What Is a Good Credit Score?
Written by Andrea Coombes
Edited by Carolyn Kimball
Fact-checked by Dayana Yochim
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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
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About the Editorial Team
Andrea Coombes has 20+ years of experience helping people reach their financial goals. Her personal finance articles have appeared in the Wall Street Journal, USA Today, MarketWatch, Forbes, and other publications, and she's shared her expertise on CBS, NPR, "Marketplace," and more. She's been a financial coach and certified consumer credit counselor, and is working on becoming a Certified Financial Planner. She knows that owning pets isn't necessarily the best financial decision; her dog and two cats would argue this point.
Carolyn Kimball is Managing Editor for Reink Media Group and the lead editor for content on investor.com. Carolyn has more than 20 years of writing and editing experience at major media outlets including NerdWallet, the Los Angeles Times and the San Jose Mercury News. She specializes in coverage of personal financial products and services, wielding her editing skills to clarify complex (some might say befuddling) topics to help consumers make informed decisions about their money
Dayana Yochim has been writing (articles, books, podcasts, stirring speeches) about personal finance and investing for more than two decades, focusing on bringing clarity and the occasional comedic aside to what is often a murky, humorless topic. She’s written for NerdWallet, The Motley Fool, HerMoney.com, Woman’s Day, Forbes, Newsweek and others, and been a guest expert on "Today," "Good Morning America," CNN, NPR and wherever they’ll hand her a mic.
