What is a Good Credit Score? FICO Ranges Explained
Understand exactly what lenders consider a good, excellent, fair, or poor credit score—and how to find yours for free.
Key Takeaways
- Credit scores typically range from 300 to 850.
- A FICO score of 670 or higher is generally considered "Good" by most lenders.
- A FICO score of 740 or higher unlocks the best interest rates and loan terms.
- FICO and VantageScore are the two main scoring models, but FICO is used in 90% of lending decisions.
- You can check your score for free without hurting it using soft inquiries.
Your credit score acts like a financial GPA. It is a three-digit number that tells lenders how likely you are to pay back money you borrow. Whether you are buying a house, financing a car, or even applying for an apartment, this number determines what doors open for you—and how much it costs to walk through them.
FICO Score Ranges Explained
The vast majority of lenders (90%+) use a scoring model created by the Fair Isaac Corporation, universally known as the FICO Score. Base FICO scores range from 300 to 850. Here is how lenders view those numbers:
| FICO Score Range | Category | What to Expect |
|---|---|---|
| 800 - 850 | Exceptional | Guaranteed approval for almost anything. Lowest advertised interest rates available. |
| 740 - 799 | Very Good | High approval odds. You will typically qualify for premium rewards cards and great mortgage rates. |
| 670 - 739 | Good | The average American falls here. Acceptable to most lenders, but rates will be standard, not promotional. |
| 580 - 669 | Fair | Considered "subprime." Expect higher interest rates, fees, or requirements for larger down payments. |
| 300 - 579 | Poor | Significantly reduced lending options. May require secured credit cards or co-signers to borrow. |
What Score Do You Need?
"Good" is completely subjective depending on what you are trying to buy.
- For a Mortgage: To get a conventional loan, you typically need a minimum score of 620. To secure the absolute lowest interest rates, which can save you tens of thousands over 30 years, aim for 760+.
- For an Auto Loan: Auto lenders are generally more forgiving because the loan is secured by the car. You can often get financing with a score in the upper 500s, but you'll pay exorbitant interest. Aim for at least a 660 for decent terms.
- For Premium Credit Cards: Cards that offer massive travel bonuses (like the Chase Sapphire Preferred) generally require a score of 720 or higher.
Curious how applying for a mortgage will impact your score?
Run your numbers through our Free Credit Score Simulator to see what happens when you add a hard inquiry.
FICO vs. VantageScore: What's the Difference?
If you check your score on an app like Credit Karma, you are likely looking at a VantageScore 3.0. If you check your score through your bank or credit card dashboard, you are usually looking at a FICO Score 8.
While both models grade you from 300 to 850 based on the exact same underlying credit reports, they weight things slightly differently. For example, VantageScore might penalize you less for a paid-off collection account than an older FICO model would. Because 90% of major lending decisions rely on FICO, your VantageScore should be treated as an "educational estimate" rather than gospel.
How to Check Your Score for Free
Checking your own credit score is considered a "soft inquiry" and will never hurt your score. You can check it every single day if you want to.
The best places to get a free, accurate FICO score:
- Your existing credit card issuer: Discover, American Express, Citi, and Bank of America all provide free monthly FICO score updates in their apps.
- Experian.com: You can create a free account to get your Experian FICO 8 score updated monthly.
- AnnualCreditReport.com: To see the underlying data driving the score, use this federally authorized site to pull your full reports (not the score itself) from all three bureaus for free once a week.
Is your score lower than you'd like?
Learn exactly how to fix it by targeting the 5 main factors that make up your score.
Read: How to Improve Your Score Fast →Frequently Asked Questions
What is the absolute highest credit score?
The highest possible base FICO and VantageScore is 850. However, achieving exactly 850 is rare and unnecessary. For all practical purposes, any score over 800 gets you the exact same benefits as an 850.
Why do I have different credit scores on different apps?
You have dozens of credit scores. The apps might be showing you a VantageScore 3.0, while your bank shows a FICO Score 8. Furthermore, they might pull data from different bureaus (Experian vs Equifax vs TransUnion), which can have slightly different information on file.
Is 700 a good credit score?
Yes, 700 is considered a "Good" FICO score. You will likely be approved for most standard credit cards and auto loans, though you may not instantly qualify for the absolute lowest promotional interest rates.
Does my income affect my credit score?
No. Your income, bank account balances, employment status, and demographic information are not factored into your credit score. Your score only measures your history with debt.
What happens if my score is exactly zero?
Almost no one truly has a score of zero. If you have never used credit before, you are "credit invisible," meaning you simply do not generate a score yet. It takes about 6 months of using a credit account to generate a FICO score.
How fast can a score drop from a missed payment?
As soon as a payment is marked 30 days late, it is reported to the bureaus. For someone with an excellent score (e.g., 780), a single missed payment can drop the score by 90 to 110 points instantly.