What Is a Good Credit Score? The FICO Ranges That Actually Matter
A "good" FICO score is 670–739. "Very good" is 740–799. "Exceptional" is 800+. This guide explains what each range unlocks, how credit scores are calculated, and the fastest moves to push your score into the next tier.
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A good credit score is 670–739 on the FICO scale. Scores of 740–799 are "very good" and 800–850 are "exceptional." Below 670 enters "fair" territory (580–669) where borrowing costs rise, and below 580 is "poor" — most lenders either decline or charge significantly higher rates. FICO scores range from 300 to 850; the average American scored 717 in 2023.
FICO credit score ranges explained
FICO — the most widely used credit scoring model — groups scores into five tiers. Each tier unlocks different borrowing access and rates:
| Score range | FICO tier | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| 800–850 | Exceptional | Best available rates on all products; fast approvals |
| 740–799 | Very Good | Near-best rates; qualifies for all standard products |
| 670–739 | Good | Approved for most products; rates slightly above best |
| 580–669 | Fair | Limited options; higher rates; some lenders decline |
| 300–579 | Poor | Most lenders decline; secured cards and high-APR products only |
FICO Credit Score Ranges
% of US consumers in each tier (Experian 2023)
How much does your credit score actually cost you?
The financial gap between a "fair" score and a "very good" score is not small. Here is a concrete comparison on a $300,000 30-year mortgage at representative 2026 rates:
| FICO score | Estimated rate | Monthly payment | Total interest paid |
|---|---|---|---|
| 760–850 | 6.75% | $1,946 | $400,560 |
| 700–759 | 6.97% | $1,989 | $416,040 |
| 680–699 | 7.14% | $2,023 | $428,280 |
| 660–679 | 7.36% | $2,066 | $443,760 |
| 620–639 | 7.82% | $2,158 | $476,880 |
The difference between a 620 score and a 760 score is $212/month and approximately $76,000 in total interest on the same $300,000 loan. Credit scores are one of the highest-ROI things to improve before a major borrowing event.
What makes up your FICO credit score?
FICO calculates your score from five categories, each weighted differently:
| Factor | Weight | What affects it |
|---|---|---|
| Payment history | 35% | On-time vs late payments; severity and recency of lates |
| Credit utilisation | 30% | Balance ÷ credit limit across all cards; lower is better |
| Length of credit history | 15% | Age of oldest account; average age of all accounts |
| Credit mix | 10% | Variety of account types (cards, auto, mortgage) |
| New credit | 10% | Recent hard inquiries; newly opened accounts |
Payment history and utilisation together control 65% of your score. If you want to move from "fair" to "good," focus almost entirely on those two levers.
What a good credit score unlocks
Beyond interest rates, credit score tier determines whether you even qualify for certain products:
- Mortgage: FHA loans start at 580; conventional loans require 620+; best rates at 760+
- Auto loan: Prime rates (under 7%) require 661+; best rates require 720+
- Credit cards: Cash-back and travel rewards cards typically require 670+; premium cards (2%+ cash back) typically require 720+
- Personal loans: Single-digit APR requires 720+; rates spike below 660
- Apartment rental: Most landlords require 620+; competitive markets often want 680+
- Utilities and deposits: Below 580, some utilities require security deposits
How to get your credit score for free
You can access your FICO score or VantageScore (a competing model with similar ranges) at no cost through several channels:
- Your credit card: Most major issuers (Chase, Capital One, Discover, Citi) show your FICO score in the app for free
- Your bank: Many banks provide free credit score access to checking customers
- Credit Karma / Credit Sesame: Free VantageScore 3.0 (not FICO, but closely correlated)
- AnnualCreditReport.com: Free full credit reports from all three bureaus (no score, but shows the data underlying your score)
- Experian's free app: Free Experian FICO score with monthly updates
Your FICO score and your VantageScore may differ by 10–30 points because they weight factors slightly differently. Lenders overwhelmingly use FICO; monitoring tools often show VantageScore. Both are useful directional indicators.
How fast can you improve a credit score?
Timeline depends on which factors are dragging your score:
| Action | Typical improvement | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Pay down cards to under 10% utilisation | 20–60 points | 1–2 billing cycles |
| Dispute and remove credit report errors | 10–80 points | 30–60 days after correction |
| Become an authorised user on a good account | 10–50 points | 1–2 billing cycles |
| 12 months of on-time payments after lates | 30–80 points | 12 months |
| Late payment ages off (7 years) | 50–100 points | 7 years from date of delinquency |
If you are planning a major purchase (mortgage, auto loan) in the next 6–12 months, the fastest moves are reducing utilisation and disputing errors — both show results within two billing cycles.
Key takeaways
- 670–739 is "good"; 740–799 is "very good"; 800+ is "exceptional" on the FICO scale.
- The gap between a 620 and a 760 score is roughly $76,000 in extra mortgage interest on a $300,000 loan.
- Payment history (35%) and credit utilisation (30%) together control 65% of your score — improve these first.
- Reducing utilisation below 10% can add 20–60 points within 1–2 billing cycles — the fastest single lever.
- Checking your own score is a soft inquiry and never hurts it.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good credit score?
A FICO score of 670–739 is "good." Scores of 740–799 are "very good" and 800–850 are "exceptional." Most lenders approve borrowers with good scores at standard rates; very good and exceptional scores unlock the best available rates.
What credit score do you start with?
You have no score until at least one account has been open for six months and reported to a bureau. First scored ranges are typically 600–650 for someone who has used a secured card or credit-builder loan responsibly for six months.
How much does a good credit score save you?
On a $300,000 30-year mortgage, moving from a 620 score to a 760 score can save approximately $76,000 in total interest. On a $30,000 auto loan, the rate difference can save $6,000–$9,000 over five years.
What is the average credit score in the US?
The average FICO score was 717 in 2023 (Experian), placing the average American in the "good" tier. About 23% of Americans score above 800 ("exceptional") and 16% score below 580 ("poor").
Does checking your credit score lower it?
No. Checking your own score is a soft inquiry with zero impact on your FICO score. Only hard inquiries — when a lender pulls credit for a loan application — affect your score (typically 3–7 points temporarily). Check your score as often as you like.
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