Home equity line of credit (HELOC) vs. home equity loan: What’s the difference?

Home equity lines of credit (HELOCs) and home equity loans are two ways of borrowing money against the ownership stake you have in your home. Both typically allow you to tap up to 80 or 85 percent (or sometimes even more) of your home’s value, minus your outstanding mortgage balance.

But these two borrowing tools differ in several ways, including how their interest rates work, how you receive funds, and how you repay the debt.

Let’s look more closely at how HELOCs and home equity loans work, and how to determine which would work best for you.

What are HELOCs and home equity loans?

While they’re both borrowing methods, backed by your home as collateral, home equity loans and HELOCs work differently. A home equity loan is an installment loan that delivers a lump sum at a fixed interest rate and repayment term. A HELOC is a revolving debt that offers an amount of funds (a replenishable balance, similar to a credit card limit) you can draw on, at a variable interest rate. You can borrow for a set number of years, then repay for a subsequent period.  

Key differences between HELOCs and home equity loans

What are the pros and cons of home equity loans?

Home equity loans have unique advantages and disadvantages.

What are the pros and cons of HELOCs?

Similar to home equity loans, there are benefits and drawbacks to consider before proceeding with a HELOC.

How much can you borrow with a HELOC or home equity loan?

So, how much money can you borrow with a home equity loan or HELOC? In many cases, quite a bit. Lenders often set minimums of $10,000, and maximums can run into six figures.

The exact amount you can borrow, though, will depend on a few factors, including your equity stake and the maximum equity percentage that your lender will let you borrow. Your mortgage balance also plays a role, because your lender usually requires your overall home-debt load to stay below a certain percentage of your home’s value.

For example, let’s say your home is valued at $350,000, and you still owe $150,000 on your mortgage. This means you’ve built $200,000 in equity — but it doesn’t mean you can access that full amount.

If your lender says that your debt needs to remain below 80 percent of your home’s value, that’s a cap of $280,000. Subtract your remaining mortgage balance from that, and you’re left with a tappable equity amount of $130,000. It’s still a substantial sum, but perhaps not as much as you envisioned.

How to apply for a home equity loan or HELOC

The application process for home equity loans and HELOCs is similar to applying for a mortgage.

How to obtain a home equity loan

Home equity loans are available through banks, credit unions and online lenders. Some offer online prequalification tools that let you view loan offers with estimated monthly payments and terms without impacting your credit score.

If you decide to formally apply, you can typically start the process online and upload the requested documentation. You can also visit a branch if you’re doing business with a traditional bank or credit union. Either way, formally applying for a home equity loan will result in a hard pull that impacts your credit score.

Note: Home equity loans come with a three-day cancellation rule, aka the right of rescission. It allows you to back out of the contract without penalty within three business days.

How to obtain a HELOC

The process for obtaining a home equity loan and HELOC are similar, as are the qualifications. However, HELOCs may be harder to get in some cases, as they can carry more stringent criteria. For example, peer-to-peer lender Prosper a minimum 660 credit score for HELOCs, vs. 640 for home equity loans.

The three-day right of rescission rule also applies for HELOCs.

Will you qualify for a HELOC or home equity loan?

Each lender has its own eligibility criteria for home equity loans and HELOCs. However, here are some general guidelines to keep in mind:

• Credit score: A credit score of 640 could be enough with some lenders, but aim for 700 or higher to have the best approval odds (and get the best interest rates).
• Income: Your income should be consistent and verifiable.
• Debt-to-income (DTI) ratio: You’ll need an acceptable DTI to qualify for funding, around 43 percent.
• Equity: Lenders generally allow you to borrow from 80 and 90 percent of your home equity, which is the difference between your home’s value and what you owe.
• Appraisal: The lender will require an appraisal to determine how much your home is worth or its fair market value. (Note: The appraisal is arranged by the lender, and the fee is included in the closing costs).

How do I decide between a HELOC and a home equity loan?

How to decide between a home equity loan and a HELOC? Ask yourself these questions.

What’s the nature of your need?

