What Is a Good Credit Score?
What would you like to know?
Send your questions about personal finance to Ask investor.com for possible inclusion in our series.
Credit scores can range from about 300 to 850. The definition of a “good” credit score is between 670 to 739 for the FICO score model and between 661 and 780 for the VantageScore model, two of the most widely used credit scores.
But… did you notice that “good” was in quotes there? Those quotes are there because the definition of “good” is going to vary depending on who’s doing the judging.
Lenders, landlords and others in charge of granting credit use many different metrics to decide who does and doesn’t qualify for their products. One lender might say a 670 credit score is good enough to qualify for their credit card or car loan; another lender, not so much. Plus, there are many different credit score algorithms, so you may see one number when you check your credit, while a lender, using a different scoring model, could be looking at a different number.
Here’s what all of this means for you: Rather than getting distracted by a number, focus instead on the best way to improve your score. The closer you move your credit score into the “good” to “great” range, the better your overall financial picture. A solid score buys you easier access to credit, and you’ll qualify for much lower interest rates, which means more money in your pocket for you to go out and live your life.
The “official” ranges for the two most common credit scores:


Andrea Coombes shares what qualifies as a "good" credit score.
Get more personal finance tips and strategies
- What credit is and why it matters
- How to fix your credit score
- How to start investing
- How to save for retirement
- Best high-yield savings accounts
- Best cashback credit cards
Check out investor.com’s personal finance education hub.
What Is Compound Interest?