HELOC Rates by Credit Score: 2026 Average APR Chart

Average HELOC APR by credit tier, April 2026

These are MARKET AVERAGES, not offers — your quote depends on the lender, your equity, your loan-to-value ratio, your income and your full credit profile. HELOC rates are VARIABLE (most are prime plus a lender margin, so your payment moves when prime moves — a rate cut drops your payment automatically, a hike raises it). The figures assume the whole balance stays drawn for the full draw period (drawing gradually costs less) and no annual fee, draw fee or closing cost.

Table 1 — Average HELOC APR by credit tier, April 2026 ($30,000 line, 10-year draw)

The same $30,000 line costs $534.00 more a year in interest at the 580–669 rate than at 800+ ($2,565.00 − $2,031.00), and $44.50 more a month ($213.75 − $169.25); it costs $264.00 more a year at 670–739 than at 800+ ($2,295.00 − $2,031.00).

Table 2 — Market benchmarks on a $30,000 line / 10-year draw

Bankrate’s 7.33% and Curinos’ 7.53% both sit just above the prime rate of 7.00% and just below the 670–739 tier’s 7.65% — the average borrower pays a little more than prime, and the best published rates from 6.75% sit below every tier except 800+.

How your score sets your payment

On the defaults — a 720 score, a $30,000.00 drawn balance, and a 10-year draw — your tier is 670–739, the average HELOC APR is 7.65%, the monthly interest is $191.25, the annual interest is $2,295.00, and the total interest over 10 years is $22,950.00. The whole calculation is the balance times the rate, split into a monthly piece and a yearly piece.

Five things about the model are worth stating plainly. First, the monthly interest is the balance times the APR divided by 12 — $30,000.00 × 7.65% ÷ 12 = $191.25. Second, the annual interest is the balance times the APR — $30,000.00 × 7.65% = $2,295.00. Third, the total interest over the draw is the annual interest times the years — $2,295.00 × 10 = $22,950.00. Fourth, the tier comes from the score alone — 720 is in 670–739, and one point higher at 740 drops the rate to 7.07%. And fifth, the interest-only payment never pays the balance down — after the draw period ends, the repayment period’s payment jumps (often roughly doubles) because principal is added; all listed in Accuracy & limitations.

The worked example, line by line

Setup: 720 credit score, $30,000.00 drawn balance, 10-year draw.

Line 1 — the tier. A 720 score is in the 670–739 tier, so the average HELOC APR is 7.65%.

Line 2 — the monthly interest. The monthly interest is $30,000.00 × 7.65% ÷ 12 = $191.25.

Line 3 — the annual interest. The annual interest is $30,000.00 × 7.65% = $2,295.00.

Line 4 — the total interest. The total interest over 10 years is $2,295.00 × 10 = $22,950.00.

Every branch, checked

Score 800, $30,000, 10 yr: Score 800, drawn balance $30,000.00, draw 10 years: 800 and above, average HELOC APR 6.77%, monthly interest $169.25, annual interest $2,031.00, total interest over 10 years $20,310.00 — An 800 score gets the best tier — 6.77% and $169.25 a month in interest.

Score 650, $30,000, 10 yr: Score 650, drawn balance $30,000.00, draw 10 years: 580–669, average HELOC APR 8.55%, monthly interest $213.75, annual interest $2,565.00, total interest over 10 years $25,650.00 — A 650 score is in the lowest tier — 8.55% and $213.75 a month in interest.

Score 720, $50,000, 10 yr: Score 720, drawn balance $50,000.00, draw 10 years: 670–739, average HELOC APR 7.65%, monthly interest $318.75, annual interest $3,825.00, total interest over 10 years $38,250.00 — A $50,000.00 balance at 7.65% costs $318.75 a month in interest.

Score 720, $10,000, 10 yr: Score 720, drawn balance $10,000.00, draw 10 years: 670–739, average HELOC APR 7.65%, monthly interest $63.75, annual interest $765.00, total interest over 10 years $7,650.00 — A $10,000.00 balance at 7.65% costs $63.75 a month in interest.

