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If you want to make a statement at the cash register, try paying with a metal card credit. Although offered by a number of card issuers, they are still relatively rare and may turn a few heads. Sure, they are eye-catching, but metal credit cards are also heavier and sturdier than traditional plastic cards, making them the preferred choice for some people.
Whether you like the idea of a metal credit card as a status symbol or as a rugged addition to your wallet, here’s everything you need to know about this unique payment option.
History of metal credit cards
Metal credit cards as we know them today debuted in 1999 with the introduction of the Centurion Card from American Express. Also known as the Black Card, this credit card is still available today and seen by many as the ultimate payment status symbol.
To get a Centurion Card, you need an invitation, and word on the internet is that you only get invitation if you’re spending at least $350,000 on your existing American Express cards each year. Then, you need to pay a $10,000 initiation fee and a $5,000 annual fee. Clearly, the people who qualify for this card are an elite group. All information about the Centurion Card has been collected independently by CardRatings.
Fortunately, you no longer need deep pockets to get a metal credit card. That’s because most of the major players in the credit card industry – including Chase, Citi and Capital One – now offer metal credit card options. Keep reading to see our top choices below, as well as how much those cards weigh. For reference, a paperclip weighs about 1 gram and a U.S. nickel weighs about 5 grams.
What are the best metal credit cards?
Our top picks for the best metal credit cards include:
- CardName for its signup bonus and popular travel rewards currency
- CardName for airport lounge access
- CardName for a no-annual-fee option
There are plenty of additional solid metal credit card options. Check out the details below for our top three picks as well as for several others.
Best metal credit card for airport lounge access
CardName
American Express is a CardRatings advertiser.
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Weight: 17g
Bonus: Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on your new card in your first six months of card membership.
Rewards: 5X points on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel (on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year); 5X points on prepaid hotels booked through amextravel.com; and one point per $1 on all other eligible purchases.
Annual fee: AnnualFees
Added perks: Access to the Global Lounge Collection, an airport lounge program that includes proprietary lounges worldwide (and a proprietary scent as well, if that’s your thing); up to $200 per calendar year in baggage fees and other incidental fees with one qualifying pre-selected airline; up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases at Saks Fifth Avenue; up to $200 in statement credit annually when you use your card for prepaid bookings with American Express Travel at Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection (minimum two-night stay required) properties; up to $189 in statement credit each year when you pay for your Clear membership with your card; $15 in Uber Cash for orders with Uber Eats or rides with Uber in the U.S. every month plus a bonus $20 in December (available to basic card member only); and additional credits and benefit opportunities (terms apply & enrollment required for some benefits).
Best signup bonus for a metal credit card
CardName
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Weight: 13g
Bonus: Enjoy a 60,000-point bonus after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. That’s $750 in travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
Rewards: Earn 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
Annual fee: AnnualFees
Added perks: Points are worth 25% more when redeemed for travel through Chase Travel; no blackout dates or travel restrictions; no foreign transaction fees for purchases made outside the United States; 24/7 direct access to a customer service specialist; auto rental collision damage waiver; trip cancellation/trip interruption insurance; travel and emergency assistance services; baggage delay insurance; extended warranty protection; purchase protection; and more.
Best flexible travel rewards for a metal credit card
CardName
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Weight: 16g
Bonus: Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within three months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.
Rewards: Earn unlimited 2X miles per dollar on every purchase, every day.
Annual fee: AnnualFees
Added perks: Receive up to $100 application fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck; no foreign transaction fees; travel accident insurance; extended warranty protection; auto rental collision damage waiver; fly any airline, stay at any hotel, anytime, thanks to no blackout dates; ability to transfer your miles to numerous leading travel loyalty programs; and more.
Best trip insurance for a metal credit card
CardName
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Weight: 13g
Bonus: Enjoy 60,000 points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. That’s $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
Rewards: Earn 5X total points on flights and 10X total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually, 3X points on other travel and dining, and 1X point per dollar spent on all other purchases. The $300 annual travel credit is received as reimbursement for eligible purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
Annual fee: AnnualFees
Added perks: Points are worth 50% more when you redeem for travel through Chase Travel; access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select; no blackout dates or travel restrictions; no foreign transaction fees for purchases made outside the United States; 24/7 direct access to a customer service specialists; auto rental collision damage waiver; trip cancellation/trip interruption insurance; travel and emergency assistance services; extended warranty protection; purchase protection; and more.
