Credit Score Ranges: What Good, Great, and Excellent Mean
Quick Answer
Credit scores range from 300–850. In 2026, 670+ is "good," 740+ is "very good," 800+ is "excellent." These tiers determine which loans you qualify for and at what interest rate. The difference between 650 and 750 is often 2–3% in interest rates, costing you $50,000–$150,000 over a 30-year mortgage. Understanding where you fall and what's realistically achievable helps you prioritize credit-building efforts.
The Credit Score Scale
| Range | Rating | Typical Approval | Typical APR |
|---|---|---|---|
| 300–579 | Poor | Very limited; mostly subprime | 18–29% |
| 580–669 | Fair | Possible with conditions | 12–18% |
| 670–739 | Good | Likely approved | 8–12% |
| 740–799 | Very Good | Approved at good rates | 5–8% |
| 800–850 | Excellent | Approved at best rates | 2–5% |
Score Ranges Explained
300–579: Poor
What it means: You have significant credit problems: late payments, high utilization, collections, or bankruptcy.
Approval odds:
- Credit card: ~5% chance (only subprime cards)
- Auto loan: ~10% chance (high interest, larger down payment required)
- Mortgage: ~0% chance (FHA minimum is 580, but 580 barely qualifies)
- Personal loan: ~20% chance (predatory lenders only)
Interest rates:
- Credit card: 20–29% APR
- Auto loan: 15–25% APR
- Personal loan: 25–36% APR (if approved at all)
Reality: At 300–579, you're in financial distress. Lenders see you as high-risk and charge accordingly. A $10,000 car loan at 20% costs $2,000 more in interest than at 7%.
How to improve: Focus on:
- Payment history (stop missing payments)
- Utilization (pay down credit cards)
- Dispute errors (if applicable) Target: Get to 650+ in 12–24 months.
580–669: Fair
What it means: You have some credit issues (late payments, high utilization) but are starting to recover or have thin credit history.
Approval odds:
- Credit card: ~40% chance (subprime, store cards)
- Auto loan: ~50% chance (possible, but higher rates)
- Mortgage: ~30% chance (FHA loans welcome 580+, but require 10% down, mortgage insurance)
- Personal loan: ~40% chance (credit unions, peer-to-peer)
Interest rates:
- Credit card: 15–21% APR
- Auto loan: 10–17% APR
- Mortgage (FHA): 5–7% APR (but with mortgage insurance premium, effective rate higher)
- Personal loan: 15–24% APR
Reality: You're borderline. Some lenders will work with you, others won't. You'll pay more in interest. A $200,000 mortgage at 6% (fair score) vs. 4.5% (excellent score) costs you $80,000 more in interest over 30 years.
How to improve: Focus on:
- Payment history (6–12 months of on-time payments)
- Utilization (get below 30%) Target: Get to 700+ in 6–18 months.
670–739: Good
What it means: You're a reasonable credit risk. You likely have a mix of credit, on-time payments, and reasonable utilization.
Approval odds:
- Credit card: ~85% chance (standard cards with moderate rewards)
- Auto loan: ~85% chance (standard rates available)
- Mortgage: ~75% chance (Conventional loans now available, not just FHA)
- Personal loan: ~80% chance (banks, credit unions welcome)
Interest rates:
- Credit card: 12–18% APR
- Auto loan: 5–9% APR
- Mortgage: 5.5–6.5% APR (conventional, not FHA)
- Personal loan: 8–14% APR
Reality: This is the "good" tier. Most people aim here. You'll get approved for most credit, but you're not getting premium rates.
Example: A $300,000 mortgage at 6% costs $648,712 total. At 4.5% (excellent score), it costs $553,344. That's $95,000 difference.
How to improve: Focus on:
- Age of accounts (they'll naturally age)
- Keep utilization <10%
- Maintain perfect payment history Target: Get to 750+ in 12–36 months.
740–799: Very Good
What it means: You're a prime borrower with excellent credit habits.
Approval odds:
- Credit card: ~95% chance (premium cards with excellent rewards)
- Auto loan: ~95% chance (best rates available)
- Mortgage: ~90% chance (conventional, best rates)
- Personal loan: ~90% chance (best terms)
Interest rates:
- Credit card: 8–14% APR
- Auto loan: 3–6% APR
- Mortgage: 4.5–5.5% APR
- Personal loan: 6–10% APR
Reality: At 740+, you're in the preferred borrower category. Lenders compete for your business. You get the best rates and terms available.
How to improve: Focus on:
- Keep utilization <5%
- Maintain perfect payment history indefinitely Target: Get to 800+ in 24–60 months.
800–850: Excellent
What it means: You're a pristine credit risk with excellent history and disciplined habits.
Approval odds:
- All credit types: ~98% chance
- Loan amounts: Often higher limits approved
Interest rates:
- Credit card: 6–12% APR (best-in-class)
- Auto loan: 2–4% APR (lowest available)
- Mortgage: 4.0–4.8% APR (bottom tier)
- Personal loan: 5–8% APR (best available)
Reality: At 800+, you're maximizing your borrowing power. The interest rates you get are the best lenders offer. $0.5–1% lower APR than "very good" borrowers might not sound like much, but on big loans it's substantial.