Score 760, $30,000, 10 yr: Score 760, drawn balance $30,000.00, draw 10 years: 740–799, average HELOC APR 7.07%, monthly interest $176.75, annual interest $2,121.00, total interest over 10 years $21,210.00 — A 760 score is in the 740–799 tier — 7.07% and $176.75 a month in interest.

Score 720, $100,000, 10 yr: Score 720, drawn balance $100,000.00, draw 10 years: 670–739, average HELOC APR 7.65%, monthly interest $637.50, annual interest $7,650.00, total interest over 10 years $76,500.00 — A $100,000.00 balance at 7.65% costs $637.50 a month in interest.

Score 739, $30,000, 10 yr: Score 739, drawn balance $30,000.00, draw 10 years: 670–739, average HELOC APR 7.65%, monthly interest $191.25, annual interest $2,295.00, total interest over 10 years $22,950.00 — 739 is the top of the tier — one point higher is 740–799.

The reverses, worked backwards

Score at the tier boundary: 740 → 7.07%, monthly $176.75; 739 → 7.65%, monthly $191.25 — one point costs $14.50 a month. The star is SCORE.

Balance for a monthly interest of exactly $200.00 at 7.65%: $31,372.55 — the exact balance is 31372.5490. At the displayed $31,372.55 the monthly interest is $200.00, the annual interest is $2,400.00, and the total interest is $24,000.00. $31,372.54 also rounds to a $200.00 monthly interest (unrounded $199.9999) — $31,372.55 is the smallest cent amount whose unrounded monthly interest reaches $200.00. The star is DOLLARS.

APR for an annual interest of exactly $2,500.00 on a $30,000 line: 8.33% — the exact APR is 8.3333%. At the displayed 8.33% the annual interest is $2,499.00 — one dollar under the $2,500.00 target. 8.34% gives $2,502.00. The star is APR.

Draw length where total interest first reaches $25,000.00 ($30,000 at 7.65%): 11 years is the shortest draw where total interest reaches $25,000 (total $25,245.00); 10 years gives total $22,950.00. The star is YEARS.

Balance for a 10-year total interest of exactly $20,000.00 at 7.65%: $26,143.79 — the exact balance is 26143.7908. At the displayed $26,143.79 the annual interest is $2,000.00 (unrounded $1,999.9999) and the total interest is $20,000.00. $26,143.80 is the smallest amount whose unrounded annual interest reaches $2,000.00. The star is DOLLARS.

Score for the bottom of 670–739: 670 → 7.65%, monthly $191.25; 669 → 8.55%, monthly $213.75 — one point costs $22.50 a month. The star is SCORE.

