What is a good credit score? For the most widely used scoring model, FICO, a good credit score generally starts at 670 on a scale of 300 to 850. VantageScore, the other major model, sets its “good” band a little differently. Knowing where these lines fall helps you understand how lenders may view an application before you ever fill one out.
This guide explains the main credit score ranges, what each tier tends to mean in practice, why you have more than one score, and the habits that move a score up over time. It also includes a hypothetical example showing why a few dozen points can matter on a large loan.
What a Credit Score Actually Measures
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) describes a credit score as a prediction of your credit behavior, such as how likely you are to repay a loan on time. That prediction is built from the information in your credit reports, which are maintained by the three nationwide credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion.
A score is not a measure of income, savings or net worth. Someone with a high salary can have a low score, and someone with a modest income can have an excellent one. What the score reflects is how you have handled borrowed money: whether you pay on time, how much of your available credit you use, how long your accounts have been open, and how often you apply for new credit.
The CFPB also points out that a higher score usually makes it easier to qualify for a loan and may lead to a better interest rate or loan terms. In other words, your score affects both the yes-or-no decision and the price you pay to borrow.
FICO Score Ranges Explained
FICO’s base scores run from 300 to 850. According to myFICO, a score of 670 or above is generally considered good, 740 and above is very good, and 800 or higher is exceptional. Here is how the tiers break down, along with the share of Americans in each band reported by Experian (page updated January 2025):
| FICO Score Range | Rating | Share of Americans (Experian data) |
|---|---|---|
| 300–579 | Poor | 13% |
| 580–669 | Fair | 16% |
| 670–739 | Good | 21% |
| 740–799 | Very Good | 28% |
| 800–850 | Exceptional | 22% |
Experian also reports that the average FICO Score in the U.S. was 713 in 2025, which places the typical consumer inside the “good” band.
What each tier tends to mean
- Poor (300–579): Approval for traditional unsecured credit can be difficult. Options such as secured credit cards are often the starting point for rebuilding.
- Fair (580–669): Approval is possible with many lenders, but offers may come with higher interest rates or lower limits.
- Good (670–739): Most mainstream lenders view this range favorably, though the very best rates are often reserved for higher scores.
- Very Good (740–799): Applicants here generally qualify for competitive terms on many types of credit.
- Exceptional (800–850): The top tier. Beyond a certain point, extra points may not change the offer you receive much, because you are already in a lender’s best pricing group.
Keep in mind that these labels are general guides. Experian notes that lenders use their own criteria when deciding whom to approve and at what rates, so a “good” score with one lender may not earn the same offer with another.
VantageScore Ranges Explained
VantageScore was created by the three credit bureaus as an alternative to FICO. Its current versions, VantageScore 3.0 and 4.0, also use a 300 to 850 scale, but the tiers are drawn differently. According to Experian, a good VantageScore falls between 661 and 780.
| VantageScore 3.0/4.0 Range | Tier |
|---|---|
| 300–600 | Subprime |
| 601–660 | Near Prime |
| 661–780 | Prime |
| 781–850 | Super Prime |
Because the two models weigh information differently, it is normal for your FICO Score and your VantageScore to differ by several points or more, even when they are based on similar data. Many free credit-monitoring tools show a VantageScore, while many lenders pull a FICO Score, so it helps to know which model a number comes from before comparing it to a chart.
Why You Have More Than One Credit Score
The CFPB states plainly that you do not have just one credit score. Your score can vary depending on the scoring model, which bureau’s data is used, and even the day it was calculated, since balances and account details change constantly.
There are also multiple versions within each model. myFICO notes that its products include FICO Score 8 and may include other versions. FICO also builds industry-specific scores for auto lenders and credit card issuers, and Experian notes that these use a wider range of 250 to 900. A car dealer’s lender might therefore see a different number than the one in your banking app.
The practical takeaway: rather than fixating on a single number, focus on the general band you fall into and on the underlying report data, which drives every version of your score.
What Goes Into a FICO Score
myFICO groups the information in your credit report into five categories and gives a general weight for each (page updated October 2026):
- Payment history – 35%: Whether you have paid past accounts on time. Late payments, collections and bankruptcies weigh heavily.