Example:
- 800+ score: $300,000 mortgage at 4.0% = $549,096 total
- 740 score: $300,000 mortgage at 5.5% = $625,572 total
- Difference: $76,476
What Your Score Qualifies You For
Credit Cards
| Score | Cards Available | APR | Rewards |
|---|---|---|---|
| <600 | Subprime, secured cards | 20–29% | None or minimal |
| 600–670 | Subprime, store cards | 15–21% | Limited (1% cash back) |
| 670–740 | Standard cards | 12–18% | Good (2–5% cash back) |
| 740–799 | Preferred cards | 8–14% | Excellent (5–7% cash back) |
| 800+ | Premium cards | 6–12% | Elite (travel, 5%+ categories) |
Example: You want a 2% cash back card.
- 650 score: Approved for card with 20% APR, 0.5% cash back
- 750 score: Approved for card with 12% APR, 2% cash back
- 800 score: Approved for card with 8% APR, 5% cash back
Auto Loans
| Score | Approval | APR | Down Payment |
|---|---|---|---|
| <600 | 20–30% chance | 15–25% | 20–30% |
| 600–670 | 50–60% chance | 10–15% | 15–20% |
| 670–740 | 85–90% chance | 5–9% | 10% or less |
| 740–799 | 95%+ chance | 3–6% | 5% or less |
| 800+ | 98%+ chance | 2–4% | Negotiable |
Cost example: $25,000 car over 60 months
| Score | APR | Monthly Payment | Total Interest |
|---|---|---|---|
| 600 | 18% | $619 | $12,140 |
| 700 | 8% | $507 | $5,420 |
| 750 | 5% | $471 | $3,260 |
| 800 | 3% | $451 | $1,060 |
| Difference (600 vs 800) | — | $168/month | $11,080 |
Over 5 years, an excellent credit score saves you $11,080 on a $25,000 car.
Mortgages
| Score | Approval Odds | APR | Down Payment | PMI Required |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| <620 | 0% (conventional) | — | — | — |
| 620–679 | 60% | 5.5–7% | 10–20% | Yes |
| 680–739 | 80% | 5–6% | 10% | Yes |
| 740–799 | 90% | 4.5–5.5% | 5–10% | Maybe |
| 800+ | 95% | 4–5% | <5% | No |
Cost example: $300,000 mortgage over 30 years
| Score | APR | Monthly Payment | Total Interest |
|---|---|---|---|
| 620 | 6.5% | $1,896 | $382,560 |
| 700 | 5.5% | $1,703 | $312,980 |
| 750 | 4.5% | $1,520 | $247,138 |
| 800 | 4.0% | $1,432 | $215,608 |
| Difference (620 vs 800) | — | $464/month | $166,952 |
Over 30 years, an excellent credit score saves you $166,952 on a $300,000 mortgage. And $5,568/year just in monthly payment difference.
Where Most Americans Fall
Federal Reserve and Fair Isaac data (2025):
| Score Range | % of Population |
|---|---|
| 300–579 | 16% |
| 580–669 | 18% |
| 670–739 | 21% |
| 740–799 | 24% |
| 800–850 | 21% |
Median FICO score in 2026: 710 (squarely in "good" range)
Realistic Targets by Age
| Age | Reasonable Target | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 18–25 (new credit) | 650–700 | Building history; some mistakes expected |
| 25–35 (early career) | 700–750 | Established accounts; buying first home likely |
| 35–50 (peak earning) | 750–800 | Multiple accounts aged; refinancing opportunities |
| 50–65 (pre-retirement) | 800+ | Lowest rates matter most; maxing wealth |
| 65+ (retirement) | 750+ | Less borrowing needed; credit still valuable |
Is Excellent (800+) Realistic for You?
Requirements for 800+:
- 10+ years of credit history (or accounts naturally age)
- Perfect payment history (0 late payments, ever)
- Low utilization (<5% average)
- Multiple account types (credit cards, mortgage, auto, etc.)
- No collections, charge-offs, or delinquencies
Realistic timeline:
- Starting from 600: 5–7 years to 800
- Starting from 700: 3–5 years to 800
- Starting from 750: 1–2 years to 800
For most people: Aiming for 750+ is more realistic than 800+. The jump from 750 to 800 requires perfection. The jump from 700 to 750 requires discipline.
Do You Actually Need 800+?
At 740+, you're in premium territory. The practical difference between 740 and 800:
- Credit card APR: 9% vs. 7% (2% difference) = minimal impact on revolving debt
- Auto loan: 4.5% vs. 3.5% (1% difference) = saves ~$500–1,000 over loan
- Mortgage: 5% vs. 4% (1% difference) = saves ~$30,000 over 30 years
Most people maximize benefit at 740+. Going from 740 to 800 saves money but requires significant effort and time.
Your Credit Score Target Checklist
- Find your current score (annualcreditreport.com)
- Determine your starting range (poor, fair, good, very good, excellent)
- Calculate realistic 6-month and 12-month targets
- Identify what improves your range most (payment history, utilization, etc.)
- Focus on actions in order of impact
- Recheck score every 3–6 months
- Celebrate milestones (600 → 650, 700 → 750, etc.)
Sources
- Federal Reserve. (2026). Credit Score Distribution Data. https://www.federalreserve.gov/
- FICO. (2026). Score Ranges and Approvals. https://www.fico.com/
- Fair Credit Reporting Act. (2025). Credit Scoring Ranges. https://www.ftc.gov/
- Bankrate. (2026). Interest Rate by Credit Score. https://www.bankrate.com/
- Experian. (2026). Score Ranges Explained. https://www.experian.com/