In the United States, credit scores range from 300 to 850. A "good" credit score is generally considered to be 670 or above on the FICO scale — but the higher your score, the better the rates and terms you will receive on loans, credit cards, and mortgages.
Understanding exactly where your score falls — and what it means for your financial life — is the first step to improving it. Here is the complete breakdown of every credit score range and what each one means in practice.
FICO Credit Score Ranges Explained
Report your rent to Equifax & TransUnion — boost your FICO score starting at $9.95/mo
What Does Your Credit Score Actually Affect?
Mortgage Interest Rate
A 100-point difference in your score can mean a 0.5%–1.5% difference in your mortgage rate — that is $50,000–$150,000 over a 30-year loan.
Auto Loan Rate
Going from a 580 to a 720 score can drop your auto loan rate from 12% to 4% — saving $3,000–$8,000 on a typical car loan.
Credit Card APR
Excellent credit gets you 0% promotional APR offers and rewards cards. Poor credit means 25–30% APR and secured cards only.
Apartment Rental
Many landlords require a minimum score of 620–650. Below that, you may need a larger deposit or a co-signer.
Insurance Premiums
In most states, insurers use credit-based insurance scores. Better credit = lower auto and home insurance premiums.
Employment
Some employers check credit for positions involving financial responsibility. A poor credit history can affect hiring decisions.
Sponsored
Ready to travel? Save up to 80% on flights with Skiplagged
Find prices airlines don't want you to see. Featured on CNN and Forbes.
Need a car? Rent unique vehicles with Turo — up to 50% cheaper
Thousands of cars from local hosts. No rental counter lines. Delivery available.
About the Author
Carlos Mendoza
Founder & FCRA-Certified Credit Repair Specialist
GO Repair Credit · Chino, California
Carlos Mendoza is the founder of GO Repair Credit and has spent over 8 years helping Hispanic families in Southern California rebuild their credit history. Based in Chino, CA, Carlos and his team have worked with more than 1,200 clients to dispute errors, remove collections, and improve credit scores under the rights granted by the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA).
Before founding GO Repair Credit, Carlos worked in the financial sector for 5 years, where he witnessed firsthand how credit report errors disproportionately affected Latino communities. That experience motivated him to create an accessible, transparent, and bilingual service for those who need it most.
8+ Years
of experience
1,200+
clients served
Chino, CA
Southern California
Bilingual
English & Español
How to Move Up to the Next Score Range
Poor → Fair (580+)
- Pay down credit card balances to under 30% utilization
- Set up autopay to never miss a payment
- Dispute any errors on your credit report
- Open a secured credit card and use it responsibly
Fair → Good (670+)
- Reduce utilization to under 10% on all cards
- Add a credit builder loan for installment history
- Negotiate pay-for-delete on any remaining collections
- Keep all accounts current for 12+ consecutive months
Good → Very Good (740+)
- Maintain utilization under 5% consistently
- Keep oldest accounts open and active
- Avoid new credit applications for 12+ months
- Monitor all three bureaus weekly for errors
