A good credit score is the difference between getting approved for the best credit cards and being stuck with the leftovers. FICO and VantageScore, the two main scoring models, both use a 300 to 850 scale, but they describe what counts as "good" slightly differently, per creditcards.com. Knowing which band you are in is the first step toward predicting approval odds and getting the best rates.
The headline number is the entry ticket. Below 579, options narrow quickly. Above 740, the best rates unlock. The 670 to 739 band is the broad middle where most credit cards approve, but the rates are not always the best.
Key facts
- FICO "good" range: 670 to 739
- VantageScore "good" range: 661 to 780
- FICO "exceptional" range: 800 to 850
- Average FICO score: 716, per the source
- Most credit card approvals cluster in the 670+ range
The full score range
Per creditcards.com:
| FICO range | FICO rating | VantageScore range | VantageScore rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 800-850 | Exceptional | 781-850 | Excellent |
| 740-799 | Very good | 661-780 | Good |
| 670-739 | Good | 580-669 | Fair |
| 580-669 | Fair | 500-600 | Poor |
| 300-579 | Very poor | 300-499 | Very poor |
The two scales agree on the broad strokes and diverge on the labels. A 670 is "good" on FICO and "fair" on VantageScore, which can confuse cardholders who are quoted different numbers by different tools.
What drives the score
FICO weights the components differently than VantageScore, per the source.
FICO weights:
| Factor | Weight |
|---|---|
| Payment history | Largest share |
| Amounts owed | Second largest |
| Length of credit history | Smaller share |
| Credit mix | Small share |
| New credit | Small share |
VantageScore ranks factors in order of influence:
| Influence | Factor |
|---|---|
| Extremely influential | Credit usage, balance, available credit |
| Highly influential | Credit mix and experience |
| Moderately influential | Payment history |
| Less influential | Credit age and new accounts |
Payment history matters in both models. Credit utilisation (the share of available credit in use) is the second-largest lever under FICO and the most influential factor under VantageScore.
Our analysis
The single biggest lever is payment history. Cardholders who never miss a payment can build strong scores over time, regardless of their credit mix. The corollary is that a missed payment can knock a strong score down sharply. The lesson is that on-time payments are not a place to economise.
The second biggest lever is credit utilisation. Per creditcards.com, single-digit utilisation puts you in the strongest band; roughly a fifth to a quarter of available credit keeps you in good shape. The trap is that utilisation is reported at statement close, so paying off the balance before the statement closes produces a low reported balance, which helps the score.
Length of credit history matters but cannot be manufactured. The cleanest move is to keep old accounts open, even if you do not use them, since closing an old card can shorten your credit history and reduce your total available credit, both of which can dent your score.
What it means for you
Say you have a $5,000 credit limit across two cards and you typically charge $1,000 a month. Your utilisation is one-fifth of your available credit, which keeps you in good shape. Pay the balance before the statement closes to report a lower utilisation and improve your score further.
The discipline is to automate on-time payments, keep utilisation under roughly a quarter of available credit at statement close, and avoid closing old cards. Three habits produce most of the score.
What to watch next
Watch for scoring model updates from FICO and VantageScore, which have introduced new versions in recent years. Watch for issuer-specific credit score thresholds in their underwriting, since some cards are aimed at subprime or prime borrowers and have looser or tighter credit requirements. Watch your own utilisation month over month, since it is the most volatile score component.
Key takeaways
- FICO "good" is 670 to 739; VantageScore "good" is 661 to 780.
- Payment history is the biggest factor in both models.
- Credit utilisation is the second biggest factor under FICO and the most influential under VantageScore.
- Automate payments, keep utilisation in single digits or low double digits at statement close, and keep old accounts open.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good credit score for a credit card?
Per creditcards.com, FICO scores of 670 to 739 are considered good and may be sufficient for most credit cards.
How do FICO and VantageScore differ?
Both use a 300-850 scale but describe ranges differently. FICO weights payment history as the largest factor, while VantageScore ranks credit usage as extremely influential.
What credit utilisation should I aim for?
Single-digit utilisation produces the strongest scores, while roughly one-fifth to one-quarter of available credit keeps scores in good shape, per creditcards.com.
Will closing an old credit card hurt my score?
It can. Closing an old card reduces your total available credit and shortens your credit history, both of which can dent your score.