What is a good credit score?
A FICO score of 670 or higher is generally good; 740 is very good and 800 or more is exceptional.
New to this?
A credit score is a three-digit number, most often from 300 to 850, that estimates how likely you are to repay borrowed money. Lenders use it to decide whether to approve you and what rate to charge. Scoring companies group scores into ranges, like fair or good, so lenders and borrowers can read them quickly.
Read first
Myth
Anything under 800 is a bad credit score.
Truth
FICO calls 670 to 739 good and 740 to 799 very good. Moving from fair to good can still matter. On a $10,000 loan, Dana's lower rate saves $1,058.
Worth memorizing
- 1
Good starts at 670 on FICO.
Below 580 is poor, 580 to 669 fair, 670 to 739 good, 740 to 799 very good, 800 and up exceptional.
- 2
You have many scores, not one.
Scores differ by scoring model, credit bureau, loan type and the day they're figured. Small differences between them are normal.
- 3
A better range lowers your borrowing cost.
In Dana's example, 12% instead of 18% on $10,000 for 3 years saves $1,058 in interest.
If I were sitting in the fair range, I'd aim for 670 first, not 850. That's where FICO's good range starts. Pay every bill on time and keep card balances low, and give it a few months before a big application.
Do this today
Find a free score in your card or bank app and write down the number and which range it falls in. Then set autopay for at least the minimum on every card and loan so no payment is ever late.
Practice
1 of 3
On the FICO scale, which range is a score of 712?
Good runs from 670 to 739, so 712 is in the good range.
2 of 3
A loan costs $3,015 in interest at one rate and $1,957 at a lower rate. How much does the lower rate save?
$3,015 − $1,957 = $1,058.
3 of 3
Why might your score on a card app differ from a lender's?
Scores vary with the scoring model, the bureau's data, the loan type and when they're calculated.
Tips
Check your score for free
Many card companies and lenders show a score on your statement or online account. HUD-trained housing counselors and nonprofit credit counselors can often give you one free too.
Know which score you're seeing
Some free sites show an educational score, not the one lenders use. It's usually close, but a lender's number can differ by a few points.
Aim for the next range
Find your range and target the next cutoff, like 670 or 740. Lenders often set rates by range, so the cutoff can matter more than any single point.
Fix report errors first
Get your free reports, free weekly from each of the three bureaus at AnnualCreditReport.com. A late payment or account that isn't yours can drag your score down, and you can dispute it.
A worked example: fair versus good on a personal loan
Dana needs a $10,000 personal loan over 3 years. Assume a lender quotes 18% at her fair score of 640 and 12% if she reaches a good score of 690.
- At 18%, 36 payments of $361.53 repay $10,000 with $3,015 in interest. At 12%, 36 payments of $332.15 cost $1,957.
- Moving from fair to good saves $3,015 − $1,957 = $1,058, or about $30 a month.
- Dana pays her cards down and sets autopay, then checks her score again before she applies. Real quotes vary by lender, so she compares several.
- Interest at 18%, 36 months$3,015
- Interest at 12%, 36 months−$1,957
- Interest saved in the good range=$1,058
- Payment at 18%$362
- Payment at 12%−$332
- Lower payment each month=$30
Try your numbers
Common mistakes
Chasing a perfect 850
FICO's exceptional range starts at 800. Lenders price loans by range, so once you clear the cutoff a lender uses, extra points may not change your rate at all.
Paying for a score you can get free
Many card companies and lenders already show you a score. If you buy one, the CFPB notes you don't have to buy credit monitoring or other add-ons with it.
Applying for lots of credit to raise it
Each application usually adds a hard inquiry, and a burst of new accounts can lower your score for a while. Open new credit only when you need it.
Going deeper
On the FICO scale of 300 to 850, a score of 670 or above is generally considered good, 740 and up is very good and 800 and up is exceptional. Each step up tends to mean easier approvals and lower rates, which can save real money on a loan.
The FICO ranges
FICO groups its base scores, which run from 300 to 850, into five bands: poor (below 580), fair (580 to 669), good (670 to 739), very good (740 to 799) and exceptional (800 and above).
Good means 670 or higher
FICO describes a score of 670 or above as generally good. Lenders set their own cutoffs, and there is no single minimum score that every lender requires.
Scores vary by source
The CFPB notes that you have many credit scores. Each one can differ by the scoring model, the bureau whose data it uses, the type of loan and the day it was calculated.
Payment history matters most
The CFPB says paying on time, every time, has the greatest effect on your score. Keeping balances low compared with your limits comes next.
What each range means
FICO, the most widely used scoring company, labels its ranges by how risky a borrower looks. A poor score, below 580, tells lenders you are a higher risk. A fair score, 580 to 669, is below average, though FICO says many lenders will still approve loans in this range.
A good score, 670 to 739, is near or a bit above the US average, and most lenders treat it as good. Very good, 740 to 799, and exceptional, 800 and up, tell lenders you are a dependable borrower and tend to qualify for the most competitive rates.
Other scoring models exist and may use different ranges, and the CFPB notes that many scores run from 300 to 850 but not all do. When a lender quotes a cutoff, ask which score it uses.
Why your scores don't all match
You might see 702 on a credit card app and 688 at a car dealer on the same week. That doesn't mean one is wrong. The three bureaus, Equifax, Experian and TransUnion, may hold slightly different information, since not every lender reports to all three or on the same day.
Lenders also choose which scoring model and version to use for each kind of loan, so a mortgage lender and a card company may see different numbers. Look at your range more than the exact number.
What moves you up a range
Payment history is the biggest single piece. The CFPB calls repayment history the number one factor in most credit scores, so set up autopay for at least the minimum on every account.
How much of your credit limits you use matters next. The CFPB says experts advise keeping it at no more than 30% of your total limit, and lower tends to help more. You don't need to carry a balance or pay interest to build a good score.
Time helps too. The longer your accounts show on-time payments, the stronger your history looks. Apply only for credit you need, since several applications in a short time can look like money trouble.
When the range matters most
Your score matters most right before a big loan, like a mortgage, a car loan or a personal loan. That's when a better range can lower the rate for years. If you can wait a few months to move up a band, the savings can be large.
Landlords, insurers and some utility companies also check credit. For everyday life, being in the good range or higher covers most needs.
Questions people ask
Is 700 a good credit score?
Yes. On the FICO scale, 700 sits in the good range of 670 to 739. Reaching 740 would move you into very good, where rates are often lower.
What credit score do you start with?
You don't start at 300. You have no score until your credit report holds enough history for a model to score it, which takes some months after your first account is reported. The exact rules depend on the scoring model.
Does checking my own score lower it?
No. Checking your own credit is a soft inquiry and has no effect on your score. Only hard inquiries, from applying for credit, can lower it slightly.
How fast can I move up a range?
It depends on what's holding you back. Paying down card balances can help once the lower balances are reported. Late payments take longer to fade, so on-time payments from now on matter most.
Printable worksheet with answer key, free for classrooms. Lesson plan for this unit.
Sources
- myFICO: What is a FICO score?
- myFICO: Credit scores and what they mean to lenders
- CFPB: What is a credit score?
- CFPB: Understand your credit score
- CFPB: Where can I get my credit scores?
- CFPB: How do I get and keep a good credit score?
- FTC: Free credit reports (2026)
Updated October 4, 2026. General education, not personalized financial, tax or legal advice. Figures are examples. Check current rates and limits before you act.
Terms on this page
Related lessons
Get your money plan by email
One step each morning: what to do, why it comes in that order, and one small thing to try. About 5 minutes. Then one short note a week. Free, unsubscribe anytime.