical address

Social Security number

Verifiable personal bank account

Steady income or job offer starting within six months

Earn a minimum annual income of $12,000

Fees

Origination fee of up to 12%

Late payment fee of 5% of the past due amount or $15, whichever is greater

$15 check return fee

$10 paper copy fee

Time to receive funds

Next business day after approval

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 down payment 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.

Citi: Best for short repayment terms

4.6

Est. APR

11.49%–20.49%

Loan amount

$2k–$30k

Min credit score

Not specified

Loan term

1-5 yrs

Origination fee

Not specified

Pros

One-year terms available (the shortest among featured lenders)
Autopay discount
No fees

Cons

Limited loan amount range
No joint applications
High minimum APR

Pros

Cons

WHO'S IT FOR:

Good credit borrowers who want the fastest path to repaying money borrowed for their home fix-up plans. Qualified Citi borrowers may get an extra discount for autopay and another for being a Citigold or Citi Priority customer.

Known qualification requirements

Steady income

At least 18 years old

Social Security number

Fees

None

Time to receive funds

Same day or within two business days of approval for direct deposit, within five days for check

Terms, conditions, and fees for accounts, products, programs and services are subject to change at any time.
You must be at least 18 years of age (21 years of age in Puerto Rico). Co-applicants are not permitted. Existing Citi deposit and credit card customers who have been a Citi customer for less than 12 months are not eligible for a Citi® Personal Loan.
If you apply online, you must agree to receive the loan note and all other account disclosures provided with your loan origination in an electronic format and provide your signature electronically.
Rates as of 12-01-2024. Your APR may be as low as 11.49% or as high as 20.49% for the term of your loan. The lowest rate quoted assumes excellent credit and a loan term of 24 or 36 months. Your APR will depend on a variety of factors including your creditworthiness, term of loan, and existing relationship with Citi. Citi offers personal loans with a period of repayment between 12 and 60-month terms. For example, if you borrow $10,000 for 36 months at 15.99% APR, to repay your loan you will have to make 36 monthly payments of approximately $351.52.
There is a 0.5% APR discount if you enroll in automatic payments at loan origination. Additionally, existing Citigold and Citi Priority customers will receive a 0.25% discount to the APR. If you are in default, your APR may increase by 2.00%. Rates subject to change without notice.
To check for offers you may qualify for, Citi conducts a soft credit inquiry. If you are presented with an offer and choose to proceed with the application process, Citi will conduct a hard credit inquiry which may have an impact on your credit score.
Citi® Personal Loan proceeds cannot be used to pay for post-secondary education expenses or for business purposes. Credit cards issued by Citibank, N.A. or its affiliates, as well as Checking Plus and Ready Credit accounts, are not eligible for debt consolidation, and Citibank will not issue payoff checks for these accounts. If you are unsure of the issuer on the account, please visit https://www.citi.com/affiliatesproducts for a list of Citi products and affiliates.
If you are approved for a personal loan with Citi, you can get your funds the same day with a Citi deposit account, or up to 2 business days for a non-Citi account when using direct deposit. Or, you can select to receive a check by mail in approximately 5 business days.
Personal loans are made available by Citibank, N.A., Equal Housing lender

Best Egg: Best for lowest starting rate

4.6

Est. APR

6.99%–35.99%

Loan amount

$2k–$50k

Min credit score

600

Loan term

3-5 yrs

Origination fee

0.99% - 9.99%

Pros

Lower rates for loans secured by home fixtures or your vehicle
Low minimum rates for qualified borrowers
Low minimum credit score

Cons

High origination fees
Fewer repayment options
Higher minimum loan amount

Pros

Cons

WHO'S IT FOR:

Borrowers with excellent credit who seek the lowest rate are most likely to qualify Best Egg's lowest rates. Homeowners may also want to check out the lender's unique secured loan options if they don't qualify for its best rates.

