Credit Education · Maximum FICO Score
FICO Score Ranges Explained:
What Makes My Credit Good or Bad?
Every score from 300 to 850 tells a specific story to lenders. This guide breaks down all five FICO ranges — what they mean, what they cost you, and exactly what it takes to move into the next tier.
📅 Updated April 2026
⏱ 9 min read
🏦 All 5 Score Ranges Covered
⚡ Quick Answer
FICO scores range from 300 to 850. The five ranges are: Poor (300–579), Fair (580–669), Good (670–739), Very Good (740–799), and Exceptional (800–850). Each range directly affects your approval odds, interest rates, and credit limits — with the difference between Poor and Exceptional potentially costing you $200,000+ in interest over your lifetime.
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Key Takeaways
- ▶A score of 670+ is “Good” — but 740+ is where lenders reserve their best rates and terms.
- ▶Consumers with Poor credit (300–579) pay an average of $270,000+ more in interest on a $300k mortgage than those with Exceptional credit.
- ▶Payment history (35%) and utilization (30%) control 65% of your score — two factors you can directly influence.
- ▶Inaccurate items in your credit file can hold you in a lower range than you deserve — and FCRA §611 gives you the right to dispute them.
- ▶Even moving one range (e.g., Fair → Good) can unlock thousands of dollars in savings and access to new financial products.
The Complete FICO Score Spectrum
The FICO® Score scale runs from 300 to 850. Here’s the full picture at a glance:
POOR
300–579
FAIR
580–669
GOOD
670–739
VERY GOOD
740–799
EXCEPTIONAL
800–850
Source: Fair Isaac Corporation (FICO®) official score range classifications
Each Range: What It Really Means
Your score isn’t just a number — it determines your approval odds, interest rate, credit limits, and financial options. Here’s what each range actually delivers:
300
–579
Poor Credit Range
Severely limited options · Highest borrowing costs
Approval Odds
Very Low
Most mainstream lenders decline
Typical APR
20–36%+
Subprime rates if approved
What you can access:
Secured credit cards only (requires cash deposit) · Subprime auto loans with large down payments · No mortgage access (below FHA minimum of 580) · May require co-signer for any credit
Common causes:
Collections, charge-offs, or judgments · Bankruptcy in the past 7–10 years · Foreclosure or repossession · Multiple late payments 90+ days · Identity theft or credit fraud
🎯 Priority Action
Pull all three credit reports and identify inaccurate or unverifiable items. File FCRA disputes immediately. Open a secured card and keep utilization under 10%. Every on-time payment builds history.
580
–669
Fair Credit Range
Limited access · Well above-average rates
Approval Odds
Moderate
Some lenders, subprime terms
Typical APR
15–24%
Near-prime, still costly
What you can access:
FHA mortgage (580+ with 3.5% down) · Subprime auto loans · Some unsecured cards with low limits · Personal loans at high rates · Limited rental approvals
Common causes:
Recent late payments (30–60 days) · High credit utilization (50%+) · Short credit history · Fewer account types · Recent hard inquiries
🎯 Priority Action
Aggressively reduce utilization below 30% (ideally under 10%). Set up autopay for every account. Dispute any remaining negative items. Add an installment loan or become an authorized user on a well-managed account.
670
–739
Good Credit Range
Solid access · Near-prime rates available
Approval Odds
Good
Most products available
Typical APR
7–15%
Reasonable rates, near-prime
What you can access:
Conventional mortgage (620+ minimum) · Competitive auto loans · Most credit cards including rewards cards · Personal loans at reasonable rates · Apartment approvals without co-signer
What’s holding you here:
Utilization above 10% · Occasional late payment in past 2 years · Credit mix limited to 1–2 account types · Credit age under 7 years · Some older negative items still reporting
🎯 Priority Action
Get utilization under 10% on all revolving accounts. Add an installment loan if you only have revolving credit. Ensure zero late payments for 24 consecutive months. Thin file? Consider adding a credit-builder account.
