What Is a Good Credit Score? Credit Score Ranges Explained

A good credit score can make it easier to qualify for credit and may help you access better borrowing terms. But there isn't one number that every lender considers "good." For commonly used FICO Scores, 670 to 739 is generally classified as Good. But that isn't the only scoring system lenders use, and VantageScore uses different credit tiers.

Your score also isn't the only thing a lender looks at. Income, debt, the type of credit you're applying for, and the lender's own requirements can all matter. So a score should be treated as one part of the lending picture, not a guarantee of approval.

Key takeaways

• A FICO Score of 670–739 falls within FICO's Good range.
• FICO commonly classifies 740–799 as Very Good and 800–850 as Exceptional.
• VantageScore uses different tiers, so the same number may have a different label under a different scoring model.
• Most commonly used credit scores range from 300 to 850, but scoring ranges can vary.
• A good credit score can make qualifying for credit easier and may help with interest rates and terms.
• There is no universal score that guarantees loan approval.
• Your credit score is only one part of a lender's decision.
• If your score is lower than you'd like, reviewing the credit report behind it can help you understand why.

What is considered a good credit score?

The answer depends on the scoring model. For FICO Scores, the commonly used ranges are:

FICO identifies 670–739 as Good. These categories help describe where a score falls, but they don't guarantee that a lender will approve an application or offer a particular rate.

So if someone asks, "Is a 700 credit score good?" the answer is yes, under the standard FICO ranges, 700 falls in the Good category.

Is 700 a good credit score?

Yes. A 700 FICO Score falls within the Good range. That doesn't mean every lender will automatically approve an application. A lender can consider other information, including income, existing debt, loan amount, employment, the type of credit being requested and its own underwriting requirements. Think of 700 as a point on a scoring scale, not a universal approval threshold.

Is 650 a good credit score?

A 650 FICO Score falls within the Fair range, not the Good range. That doesn't mean you cannot qualify for credit. Different lenders have different requirements, and the terms available to someone with a 650 score can differ from those available to someone with a higher score.

It's also worth remembering that a 650 FICO Score isn't necessarily the same thing as a 650 VantageScore in terms of how the score was calculated or how the lender interprets it.

Is 750 a good credit score?

Yes. A 750 FICO Score falls within the Very Good range.

A score at this level can put you in a stronger position than someone in the Fair or lower end of the Good range, but it still doesn't guarantee a particular interest rate or approval.

Lenders make their own decisions.

Is 800 a good credit score?

An 800 FICO Score falls within FICO's Exceptional range. At this point, simply chasing a higher number may not be especially useful for many consumers. There is a practical difference between improving a score from a weak credit profile into a stronger range and obsessing over every point once the score is already high. The number matters, but so does the reason behind it.

What are the FICO credit score ranges?

FICO commonly divides scores into five categories:

Poor: 300–579

A score in this range indicates a higher level of predicted credit risk under the FICO framework. That can make borrowing more difficult or more expensive, although individual lender requirements vary.

Fair: 580–669

Fair scores sit above the Poor range but below FICO's Good range. Consumers in this range may still qualify for credit, depending on the lender and product.

Good: 670–739

This is FICO's Good range. A score in this range generally indicates a stronger credit profile than scores in the Poor or Fair ranges.

Very Good: 740–799

This range sits above Good and below Exceptional. Consumers in this range generally have stronger FICO scores, although lenders still make individual decisions based on their own criteria.

Exceptional: 800–850

This is the highest standard FICO category. A score in this range indicates a very strong score under the FICO classification system.

Are all credit score ranges the same?

No. This is one of the most important things to understand when comparing scores. FICO uses the ranges above, while VantageScore has its own credit tiers. For VantageScore 4.0, the published tiers are:

VantageScore 4.0 range — VantageScore tier

300–600 — Subprime

601–660 — Near Prime

661–780 — Prime

781–850 — Superprime

VantageScore's current models use a 300–850 scale, but the tier boundaries differ from FICO's categories. So a score shouldn't be labelled "good" without knowing which scoring model produced it.

Why is my credit score different from someone else's?

Two people can have different scores for obvious reasons: their credit histories are different. But even your own scores can differ. That's because credit scores can vary based on:

• The scoring model
• The version of the scoring model
• Which credit report is used
• The type of credit being evaluated
• When the score is calculated
• The information available at that time

The CFPB specifically notes that consumers can have multiple scores because lenders use different scoring formulas, different reporting sources and different scores for different products. So seeing 718 in one place and 704 somewhere else doesn't automatically mean one source made a mistake.