Known qualification requirements

Reside in one of the states serviced

Fees

Origination fee of 0.99% to 8.99%

$15 late payment fee

$15 returned payment fee

Time to receive funds

Next business day after approval
*Trustpilot TrustScore as of June 2024. Best Egg loans are personal loans made by Cross River Bank, a New Jersey State Chartered Commercial Bank, Member FDIC, Equal Housing Lender or Blue Ridge Bank, N.A., Member FDIC, Equal Housing Lender. The Best Egg Credit Card is issued exclusively by First Bank & Trust, Member FDIC, Brookings SD pursuant to a license by Visa International. Visa is a registered trademark, and the Visa logo design is a trademark of Visa International Incorporated. “Best Egg” is a trademark of Best Egg Technologies, LLC. Offers may be sent pursuant to a joint marketing agreement between Cross River Bank, Blue Ridge Bank, N.A. and/or First Bank & Trust and Marlette Marketing, LLC, a subsidiary of Best Egg, Inc. The term, amount, and APR of any loan we offer to you will depend on your credit score, income, debt payment obligations, loan amount, credit history and other factors. Your loan agreement will contain specific terms and conditions. About half of our customers get their money the next day. After successful verification, your money can be deposited in your bank account within 1-3 business days. The timing of available funds upon loan approval may vary depending upon your bank’s policies. Loan amounts range from $2,000– $50,000. Residents of Massachusetts have a minimum loan amount of $6,500; Ohio, $5,001; and Georgia, $3,001. For a second Best Egg loan, your total existing Best Egg loan balances cannot exceed $100,000. Annual Percentage Rates (APRs) range from 6.99%–35.99%. The APR is the cost of credit as a yearly rate and reflects both your interest rate and an origination fee of 0.99%–9.99% of your loan amount, which will be deducted from any loan proceeds you receive. The origination fee on a loan term 4-years or longer will be at least 4.99%. Your loan term will impact your APR, which may be higher than our lowest advertised rate. You need a minimum 700 FICO® score and a minimum individual annual income of $100,000 to qualify for our lowest APR. For example: a 5‐year $10,000 loan with 9.99% APR has 60 scheduled monthly payments of $201.81, and a 3‐year $5,000 loan with 6.99% APR has 36 scheduled monthly payments of $152.83. To help the government fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering activities, Federal law requires all financial institutions to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person who opens an account. What this means for you: When you open an account, we will ask for your name, address, date of birth, and other information that will allow us to identify you. We may also ask to see your driver’s license or other identifying documents. Best Egg products are not available if you live in Iowa, Vermont, West Virginia, the District of Columbia, or U.S. Territories. TO REPORT A PROBLEM OR COMPLAINT WITH THIS LENDER, YOU MAY WRITE OR CALL– Operations Manager, Email: crtresolutions@bestegg.com, Address: P.O. Box 42912, Philadelphia, PA 19101, Phone: 1-855-282-6353. This lender is licensed and regulated by the New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department, Financial Institutions Division, P.O. Box 25101, 2550 Cerrillos Road, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87504. To report any unresolved problems or complaints, contact the division by telephone at (505) 476-4885 or visit the website https://www.rld.nm.gov/financial-institutions

LendingClub: Best for co-borrowers

4.7

Est. APR

7.90%–35.99%

Loan amount

$1k–$40k

Min credit score

600

Loan term

2-6 yrs

Origination fee

Not specified

Pros

Funds may be available the day you apply
Joint loans allowed
Convenient mobile app

Cons

High origination fees
No autopay discount
High maximum rates

Pros

Cons

WHO'S IT FOR:

Homeowners who want a small loan amount at a competitive rate may benefit from LendingClub's $1,000 minimum with rates below 9 percent. Funds may be available within a day and co-borrowers are allowed if you need extra help qualifying.

Known qualification requirements

Be U.S. citizen or have long-term visa

Have verifiable bank account

Be at least 18 years old

Fees

Origination fee of 3% to 8%

Late payment fee of $15 or 5%, whichever is greater

Time to receive funds

Within 1 business day

(1) Checking a rate through us generates a soft credit inquiry on a person’s credit report, which is visible only to that person. A hard credit inquiry, which is visible to that person and others, and which may affect that person’s credit score, only appears on the person’s credit report if and when a loan is issued to the person. Credit eligibility is not guaranteed. APR and other credit terms depend upon credit score and other key financing characteristics, including but not limited to the amount financed, loan term length, and credit usage and history.

(2) Between October 1, 2024 to December 31, 2024, Personal Loans issued by LendingClub Bank were funded within 22 hours after loan approval, on average. 57% of Personal Loans issued by LendingClub Bank during the same period were funded within 24 hours after loan approval. Loan approval, and the time it takes to issue a credit decision, are not guaranteed and individual results vary based on creditworthiness and other factors, including but not limited to investor demand.

A representative example of payment terms for a Personal Loan is as follows: a borrower receives a loan of $19,389 for a term of 36 months, with an interest rate of 11.75% and a 6.00% origination fee of $1,163 for an APR of 16.10%. In this example, the borrower will receive $18,226 and will make 36 monthly payments of $642. Loan amounts range from $1,000 to $40,000 and loan term lengths range from 24 months to 72 months. Some amounts, rates, and term lengths may be unavailable in certain states.

For Personal Loans, APR ranges from 7.90% to 35.99% and origination fee ranges from 0.00% to 8.00% of the loan amount. APRs and origination fees are determined at the time of application. Lowest APR is available to borrowers with excellent credit. Advertised rates and fees are valid as of Jan 9, 2025 and are subject to change without notice.