740
–799
Very Good Credit Range
Prime rates · Most lenders compete for your business
Approval Odds
Very Good
Near-universal approval
Typical APR
3.5–7%
Prime mortgage rates available
What you can access:
Best mortgage rates · 0% APR promotional cards · Premium travel rewards cards · Top-tier auto financing · Business credit lines · High credit limits · No co-signer ever needed
The gap to Exceptional:
Usually small — might be 1–2 old negatives still reporting, slightly high utilization on one card, or limited account mix. Very close to elite tier.
🎯 Priority Action
Get utilization under 5% total and under 10% per card. Ensure all accounts are in perfect standing. Long-term: let your oldest accounts age. Keep hard inquiries under 2 per year. Fine-tuning from here is about patience and precision.
800
–850
Exceptional Credit Range
Elite tier · Absolute best terms on everything
Approval Odds
Excellent
Guaranteed approval, elite terms
Typical APR
Lowest available
Lenders compete for you
What you can access:
Lowest possible mortgage rates · Black and ultra-premium cards (Amex Centurion, etc.) · Best personal loan rates · Instant approvals · Maximum credit limits · Business financing with no personal guarantee
🎯 Priority Action
Protect your file. Keep utilization under 5%. Maintain perfect payment history. Keep inquiry count low. Monitor credit regularly. Aging accounts only get stronger — let time do its work.
The Real Dollar Cost of Your Score Range
Using a $300,000 30-year fixed-rate mortgage as a benchmark — based on historical rate averages per score range:
| Score Range |
Typical Rate |
Monthly Payment |
Total Interest |
vs. Exceptional |
| Poor (300–579) |
~9.5% |
$2,523 |
$608,000+ |
+$270,000 |
| Fair (580–669) |
~7.5% |
$2,097 |
$455,000 |
+$117,000 |
| Good (670–739) |
~6.5% |
$1,896 |
$382,000 |
+$44,000 |
| Very Good (740–799) |
~5.8% |
$1,755 |
$352,000 |
+$14,000 |
| Exceptional (800–850) |
~5.3% |
$1,669 |
$338,000 |
Baseline |
Illustrative estimates based on historical rate patterns. Actual rates vary by lender, market conditions, down payment, and loan type.
What Each Score Range Unlocks
The impact of your score isn’t limited to one product — it affects every major financial decision. Here’s what changes as your score climbs:
300–579: No access (below FHA minimum)
580–619: FHA only, 3.5% down, high rates
620–669: Conventional access, above-market rates
670–739: Competitive rates, most programs
740+: Best available rates, all programs
300–579: Large down payment, 18–25%+ APR
580–669: Approved but costly, 12–18% APR
670–739: Standard prime rates, 6–10% APR
740–799: Excellent rates, 3.5–5.5% APR
800+: 0% promotional offers, 1.9–2.9% APR
300–579: Secured cards only ($200–$500 limits)
580–669: Some unsecured cards, high APR, low limits
670–739: Most cards, cash back available
740–799: Premium rewards cards, high limits
800+: Ultra-premium, 0% intro offers, max limits
300–579: Payday/predatory lenders only
580–669: Some lenders, 18–30% APR
670–739: Most lenders, 10–18% APR
740–799: Best rates, 5.5–10% APR
800+: Lowest rates, largest amounts, 3–6% APR
Your Roadmap to a Higher Score Range
Regardless of where you are on the spectrum today, these are the five most impactful actions for moving into the next range — in order of impact:
1
Dispute Inaccurate Negative Items (FCRA §611)
Inaccurate collections, charge-offs, late payments, or accounts that don’t belong to you can hold your score down significantly. Under FCRA §611, you can formally dispute these items — bureaus must investigate within 30 days and remove anything that cannot be verified. This is often the single fastest path to meaningful improvement, especially in the Poor and Fair ranges.
2
Reduce Credit Utilization Below 10%
Utilization accounts for 30% of your FICO score and updates monthly. Paying down balances to under 10% of your credit limits (not 30% — that’s the old advice) can produce significant score increases within 30–60 days. For maximum impact: pay down revolving balances while keeping accounts open. Even one credit card at $0 balance helps.
