diff --git a/src/templates/src/user_profile.html b/src/templates/src/user_profile.html
index 256a8cbc..88c24af3 100644
--- a/src/templates/src/user_profile.html
+++ b/src/templates/src/user_profile.html
@@ -45,7 +45,11 @@
 					</div>
 				{{ end }}
 				{{ if .OwnProfile }}
-					<a href="{{ .NewProjectUrl }}">+ New Project</a>
+					{{ if .CanAddProject }}
+						<a href="{{ .NewProjectUrl }}">+ New Project</a>
+					{{ else }}
+						<span class="c--dim i">You have reached the maximum number of personal projects.</span>
+					{{ end }}
 				{{ end }}
 			</div>
 		{{ end }}
diff --git a/src/website/projects.go b/src/website/projects.go
index e8397ebd..17d80d34 100644
--- a/src/website/projects.go
+++ b/src/website/projects.go
@@ -26,6 +26,8 @@ import (
 	"github.com/jackc/pgx/v4"
 )
 
+const maxPersonalProjects = 5
+
 type ProjectTemplateData struct {
 	templates.BaseData
 
@@ -387,6 +389,17 @@ type ProjectEditData struct {
 }
 
 func ProjectNew(c *RequestContext) ResponseData {
+	numProjects, err := hmndata.CountProjects(c.Context(), c.Conn, c.CurrentUser, hmndata.ProjectsQuery{
+		OwnerIDs: []int{c.CurrentUser.ID},
+		Types:    hmndata.PersonalProjects,
+	})
+	if err != nil {
+		return c.ErrorResponse(http.StatusInternalServerError, oops.New(err, "failed to check number of personal projects"))
+	}
+	if numProjects >= maxPersonalProjects {
+		return RejectRequest(c, fmt.Sprintf("You have already reached the maximum of %d personal projects.", maxPersonalProjects))
+	}
+
 	var project templates.ProjectSettings
 	project.Owners = append(project.Owners, templates.UserToTemplate(c.CurrentUser, c.Theme))
 	project.Personal = true
@@ -417,6 +430,17 @@ func ProjectNewSubmit(c *RequestContext) ResponseData {
 	}
 	defer tx.Rollback(c.Context())
 
+	numProjects, err := hmndata.CountProjects(c.Context(), c.Conn, c.CurrentUser, hmndata.ProjectsQuery{
+		OwnerIDs: []int{c.CurrentUser.ID},
+		Types:    hmndata.PersonalProjects,
+	})
+	if err != nil {
+		return c.ErrorResponse(http.StatusInternalServerError, oops.New(err, "failed to check number of personal projects"))
+	}
+	if numProjects >= maxPersonalProjects {
+		return RejectRequest(c, fmt.Sprintf("You have already reached the maximum of %d personal projects.", maxPersonalProjects))
+	}
+
 	var projectId int
 	err = tx.QueryRow(c.Context(),
 		`
diff --git a/src/website/user.go b/src/website/user.go
index 16038c32..de68fc69 100644
--- a/src/website/user.go
+++ b/src/website/user.go
@@ -29,7 +29,9 @@ type UserProfileTemplateData struct {
 	TimelineItems       []templates.TimelineItem
 	OwnProfile          bool
 	ShowcaseUrl         string
-	NewProjectUrl       string
+
+	CanAddProject bool
+	NewProjectUrl string
 }
 
 func UserProfile(c *RequestContext) ResponseData {
@@ -108,10 +110,15 @@ func UserProfile(c *RequestContext) ResponseData {
 
 	projectsAndStuff, err := hmndata.FetchProjects(c.Context(), c.Conn, c.CurrentUser, projectsQuery)
 	templateProjects := make([]templates.Project, 0, len(projectsAndStuff))
+	numPersonalProjects := 0
 	for _, p := range projectsAndStuff {
 		templateProject := templates.ProjectToTemplate(&p.Project, hmndata.UrlContextForProject(&p.Project).BuildHomepage())
 		templateProject.AddLogo(p.LogoURL(c.Theme))
 		templateProjects = append(templateProjects, templateProject)
+
+		if p.Project.Personal {
+			numPersonalProjects++
+		}
 	}
 	c.Perf.EndBlock()
 
@@ -182,7 +189,9 @@ func UserProfile(c *RequestContext) ResponseData {
 		TimelineItems:       timelineItems,
 		OwnProfile:          (c.CurrentUser != nil && c.CurrentUser.ID == profileUser.ID),
 		ShowcaseUrl:         hmnurl.BuildShowcase(),
-		NewProjectUrl:       hmnurl.BuildProjectNew(),
+
+		CanAddProject: numPersonalProjects < maxPersonalProjects,
+		NewProjectUrl: hmnurl.BuildProjectNew(),
 	}, c.Perf)
 	return res
 }