Unless otherwise specified, loans are made by LendingClub Bank, N.A., Member FDIC (“LendingClub Bank”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of LendingClub Corporation, NMLS ID 167439. LendingClub Bank is not an affiliate of Bankrate and is not responsible for the products and services provided by Bankrate.

Loans are subject to credit approval and sufficient investor commitment. If a credit union is selected to invest in the loan, credit union membership will be required. Certain information that LendingClub Bank subsequently obtains as part of the application process (including but not limited to information in your consumer report, your income, the loan amount that you request, the purpose of your loan, and qualifying debt) will be considered and could affect your ability to obtain a loan. Loan closing is contingent on accepting all required agreements and disclosures at Lendingclub.com.

“LendingClub” is a trademark of LendingClub Bank.

Upgrade: Best for customer experience

4.6

Est. APR

7.99%–35.99%

Loan amount

$1k–$50k

Min credit score

580

Loan term

2-7 yrs

Origination fee

Not specified

Pros

Option to add a co-borrower
Perks like credit monitoring and seven-day-a-week customer service
Low credit score minimum and flexible repayment terms

Cons

Fees up to almost 10 percent
Qualifying requirements not disclosed on website
High APR maximum

Pros

Cons

WHO'S IT FOR:

Those with fair or less-than-ideal credit who need funds fast are likely to find a loan from Upgrade useful. Upgrade is also notable for terms of up to seven years, longer than what’s offered by other fair credit companies.

Known qualification requirements

U.S. citizen or permanent resident

At least 18 years old

Valid email address

Valid bank account
Fees

1.85% to 9.99% origination fee

$10 late fee

$10 returned check fee
Time to receive funds

One business day if sent to borrower, up to two weeks if sent directly to creditors

Personal loans made through Upgrade feature Annual Percentage Rates (APRs) of 7.99%-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/.

Prosper: Best peer-to-peer lender

4.5

Est. APR

8.99%–35.99%

Loan amount

$2k–$50k

Min credit score

600

Loan term

2-5 yrs

Origination fee

Not specified

Pros

Money management tools on website
Option to change payment date
Co-borrowers allowed

Cons

Origination fee
No same-day funding
High maximum interest rate

Pros

Cons

WHO'S IT FOR:

Borrowers looking for a lender that has several investors reviewing their applications for the best rates and terms are likely to benefit from a Prosper loan. It offers fixed-rate unsecured personal loans to borrowers with fair to excellent credit and the application process is simple and quick.

Known qualification requirements

Recorded income greater than $0

Resident of qualifying state

At least 18 years old

First-time borrowers: Debt-to-income ratio no greater than 50%

Co-borrowers: Minimum credit score of 600

Co-borrowers: No bankruptcy filings in last 12 months

Co-borrowers: At least one open credit account

Fees

Origination fee between 1% and 7.99%

Late payment fee of $15 or 5%, whichever is greater

Check fee of $5 or 5%, whichever is less

$15 insufficient funds fee

Time to receive funds

Next business day after approval

For example, a three-year $10,000 personal loan would have an interest rate of 9.88% and a 7.99% origination fee for an annual percentage rate (APR) of 15.70% APR. You would receive $9,201 and make 36 scheduled monthly payments of $322.11. A five-year $10,000 personal loan would have an interest rate of 11.64% and a 7.99% origination fee with a 15.36% APR. You would receive $9,201 and make 60 scheduled monthly payments of $220.63. Origination fees vary between 1% and 9.99%. Personal loan APRs through Prosper range from 8.99% to 35.99%, with the lowest rates for the most creditworthy borrowers. Eligibility for personal loans up to $50,000 depends on the information provided by the applicant in the application form. Eligibility for personal loans is not guaranteed, and requires that a sufficient number of investors commit funds to your account and that you meet credit and other conditions. Refer to Borrower Registration Agreement for details and all terms and conditions. All personal loans made by WebBank.

Discover: Best for excellent credit borrowers

4.8

Est. APR

7.99%–24.99%

Loan amount

$2.5k–$40k

Min credit score

660

Loan term

3-7 yrs

Origination fee

Not specified

Pros

No origination fee
Low rates
Long term options

Cons

Unusually high late fee
No 24-month term
$25,000 minimum income requirement

Pros

Cons

WHO'S IT FOR:

Discover is better for those who don’t quite meet the requirements for good or excellent credit and who need lower rates or longer-term options. Its maximum rate is about 10 percent less than other fair credit lenders, which could give you a much lower monthly payment.

Known qualification requirements

Minimum income of $25,000

U.S. citizen or resident

At least 18 years old

Fees

Possible late payment fee of $39

Time to receive funds

As soon as the next business day
Lowest rates include interest-only repayment discount and a .25% interest rate reduction for automatic payment.

Achieve: Best for rate discounts

4.5