3
Build a Perfect Payment History (35% of Score)
Payment history is the single largest factor in your FICO score. Set up autopay for every account — at minimum for the minimum payment — to ensure you never miss again. Even one 30-day late payment can drop your score 50–110 points. Every on-time payment chips away at the impact of past lates over time.
4
Diversify Your Credit Mix
FICO rewards having both revolving (credit cards) and installment (loans) accounts. If you only have credit cards, a small personal loan or credit-builder loan adds an installment trade line. If you only have installment loans, a secured credit card adds revolving history. Avoid opening too many accounts at once — space new accounts 6+ months apart.
5
Let Your Credit Age — and Protect It
Length of credit history accounts for 15% of your FICO score. Keep your oldest cards open even if you don’t use them — closing them reduces your average account age and available credit. If a card has an annual fee, consider downgrading to a no-fee version. One strategic move: never close your oldest card, ever.
The most important insight from the roadmap above: the lower your current score, the more high-impact steps are available to you. Consumers in the Poor and Fair ranges can often see 50–100+ point improvements by addressing inaccurate items and optimizing utilization alone.
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Frequently Asked Questions About FICO Score Ranges
What is a good FICO score?
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A FICO score of 670 or higher is generally considered “Good.” Scores of 740 or above are “Very Good,” and 800 or above is “Exceptional.” Most lenders offer their best rates to borrowers with scores of 740 or higher. If your goal is a mortgage, targeting 740+ will give you access to the best available rates.
What FICO score do I need to buy a house?
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Most conventional loans require a minimum FICO score of 620. FHA loans allow scores as low as 580 with a 3.5% down payment. However, to access the best mortgage rates, you generally need a score of 740 or higher. Scores below 620 will significantly limit your mortgage options and may require working to improve your score before applying.
What is the average FICO score in the US?
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The average FICO score in the United States is approximately 716, which falls in the “Good” range. However, averages vary significantly by age group, state, and income level. Younger consumers and those with limited credit history often score lower, while consumers over 60 tend to score higher due to longer credit history.
How long does it take to improve a FICO score range?
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Moving from Poor to Fair typically takes 6–12 months with consistent on-time payments and reduced utilization. Moving from Fair to Good can take 12–18 months. Each range jump requires sustained positive behavior, and the timeline depends heavily on the specific negative items in your file. Removing inaccurate items through FCRA disputes can accelerate improvement significantly.
Does checking my FICO score hurt my credit?
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No. Checking your own credit score is a soft inquiry and does not affect your FICO score in any way. Only hard inquiries — initiated when you apply for new credit with a lender — can temporarily lower your score, typically by 5–10 points. Those hard inquiries stop impacting your score after 12 months and disappear from your report after 2 years.
Can credit repair help me move up a FICO score range?
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Yes. Professional credit repair focuses on identifying and disputing inaccurate, unverifiable, or outdated negative items — which are among the most common reasons consumers are stuck in a lower score range than they deserve. Under FCRA §611, bureaus must investigate disputes within 30 days and remove items that cannot be verified. Combined with strategic credit-building guidance, professional repair can accelerate movement into higher ranges significantly.
Maximum FICO Score · Bakersfield, CA
Ready to Move Into a Higher Score Range?
Whether you’re in the Poor range trying to climb to Fair, or in the Good range aiming for Very Good or Exceptional — Maximum FICO Score has helped thousands of consumers in Bakersfield and nationwide take that next step. Our approach is ethical, transparent, and built on real results.
Serving Bakersfield, Los Angeles, Kern County & clients nationwide since 2016 | Client Support: 661-505-8085
Legal Disclaimer: Maximum FICO Score is a credit education and repair company operating under the Credit Repair Organizations Act (CROA) and Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regulations. We do not guarantee specific score improvements. Results vary based on individual credit profiles. You have the right to dispute inaccurate information in your credit report directly with the credit bureaus at no charge. The information provided in this article is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. FICO® is a registered trademark of Fair Isaac Corporation.
