Credit Score Ranges: What is an Excellent, Good, or Poor Credit Score?

Credit Score Range Chart

Source: Experian¹

Credit score ranges can get more complicated after that, because there are many more than just the two credit scoring models. Experian and Equifax, among others, both have their own proprietary scoring models. For example, Equifax credit score ranges, from excellent to poor, are:⁵

• Excellent: 760-850
• Very good: 725-759
• Good: 660-724
• Fair: 560-659
• Poor: 280-559

Achieving a FICO score of 800 is the ultimate goal for many—and there’s good reason for that. People in the Excellent credit score range are the most likely to be approved for a credit card or loan, and they’re also likely to get the best available terms and/or interest rates.³ That’s because lenders have a high degree of confidence people with scores in this range will repay their debts.

Better terms. For example, if your VantageScore score is 720 or better, you could qualify for a loan on a new car at an interest rate as low as 5.18%, according to Experian.⁶

“Perfect” score. There are a couple of other things to keep in mind about this range. First, experts call any FICO score of 800 or above “excellent,” meaning that striving for an even higher score may not get you better terms.⁷ Second, note that the VantageScore range is slightly different: any score of 781 or higher is seen as Excellent.

900: the unicorn. You may have heard of credit scores as high as 900. Unlike the unicorns, a 900 score does exist. But it occurs today in the FICO Auto and FICO Bankcard Scores.⁸

If your credit score falls into the next-to-highest range, experts say the odds of approval for loans or credit are good—and if you are approved you’ll likely be offered better-than-average interest or terms.³

You can generally still borrow money if you fall into the middle credit score ranges, but it may be more challenging. Experts say that it begins to be less likely that you’ll be approved for loans and you may be offered less-competitive terms.⁹

People with poor credit scores are less likely to be approved for loans, and will likely be offered higher-than-average interest rates and/or be asked to make a deposit.^9,10 Applicants for mortgages insured by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) who have scores lower than 580 may still qualify, but only if they meet other requirements and make a 10% deposit as opposed to a minimum 3.5% for higher-scoring applications.^11,12

If your score falls in the bottom “Very Poor” credit score range, it may be difficult to be approved for mainstream credit. To borrow, you may have to make a deposit in exchange for a secured line of credit.¹⁰ Other options may be costly “small-dollar” loans (such as auto title or payday loans) with interest rates that could have the equivalent of a 400% interest rate.¹³

As you evaluate the implications of your credit score, keep in mind that lenders may consider different sets of data when determining your credit score, which could help you or hurt you.¹⁴ And, of course, credit scores are not frozen in time—you can take steps to improve your score. (To learn more about how your credit score is determined, read “What is a Credit Score and How is it Defined?”)