What's a good credit score?
Most credit scores run from 300 to 850. In the common FICO ranges, 800+ is exceptional, 740–799 is very good, 670–739 is good, 580–669 is fair, and below 580 is poor. Lenders generally treat roughly 670 and up as solid, and 740+ usually unlocks the best rates. What counts as 'good' depends on the lender and the score model, but higher always means lower perceived risk.
The standard score range
Most credit scores — including the FICO and VantageScore models lenders use most — run on a scale from 300 to 850. Higher is better. Your score is a snapshot of how risky you look to a lender based on what's in your credit report, not a measure of your income or wealth.
The common FICO ranges
FICO groups scores into tiers that most lenders recognize:
- 800–850 — Exceptional. You'll qualify for the best available rates and terms.
- 740–799 — Very good. Above-average and treated favorably by most lenders.
- 670–739 — Good. Around the national average; most lenders consider this solid.
- 580–669 — Fair. Below average; you can get credit but often at higher rates.
- 300–579 — Poor. Approvals are harder and usually come with the highest rates or require a deposit.
What lenders actually look for
As a rough rule, 670 and up is considered a good score by most lenders, and 740+ is where you tend to unlock the best interest rates. But 'good' isn't a single fixed number — a mortgage lender, an auto lender, and a credit card issuer can each draw the line differently, and they may use different score models that produce slightly different numbers.
Why your number can vary
You have more than one credit score. Different models (FICO 8, FICO 9, VantageScore 4.0) and different bureaus can each return a different number from the same financial behavior. That's normal — what matters is the range you're in, not the exact figure on any one app.
How to move up a tier
The biggest levers are the same ones that build any score: on-time payments, low balances relative to your limits, a longer history, and a clean report. Removing errors matters too — a misreported late payment or an account that isn't yours can hold your score a tier lower than it should be. That's the part CreditRefresh works on: finding and disputing the inaccuracies that drag your score down unfairly.