Best no-annual-fee metal credit card
CardName
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Weight: 12g
Bonus: Receive 20,000 bonus points, with a value of $200, after spending $1,000 within the first 90 days of opening an account.
Rewards: Earn 4X points on dining, takeout, and restaurant delivery; 2X points on streaming services; 2X at grocery stores and gas stations/EV charging stations (discount stores/supercenters and wholesale clubs excluded effective September 9, 2024); 1X point on all other eligible purchases.
Annual fee: AnnualFees
Added perks: New cardholders enjoy a 0% APR on purchases and balance transfers for their first 12 billing cycles (then, RegAPR). The card also offers an annual streaming credit of $15 for purchases on services such as Netflix, Spotify and Apple TV+.
Best metal credit card for groceries
CardName
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Weight: 15g
Bonus: Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $6,000 on purchases within six months of opening an account.
Rewards: Earn 4X points per $1 spent at restaurants worldwide and on up to $25,000 of annual purchases at U.S. supermarkets, 3X points for flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com and 1X points for all other eligible purchases.
Annual fee: AnnualFees
Added perks: American Express has brought back the popular rose gold color option for its Gold Card, but that’s not the only perk cardholders will receive. The card also comes with $120 in Uber Cash and $120 in dining credits (with specific restaurants) which are both available in $10 increments each month (enrollment required from some benefits). Just add your card to your Uber account and you’ll automatically get $10 in Uber Cash each month for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S.
Heaviest metal credit card (available to general public)
CardName
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Weight: 22g
Bonus: Enjoy 0% introductory APR for the first 15 billing cycles on balance transfers made in the first 45 days after account opening, then RegAPR.
Rewards: Earn one point for every $1 spent with the card.
Annual fee: AnnualFees
Added perks: You can redeem your points for airfare at a 2% value – that means that 50,000 points are worth a $1,000 flight – or enjoy a 1.5% value for cash back redemptions. Earn up to $100 in annual air travel credit toward flight-related purchases including airline tickets, baggage fees, upgrades and more. CardName members receive a $100 automatic statement credit for the cost of the Global Entry application fee. Other perks include complimentary access to 1300+ airport lounges around the world with Priority Pass Select (automatic enrollment with card), trip delay and travel accident insurance, auto rental collision waiver, and more. Terms and conditions apply
Best metal credit card for hotel rewards
CardName
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Weight: 15g
Bonus: Earn 185,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after you use your new card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first six months of card membership.
Rewards: Earn 6X points per $1 spent on hotel purchases at participating Marriott Bonvoy properties, 3X points at restaurants worldwide and on flights booked directly with airlines, and 2X points on other eligible purchases.
Annual fee: AnnualFees
Added perks: Each calendar year, get up to $300 (up to $25 per month) in statement credits for eligible purchases made on the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express card at restaurants worldwide.
Best metal credit card for airline loyalty
CardName
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Weight: 18g
Bonus: Earn 70,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $7,000 within the first three months of account opening.
Rewards: Earn four miles per $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases. Earn one mile per $1 for all other purchases.
Annual fee AnnualFees
Added perks: Cardholders receive complementary airport lounge access as members of the Admirals Club. Other perks include a $100 application fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck, free checked bag on American Airlines domestic itineraries for you and up to eight people on the same itinerary, priority check-in and boarding and a 25% discount on in-flight food and beverage purchases when paid for with your card.
*Some card weights courtesy of US Credit Card Guide
FUN FACT!
What’s the heaviest credit card?
The heaviest metal credit card we know about is the JP Morgan Reserve card. It weighs in at a hefty 27 grams, but it’s an invite-only card. If you don’t have $10 million in investable assets at JP Morgan Private Bank, you’re not getting an invite either.