Does a good credit score guarantee loan approval?

No. This is an important distinction. A credit score is one part of a credit application. A lender can consider other factors, such as:

• Income
• Existing debt
• Employment
• Loan amount
• Down payment
• Credit history
• Type of loan
• Its own lending criteria

A high score can strengthen an application, but it does not override the rest of the lender's requirements. The CFPB notes that higher scores can make it easier to qualify for credit and may help borrowers receive better rates or terms, but scoring is still only part of the lending process.

Does a good credit score guarantee a low interest rate?

A stronger credit score can improve your chances of receiving more favourable borrowing terms, but the rate you receive depends on the lender, loan product, market conditions and your broader financial profile.

For example, a mortgage lender isn't looking at the same thing as a credit-card issuer in exactly the same way. The type of credit matters. So "I have a 750 score, therefore I will get the lowest rate" is too simplistic.

What credit score do I need to buy a house?

There isn't one universal credit-score requirement for buying a home. Mortgage programmes and individual lenders can have different eligibility requirements. The score a mortgage lender uses may also differ from the score you see through a credit-card company or consumer-facing credit service. That's why it's better to look at the specific mortgage programme and lender requirements rather than treating one number as the universal cutoff.

What credit score do I need for a car loan?

Again, there isn't one universal minimum score. Auto lenders can use different scoring models and set their own requirements. Your score can influence the terms you're offered, but the lender can also consider income, debt, the vehicle, loan amount, down payment and other information.

If you're preparing to apply for an auto loan, checking your credit reports beforehand can help you identify errors before a lender reviews your application.

How can I get into the Good credit score range?

There isn't a single action that moves everyone into the same score range. Start by understanding what's currently affecting your credit. Some of the fundamentals are straightforward:

Pay your bills on time

Payment history is a major factor in many credit-scoring models. Consistently making payments on time can help establish a stronger credit history.

Keep credit-card balances manageable

Credit utilisation can affect your score, particularly in models that consider revolving balances. Keeping balances low relative to your available credit can help your credit profile.

Apply for credit when you actually need it

Recent credit applications can be part of scoring calculations. That doesn't mean you should never apply for credit. It means unnecessary applications can create avoidable hard inquiries and new-account activity.

Give your credit history time

Length of credit history can matter. Someone who has managed credit responsibly for many years may have more established credit information than someone who opened their first account six months ago.

Check your credit reports

Your score comes from information in your credit history. If that information is inaccurate, you can dispute it. For more on the underlying document, see what is a credit report.

Can a credit-report error affect whether I have a good credit score?

It can. Imagine your report incorrectly shows a $5,000 credit-card balance when your actual balance is $500. The scoring model doesn't know which number is "supposed" to be there. It works with the information supplied to it.

If the information is wrong, the resulting score can be affected. Potential problems can include:

• Incorrect payment history
• Wrong balances
• Duplicate accounts
• Accounts belonging to another person
• Incorrect account status
• Unfamiliar collection accounts

If you find information that you believe is inaccurate, you can dispute it yourself. You don't need to hire a credit-repair company simply to have the right to dispute an error.

Is a higher credit score always better?

Generally, a higher score represents lower predicted credit risk within a given scoring model. But there is a point where chasing individual points becomes less useful than maintaining a healthy credit profile.

If you already have a strong score, the goal doesn't need to be turning 780 into 800 at any cost. Responsible credit management matters more than hitting an arbitrary number. That means paying accounts on time, keeping revolving debt manageable, applying for credit thoughtfully and checking your reports for inaccurate information.

How often should I check my credit score?

There is no universal requirement to check your score every day. Regular monitoring can help you understand changes in your credit profile, particularly if you're preparing to apply for a major loan.

More importantly, check your credit reports regularly. Your reports contain the underlying information used to calculate many credit scores. The CFPB recommends reviewing your credit reports and notes that consumers can access their reports weekly through AnnualCreditReport.com.

The bottom line

There isn't one magic number that makes someone a "good" borrower.

If you're looking at a FICO Score, 670–739 is generally the Good range. A score of 740–799 is Very Good, while 800–850 is Exceptional. But another scoring model can use different ranges and labels.

More importantly, a score is only one part of the picture. If your score isn't where you want it to be, don't start by chasing a number. Look at the information behind it. Check your payment history, balances, accounts and recent credit activity. If something is inaccurate, deal with the underlying problem.

That's a much more useful way to think about credit scores than treating them like a grade you either pass or fail. Next: If you want to understand where your score comes from, the next step is learning what information appears on a credit report.

Frequently Asked Questions