What the defaults assume

The defaults are a 720 score, a $30,000.00 drawn balance, and a 10-year draw — tier 670–739, average HELOC APR 7.65%, monthly interest $191.25, annual interest $2,295.00, total interest $22,950.00. With a score of 800, Score 800, drawn balance $30,000.00, draw 10 years: 800 and above, average HELOC APR 6.77%, monthly interest $169.25, annual interest $2,031.00, total interest over 10 years $20,310.00 — An 800 score gets the best tier — 6.77% and $169.25 a month in interest. With a score of 650, Score 650, drawn balance $30,000.00, draw 10 years: 580–669, average HELOC APR 8.55%, monthly interest $213.75, annual interest $2,565.00, total interest over 10 years $25,650.00 — A 650 score is in the lowest tier — 8.55% and $213.75 a month in interest. With a $50,000.00 balance, Score 720, drawn balance $50,000.00, draw 10 years: 670–739, average HELOC APR 7.65%, monthly interest $318.75, annual interest $3,825.00, total interest over 10 years $38,250.00 — A $50,000.00 balance at 7.65% costs $318.75 a month in interest. With a $10,000.00 balance, Score 720, drawn balance $10,000.00, draw 10 years: 670–739, average HELOC APR 7.65%, monthly interest $63.75, annual interest $765.00, total interest over 10 years $7,650.00 — A $10,000.00 balance at 7.65% costs $63.75 a month in interest. With a score of 760, Score 760, drawn balance $30,000.00, draw 10 years: 740–799, average HELOC APR 7.07%, monthly interest $176.75, annual interest $2,121.00, total interest over 10 years $21,210.00 — A 760 score is in the 740–799 tier — 7.07% and $176.75 a month in interest. With a $100,000.00 balance, Score 720, drawn balance $100,000.00, draw 10 years: 670–739, average HELOC APR 7.65%, monthly interest $637.50, annual interest $7,650.00, total interest over 10 years $76,500.00 — A $100,000.00 balance at 7.65% costs $637.50 a month in interest. With a score of 739, Score 739, drawn balance $30,000.00, draw 10 years: 670–739, average HELOC APR 7.65%, monthly interest $191.25, annual interest $2,295.00, total interest over 10 years $22,950.00 — 739 is the top of the tier — one point higher is 740–799. With a score of 580, Score 580, drawn balance $30,000.00, draw 10 years: 580–669, average HELOC APR 8.55%, monthly interest $213.75, annual interest $2,565.00, total interest over 10 years $25,650.00 — the lowest tier. With a score of 850, Score 850, drawn balance $30,000.00, draw 10 years: 800 and above, average HELOC APR 6.77%, monthly interest $169.25, annual interest $2,031.00, total interest over 10 years $20,310.00 — the best tier. With a balance of $0.00, Score 720, drawn balance $0.00, draw 10 years: 670–739, average HELOC APR 7.65%, monthly interest $0.00, annual interest $0.00, total interest over 10 years $0.00 — no balance, no interest. With a $250,000.00 balance at a score of 800, Score 800, drawn balance $250,000.00, draw 10 years: 800 and above, average HELOC APR 6.77%, monthly interest $1,410.42, annual interest $16,925.00, total interest over 10 years $169,250.00 — the monthly interest is $1,410.42. With 669 vs 670, 669: Score 669, drawn balance $30,000.00, draw 10 years: 580–669, average HELOC APR 8.55%, monthly interest $213.75, annual interest $2,565.00, total interest over 10 years $25,650.00; 670: Score 670, drawn balance $30,000.00, draw 10 years: 670–739, average HELOC APR 7.65%, monthly interest $191.25, annual interest $2,295.00, total interest over 10 years $22,950.00 — one point saves $22.50 a month. With a 5-year draw, Score 720, drawn balance $30,000.00, draw 5 years: 670–739, average HELOC APR 7.65%, monthly interest $191.25, annual interest $2,295.00, total interest over 5 years $11,475.00 — the total interest is $11,475.00. With a score of 579, the calculator shows an error — no published average for scores below 580 — most lenders want 620 or higher — not a tier or a payment.

Output · formula · meaning

Who uses this

• The homeowner checking a HELOC: they learn a 720 score gets 7.65% and $191.25 a month in interest on $30,000.00 — and they check the 740 reverse to see the score that drops the rate to 7.07%.
• The borrower comparing tiers: they learn the 580–669 tier costs $534.00 more a year than 800+ — and they check the 670 reverse to see the score that saves $22.50 a month.
• The borrower sizing a draw: they learn $50,000.00 at 7.65% costs $318.75 a month in interest — and they check the $31,372.55 reverse to see the balance that costs exactly $200.00 a month.
• The borrower planning the draw length: they learn 11 years is the shortest draw where total interest reaches $25,000.00 — and they check the $26,143.79 reverse to see the balance that totals exactly $20,000.00 of interest over 10 years.

Accuracy & limitations

The math is first-principles: the monthly interest is the balance times the APR divided by 12, the annual interest is the balance times the APR, and the total interest is the annual interest times the years — each rounded to cents half-up. What the model cannot do is quote YOUR rate: these are MARKET AVERAGES, not offers — your quote depends on the lender, your equity, your loan-to-value ratio, your income and your full credit profile; HELOC rates are VARIABLE (most are prime plus a lender margin, so your payment moves when prime moves — a rate cut drops your payment automatically, a hike raises it); the figures assume the whole balance stays drawn for the full draw period (drawing gradually costs less) and no annual fee, draw fee or closing cost; the interest-only payment never pays the balance down — after the draw period ends, the repayment period’s payment jumps (often roughly doubles) because principal is added; interest may be tax-deductible only if the money is used to buy, build or substantially improve the home that secures the loan; and a score below 580 shows an error, not a tier. Use it to see what each tier costs on your balance — then get a real quote before you draw.

Frequently asked questions