Credit Score Ranges Explained: From Poor to Exceptional
Credit scores run from 300 to 850, split into five bands from poor to exceptional. Here is what each range means, where the important cutoffs are, and how FICO and VantageScore compare.
Credit scores run from 300 to 850, and lenders slice that scale into five bands, from poor at the bottom to exceptional at the top. Knowing which band you are in matters more than the exact number, because the bands are roughly where lenders draw their lines on approvals and interest rates.
The five credit score ranges
Here is the standard FICO breakdown, along with what each band realistically means for you:
| Range | Rating | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| 800–850 | Exceptional | The best rates available; approvals are a formality |
| 740–799 | Very good | Excellent rates; you are rarely turned down |
| 670–739 | Good | Approved for most things at fair rates |
| 580–669 | Fair | Approved, but at higher rates and with lower limits |
| 300–579 | Poor | Frequent denials, deposits, or subprime rates |
The two cutoffs that matter most are 580 (fair, where you stop being routinely denied) and 670 (good, where rates get genuinely reasonable). Crossing those two lines changes your financial life far more than any move within the top bands.
FICO vs VantageScore ranges
Both of the major scoring models, FICO and VantageScore, use the same 300-to-850 scale, which is why the ranges above are a safe general guide. The band labels differ slightly between them, and the two models can land you a different number from the same report, but the practical tiers line up closely enough that you do not need to memorize both. If your app shows one number and a lender quotes another, that gap is explained in is Credit Karma accurate?
Do not fixate on the exact digit. Know your band, because that is the line the lender is actually drawing.
Where you land is mostly about time
If your score is sitting in fair or the low end of good, it usually is not a sign you are bad with money. More often it just means a short or thin credit history, which is why younger people cluster lower. That is not a life sentence, it is a timeline, and it moves up with on-time payments and low balances.
Where to go next
- What counts as good: what is a good credit score?
- Where the numbers come from: what is a FICO score?
- How you compare by age: average credit score by age
For the official band definitions and how scores are built, myFICO and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau are the neutral, sales-free sources.
Frequently asked questions
What are the credit score ranges?
On the standard FICO scale, the ranges are: poor (300 to 579), fair (580 to 669), good (670 to 739), very good (740 to 799), and exceptional (800 to 850). VantageScore uses the same 300 to 850 scale with slightly different band labels.
What is a good credit score range?
The good range is 670 to 739. Reaching it means you will be approved for most loans and credit cards at fair rates. Above that, 740 to 799 is very good and 800+ is exceptional, both of which unlock the best available rates.
What is the highest credit score?
The highest possible FICO or VantageScore is 850. It is rare and, honestly, unnecessary. Once you are in the very good or exceptional range, you already qualify for the best rates most lenders offer, so there is little practical difference between an 800 and a perfect 850.
Is 650 a good credit score?
A 650 falls in the fair range, just below good. You can still be approved for many loans and cards, but often at higher interest rates and with lower limits. Getting above 670 into the good range is what meaningfully improves your terms.
