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What Is a Good Credit Score in the US & UK? (2026 Ranges)

September 29, 2026 · 5 min read · By the DollarWise team
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“What’s a good credit score?” sounds like it should have a one-number answer. It doesn’t — because the US and UK use different scoring models, different scales, and different bands. A 700 means something different in Ohio than it does in Manchester.

This guide lays out every major range for 2026, explains what each band actually unlocks, and shows you how to climb into the next one.

US credit score ranges (FICO)

FICO is the score most US lenders actually use for decisions. It runs 300–850:

Score Band What it means
800–850 Exceptional Best rates on everything; approvals nearly automatic
740–799 Very good Excellent rates; qualifies for premium cards
670–739 Good Approved for most products at decent rates
580–669 Fair Approved with higher rates; fewer options
300–579 Poor Subprime territory; secured cards and rebuilding

The magic line is 740 — that’s roughly where the best mortgage and auto loan rates kick in. The difference between a 680 and a 760 on a $300,000 mortgage can mean $100+ per month, or tens of thousands over the loan’s life. That’s why building credit early (see our guide to building credit at 18) pays so handsomely.

VantageScore — the model behind free sites like Credit Karma — uses the same 300–850 scale but different bands: 781–850 excellent, 661–780 good, 601–660 fair, 500–600 poor, 300–499 very poor. Don’t panic if your VantageScore and FICO differ by 20–30 points; that’s normal.

UK credit score ranges

The UK has three main credit reference agencies, each with its own scale. This confuses everyone, so here’s the full picture:

Experian (0–961):

  • 881–961: Excellent
  • 721–880: Good
  • 561–720: Fair
  • 439–560: Poor
  • 0–438: Very poor

Equifax (0–1000):

  • 811–1000: Excellent
  • 671–810: Good
  • 531–670: Fair
  • 439–530: Poor
  • 0–438: Very poor

TransUnion via Credit Karma (0–710):

  • 628–710: Excellent
  • 566–627: Good
  • 505–565: Fair
  • 438–504: Poor
  • 0–437: Very poor

The key insight: lenders don’t see your “score” — they see your report. The number each agency shows you is their own marketing interpretation. A lender checks the underlying data (payment history, defaults, utilization) and applies its own criteria. So “good” on one agency and “fair” on another usually just reflects different scales, not different data.

What each band actually unlocks

Scores are abstract; approvals are concrete. Roughly speaking:

  • Excellent (US 800+ / UK top bands): premium rewards cards, lowest mortgage and auto rates, highest credit limits, instant approvals.
  • Good (US 670–799 / UK good bands): mainstream credit cards, competitive loan rates, rental applications approved without guarantors.
  • Fair (US 580–669 / UK fair bands): basic cards, higher APRs, possible deposit requirements on rentals and phone contracts, guarantor may be needed.
  • Poor: secured cards, specialist lenders, larger deposits — and a clear signal to focus on rebuilding before applying for anything new.

One important nuance: there’s rarely a benefit to going from 780 to 820. Once you’re in the top band, extra points are bragging rights, not money. The valuable climbs are poor→fair and fair→good.

How to check your score free (without hurting it)

Checking your own score is a soft inquiry — it never affects your score, no matter how often you do it.

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In the US:

  • Your bank or card issuer — most major banks now show a free FICO or VantageScore in their app
  • AnnualCreditReport.com — free full reports (not just scores) from Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion
  • Free monitoring apps for ongoing VantageScore tracking and alerts

In the UK:

  • Experian’s free account — your Experian score and report
  • ClearScore — free Equifax-based score and report
  • Credit Karma UK — free TransUnion-based score and report

Check all three UK agencies at least once a year — errors and fraud don’t always appear on every file, and you’re entitled to dispute anything wrong for free.

How to move up a band

The levers are the same in both countries, because the underlying data is the same:

  1. Pay everything on time. Payment history is the biggest factor everywhere. Set up direct debits/autopay for at least minimums on every account.
  2. Lower your utilization. Owing $900 on a $1,000 limit looks risky; owing $90 looks responsible — even if you pay in full either way. Under 30% is the target; under 10% is ideal.
  3. Don’t apply for lots of credit at once. Each application leaves a hard search/inquiry. Space applications months apart.
  4. Fix errors. Wrongly recorded late payments and accounts that aren’t yours are surprisingly common. Dispute them — removals can lift a score a full band.
  5. Register to vote (UK). Being on the electoral roll is a quick, free score boost with UK agencies because it verifies your identity and address.
  6. Give it time. Length of history helps everywhere. Old, well-managed accounts are gold — never close your oldest card.

Starting from zero?

No credit history at all? Our step-by-step guide shows 18-year-olds exactly how to build a first score from scratch — secured cards, authorized user status, and realistic timelines.

Build Credit From Scratch

FAQ

Q: What is considered a good credit score in the US?

A: A FICO score of 670–739 is considered good, 740–799 very good, and 800–850 exceptional. Most lenders offer their best rates to borrowers at 740+. For VantageScore (used by free monitoring sites), 661–780 is good and 781–850 is excellent.

Q: What is a good credit score in the UK?

A: It depends on the agency: Experian scores 721–880 as good and 881–960 as excellent (out of 961); Equifax scores 671–810 as good and 811–1000 as excellent (out of 1000); TransUnion scores 566–627 as good and 628–710 as excellent (out of 710). The scales aren’t interchangeable, so always check which agency’s score you’re looking at.

Q: Is 700 a good credit score?

A: Yes — 700 is a good score in both countries. In the US, a 700 FICO qualifies you for most mainstream credit cards and decent loan rates, though the very best mortgage rates typically start around 740. In the UK, 700+ on any agency’s scale puts you in good or excellent territory.

Q: How can I check my credit score for free?

A: In the US, many banks and sites like Credit Karma offer free VantageScore monitoring, and you’re entitled to free credit reports from all three bureaus. In the UK, Experian, ClearScore (Equifax data), and Credit Karma (TransUnion data) all offer free score checking. Checking your own score never hurts it.

#credit score#usa#uk#beginners
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Written by the DollarWise team

We turn confusing money topics into plain-English guides for beginners. Every article is written to be actionable on day one — no jargon, no hype, no sales pitch.

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