Among the cards available to the general public, the Mastercard® Black Card™ and Mastercard® Gold Card™ tie for the heaviest at 22 grams.
Metal credit card pros and cons
Whether a card is plastic or metal it still makes purchases the same. We recommend considering a card’s APR, bonuses, ongoing rewards, and other perks more heavily than whether it’s metal or not, but there are some important pros and cons of metal credit cards to first consider if you’re looking to apply for one.
Pros of metal credit cards
The most obvious pro of metal credit cards is that they are much more durable than their plastic cousins. If you use a plastic credit card long enough, chances are you’ll need to replace it a few times throughout the life of the account. Even a plastic credit card that’s well taken care of has a hard time standing up to potential accidental damage. They bend easily, can snap, and the printed information usually fades over time. Not to say that a metal credit card is indestructible, but the chances that a metal credit card will survive an accidental run through the washing machine are much higher than that of a plastic card.
There’s also a feel of luxury to metal credit cards that some would count as a pro. Some people like the element of surprise that accompanies handing over an unordinary card, while some just enjoy the look better.
Cons of metal credit cards
While many credit card users might prefer the durable look and feel of metal credit cards, there are a few reasons a heavier, studier card might be considered a con. For starters, though they are certainly sturdier, this also means these cards are much harder to destroy upon expiration or closing of the account. Unlike a plastic credit card, you won’t be able to cut them with scissors, bend them back and forth until they break or shred them. Most even carry “don’t shred” warnings because the cards can damage shredders. So how do you get rid of metal credit cards then? Instead of destroying a metal credit card, issuers can send you an envelope to send expired cards back to them for secure destruction.
Additionally, while the sturdiness of the cards makes them ideal for travel, they may or may not set off metal detectors. Different metal detectors may be more finely tuned than others. Also, TSA security is likely to have you remove everything from your pockets, including non-metal items, so it’s best to expect it to set off a metal detector and put it with keys, etc., when going through airport security. Metal detectors in other places may not be as finely tuned.
FUN FACT!
Are metal credit cards more secure?
Metal credit cards are not inherently more secure than plastic credit cards. They are more durable and will likely stand up better to sliding in and out of your wallet, but their security features are the same as those of traditional cards.
How do you get a metal credit card?
Getting a metal credit card usually requires going through the same application process as you would for a traditional plastic card. In most cases, metal cards are premium offerings, so you stand a better chance of approval with a higher credit score. There are some metal cards that are invite-only products and usually are only available to very high net worth clients.
Unless a credit card normally comes in metal, you typically can’t request a metal version from the issuer; however, there are some third-party companies that will convert a plastic card to metal for a fee. Doing so could compromise the security measures of your card, though, so proceed with caution.
Additionally, we have heard of situations in which a bank decides to switch from metal to plastic cards. If you’re an existing cardholder, you might be able to request a metal version when you’re due for a new card rather than accepting the plastic version. It never hurts to ask if that’s something that’s important to you.
How do you destroy a metal credit card?
Many issuers will help you dispose of an old or expired metal credit card. The durability of metal credit cards can make them difficult to destroy as they won’t go through a typical shredder, so your best bet is to contact the card’s issuer. Many will provide a return envelope so you can send the card back and let the bank dispose of it.
Metal vs. plastic credit cards: Are metal credit cards better?
No, not necessarily. They are more durable than plastic cards, but they aren’t necessarily better than traditional cards when it comes to benefits and perks. Therefore, whether they’re “better” depends on what you’re looking for.
Metal credit cards are often marketed to those who travel extensively and have significant disposable income. They can have annual fees in the hundreds of dollars although they often also come with fantastic perks such as free airport lounge access, elite status in loyalty programs and travel statement credits. If you stay close to home, though, you may be better off with a plastic cash-back card.
Bottom line: don’t choose a credit card simply because it’s metal. If it otherwise fits your needs, consider the metal factor an added benefit.
To see the rates and fees for American Express cards mentioned in this article, please see the following links: CardName (See Rates and Fees); CardName (See Rates and Fees); CardName (See Rates and Fees)
