Loan Amounts & Terms

    How much can I borrow with a personal loan in Canada?

    Last updated: April 21, 2026
    Reviewed against Bank of Canada, Equifax & FCAC sources

    Loan amount ranges by lender type

    Lender TypeTypical RangeBest Credit Tier
    Big 5 banks$5,000–$50,000700+
    Credit unions$1,000–$50,000660+
    Online prime lenders$1,000–$35,000660+
    Alternative lenders$500–$25,000560+
    Subprime specialists$500–$15,000Any

    What determines your maximum

    1. Credit score — directly caps which lender pool you can access
    2. Gross monthly income — most lenders cap your TDS (total debt service) at 40–44%
    3. Existing debt payments — every $100/mo in current debt reduces your borrowing capacity by ~$8,000 on a 5-year term
    4. Employment stability — full-time permanent beats contract beats self-employed
    5. Loan purpose — debt consolidation often qualifies for higher amounts than discretionary spending

    Quick affordability formula

    Maximum new monthly payment = (Gross monthly income × 0.40) − existing debt payments

    Example: $5,500 income with $800 in existing payments = $1,400 max new payment. At 11.99% over 60 months, that supports approximately $63,000 borrowed (capped by lender max of $50K).

    Use the LoanIQ Affordability Calculator to model your exact number.

    Sources

    Related resources

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