What Is a Good Credit Score? (2026 Guide)
By Carlos Acosta | Fact checked
Last Updated: February 2026
Quick Answer
A good FICO® score is generally considered to be 670 or higher. Scores above 740 are considered "Very Good", while scores above 800 are "Exceptional".
Get Your Free Credit Report
Federal law entitles you to one free copy of your credit report from each of the three major bureaus every 12 months. Checking your report helps you spot errors and understand what lenders see.
- Request reports from Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion
- No credit card required
- Review for errors before applying for new credit
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If this sounds like you…
You've been denied recently, want to avoid hard pulls, or are starting with no credit — secured cards are usually the safest next step.
FICO® Score Ranges
The 5 Factors of Credit
1. Payment History (35%)
Whether you pay bills on time. Late payments, collections, and bankruptcies hurt your score.
2. Amounts Owed / Utilization (30%)
How much of your available credit you use. Keeping balances below 30% of your limit is recommended.
3. Length of Credit History (15%)
How long your accounts have been open. Older accounts in good standing help your score.
4. New Credit (10%)
Recent applications and new accounts. Too many hard inquiries in a short period can lower your score.
5. Credit Mix (10%)
Variety of account types (cards, loans). A healthy mix can help, but it is not required to have a good score.
Check Your Credit Report for These Common Errors
Before applying for new credit, review your report for mistakes that can lower approval odds.
- Accounts that do not belong to you
- Late payments reported incorrectly
- Paid collections still marked as unpaid
- Duplicate accounts
- Incorrect balances or credit limits
- Negative items older than the legal reporting period
- Hard inquiries you did not authorize
If you find any of these errors, dispute them before applying for new credit.
Before You Apply
- Check your credit report for errors
- Know your current score
- Compare fees and deposit requirements before applying
What rebuilding typically looks like
- Month 0Open your first credit-building account
- Months 1–3On-time payments begin reporting
- Months 4–6Early score improvement appears
- Months 9–12Eligible for better card options
Common mistakes to avoid
- Applying for multiple cards at once
- Carrying balances on secured cards
- Closing your first account too early
What Rebuilding Credit Usually Looks Like
Credit improvement is not instant. Most people see progress in predictable stages.
- Month 0–1
- Account approved and opened
- Initial deposit or setup completed
- Credit line reports to bureaus
- Month 2–3
- First on-time payments reported
- Credit utilization stabilizes
- Early score movement possible
- Month 4–6
- Consistent payment history builds
- Approval odds for better cards improve
- Fewer rejections when applying
- Month 6–12
- Graduation or upgrade options appear
- Lower fees and higher limits possible
- Stronger overall credit profile
Results vary based on payment history, balances, and past credit issues.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is considered a good credit score?
- Most lenders consider a FICO® score of 670 or higher to be good, 740+ to be very good, and 800+ to be exceptional.
- Can I rebuild a fair or poor score into a good score?
- Yes. With on-time payments, lower utilization, and avoiding new debt, many people can move from fair or poor scores into the good range within 12–24 months.
- Do all lenders use the same score range?
- Most lenders use 300–850 based models, but individual lenders may have different approval cutoffs and internal rules.