A home equity loan could be a good fit if you know what you’ll use the funds for, when you’ll need them and exactly how much you’ll need. However, a HELOC could work better if you don’t know exactly the total expense you’ll incur, and/or you’ll need to keep a ready source of funds on hand. Or, if your costs will extend over a long period of time (like paying a home contractor in installments, or college tuition for four years).

Are you a set-it-and-forget-it type?

Do you prefer predictability in your obligations? A home equity loan is ideal if you like a fixed interest rate and monthly payment that won’t ever change. And you’re not an interest-rate watcher.

A HELOC, on the other hand, could be ideal if you hate the idea of being locked into a higher-than-market interest rate, or paying interest on money you haven’t spent. Also, you don’t mind — and have the means to cover — fluctuating payments.

Are you disciplined?

HELOCs can be a slippery slope to more debt than you can handle if you only repay the interest during the draw period and none of the principal. Taking this approach can cause sticker shock when the HELOC repayment phase begins and you have a substantial debt left to repay. Unless you expect to come into a significant sum of money or windfall in the future, it’s a good idea to pay both principal and interest during the draw period on a HELOC, and not give in to the temptation of minimal, interest-only payments.

If that’s not you, a home equity loan might be a better choice, as it imposes a repayment schedule on you, similar to your mortgage. It helps to prevent the debt from becoming unmanageable.

Bottom line on home equity loans and HELOCs

Home equity loans and HELOCs both allow you to borrow money against your home equity, but they’re not the same.

If you want an upfront lump sum and a predictable repayment schedule and sums, then a home equity loan might be the right choice. The trade-off is that you’ll need to know exactly how much you want to borrow; otherwise, you could end up with more or less than you need. But if you do, say to settle a bunch of credit card bills, then the loan could be ideal.

On the other hand, if you’re unclear how much financing you’ll need or want the option to take out more money as you need it — and only incur interest on an actual withdrawal — then a HELOC might be a better option. But you need to be disciplined in paying off the principal and be prepared for swings in your monthly payments.

FAQ

• Why are HELOCs and home equity loans popular now?

  HELOCs and HE Loans have blossomed in popularity in recent years. According to TransUnion’s latest Mortgage Credit Industry Insights Report, home equity financing originations rose 12 percent in the first quarter of 2025, to their highest level in eight quarters.

  What’s the appeal? Stubbornly high mortgage rates have decimated the desirability of cash-out refinancing, once the go-to way to tap a homeownership stake. HELOC and home equity rates have also become more affordable. In 2024, they dropped to their lowest levels in more than a year and are continuing to fall in 2025. Bankrate forecasts that HELOC rates will average 7.25 percent this year, while home equity loan rates will decline to 7.90 percent.

  Of course, all this home-equity borrowing is made possible by the record-setting rise in home prices since the start of the pandemic, which has increased the value of homeowners’ equity stakes. As of the second quarter of 2025, the average homeowner has $319,000 of equity in their homes; $213,000 of that amount is tappable home equity, according to ICE Mortgage Technology, a real estate data analysis firm.

• Am I able to get a home equity loan or HELOC with bad credit?

  Yes, it’s possible to obtain a HELOC or home equity loan with bad credit. It’s not likely that you’ll get the most competitive interest rate, but if you have reliable income and a relationship with a lender, you could qualify for a loan.

  There are also lenders that approve home equity loans and HELOCs for borrowers who have FICO scores as low as 620, provided that you meet other requirements related to debt levels, equity and income.

  In addition to a credit score of at least 620, in order to earn approval, you’ll likely need about 15 percent to 20 percent equity in your home and a maximum debt-to-income (DTI) ratio of 43 percent, or up to 50 percent depending on the lender. Lenders also like to see an on-time mortgage payment history.

• How can you use home equity?

  Both home equity loans and HELOCs allow you to use the funds however you see fit. Many borrowers use them to pay for major home repairs or renovations, like finishing a basement, remodeling a kitchen or updating a bathroom. Others use them to pay off high-interest credit card debt, start a business or cover college costs.