- Amounts owed – 30%: How much you owe, including how much of your available revolving credit you are using.
- Length of credit history – 15%: How long your accounts have been open, including the age of your oldest and newest accounts.
- New credit – 10%: Recently opened accounts and recent applications.
- Credit mix – 10%: The variety of accounts, such as credit cards, installment loans and mortgages.
myFICO adds that the importance of each category can vary from person to person. For example, someone with a short credit history may be scored somewhat differently than someone with decades of accounts.
The “amounts owed” category is where many people can make the fastest progress. Our guide to the credit utilization ratio walks through how card balances relative to limits are calculated.
Why the Difference Between Tiers Can Matter
Lenders often price loans by risk, which means borrowers in lower score bands may be offered higher interest rates. The exact rates depend on the lender, the loan type and market conditions, so the numbers below are purely illustrative.
Hypothetical example: Two borrowers each take out a $300,000, 30-year fixed-rate mortgage. Assume Borrower A, with a higher score, is offered 6.50%, while Borrower B, with a lower score, is offered 7.25%.
- Borrower A’s monthly principal and interest: about $1,896
- Borrower B’s monthly principal and interest: about $2,047
- Difference: about $150 per month, or roughly $54,100 over 30 years if both loans are held to term
These rates are assumptions, not quotes. Still, the math shows why raising a score before a major application can be worth the effort, especially for long-term loans where small rate differences compound over hundreds of payments.
How to Check Your Credit and Improve Your Score
Start with your credit reports
According to the CFPB, you can get free copies of your credit reports from Equifax, Experian and TransUnion once a week at AnnualCreditReport.com, the official site for free reports. Review each one for accounts you do not recognize, incorrect late payments or balances that look wrong, since errors on your report flow directly into your scores. Note that a free credit report and a credit score are not the same thing; the report is the raw data, while the score is a calculation based on it.
Habits that support a higher score
- Pay every bill on time. Payment history carries the most weight. Autopay for at least the minimum due can prevent accidental late payments.
- Keep revolving balances low. Paying down card balances, or paying before the statement closing date, can lower the utilization that is reported.
- Apply for new credit only when you need it. Each application can lead to a hard inquiry. Learn more in our explainer on hard vs. soft credit inquiries.
- Let accounts age. Closing an old card can shorten your average account age and reduce your available credit, which may affect your score.
- Build a file if you are starting out. If you have little or no credit history, a secured credit card used lightly and paid in full can help establish a track record.
Improvement takes time. Negative items generally fade in impact as they age, and positive payment history builds month by month. There is no legitimate shortcut that instantly adds a large number of points, so be cautious of any company that promises one.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 700 a good credit score?
Yes. On the FICO scale, 700 falls within the good range of 670 to 739, and it is also inside VantageScore’s 661 to 780 prime band. Moving into the 740s and above may help you qualify for more competitive terms with some lenders.
What is the highest credit score possible?
For base FICO Scores and VantageScore 3.0 and 4.0, the maximum is 850. Industry-specific FICO Scores used by some auto lenders and card issuers run up to 900, according to Experian.
Why is my credit score different on different apps?
Different apps may show different scoring models (FICO or VantageScore), different versions, or data from a different bureau. Scores can also change from day to day as new balances are reported. The CFPB notes these variations are normal.
Does checking my own credit score lower it?
Checking your own score or report is generally a soft inquiry and does not hurt your score. Hard inquiries typically occur when you apply for new credit and a lender reviews your file.
Bottom Line
A good credit score is generally 670 or higher on the FICO scale, while VantageScore considers 661 to 780 good. Scores of 740 and up are very good, and 800 and above are exceptional. Because lenders set their own criteria and use different scoring versions, treat these ranges as guideposts rather than guarantees. The most reliable path to a higher score is steady: check your reports regularly, pay on time, keep balances low, and apply for new credit thoughtfully.
Sources
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau – What is a credit score?
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau – How do I get a free copy of my credit reports?
- myFICO – What is a FICO Score and why is it important?
- myFICO – What’s in your credit score?
- Experian – What Is a Good Credit Score?
This article is for general information only and is not financial advice. See our Disclaimer.
