“How much can I borrow?” has a new answer in 2026. Here are the SBA loan limits by program, and the change, in effect since July 4, 2026, that doubled how much a single borrower can access.
The limits by program
- 7(a) loans: up to $5 million per loan (the flexible, general-purpose SBA loan).
- 504 loans: up to $5 million per project (up to $5.5 million for certain small manufacturers and energy-efficient projects), for owner-occupied real estate and major equipment.
- Microloans: up to $50,000, made through nonprofit intermediary lenders.
What changed: the $10 million combined cap
Effective July 4, 2026, the SBA doubled the cumulative loan limit per borrower across both programs, from $5 million to $10 million. In the SBA’s words, the change lets eligible borrowers “combine their 7(a) and 504 loans for up to $10 million in SBA-backed financing.”
In practice, that means one borrower can now carry:
- up to $5 million in 7(a) financing (working capital, acquisition, equipment), plus
- up to $5 million in 504 financing (owner-occupied real estate, major fixed assets).
The SBA describes the pathway as securing a 7(a) loan first, then adding up to $5 million through the 504 program: “qualified borrowers who secure a 7(a) loan first may access up to $5 million through the 7(a) loan program and up to $5 million through the 504 loan program, for a combined total of $10 million.”
Manufacturers get extra room: they can already hold multiple 504 loans tied to distinct projects, and can now add up to $5 million through the 7(a) program as well.
Why it matters
The old $5 million cumulative cap forced larger small businesses to choose between programs or stop at $5 million. The $10 million ceiling opens up bigger combined deals, for example, buying a business with a 7(a) loan and the building it operates in with a 504 loan, without bumping into the old limit. Each loan is still underwritten on its own merits.
Hitting the old ceiling was more common than you might think, and getting more common every year. We measured every loan approved at exactly the $5 million maximum (who they are, which industries dominate, and who lends to them) in our study Who hits the SBA’s $5 million ceiling?
How to use it
If your plans were capped by the old $5 million limit, it’s worth revisiting them now that the $10 million cap is in effect. See whether a 7(a) and a 504 loan together fit your project, learn how more than one SBA loan works, and find lenders active in your industry and state with our lender match. Limits and rules follow the current SBA SOP, so confirm the specifics with a participating lender.