What Is a Good Credit Score in 2026?

📅 June 28, 2026⏱ 5 min read💳 Credit

Your credit score affects your mortgage rate, loan approval, credit card limits, and sometimes even your job prospects. But what actually counts as a "good" score depends on which country and which scoring system you're using.

UK Credit Score Ranges

The UK has three main credit reference agencies, each with different scales:

Agency	Scale	Good	Excellent
Experian	0–999	881–960	961–999
Equifax	0–700	420–465	466–700
TransUnion	0–710	604–627	628–710

You can check all three for free: Experian (free basic), ClearScore (Equifax data), Credit Karma (TransUnion data).

US Credit Score Ranges (FICO)

Score Range	Rating	What It Means
800–850	Exceptional	Best rates on everything
740–799	Very Good	Better than average rates
670–739	Good	Approved for most products
580–669	Fair	Higher rates, some rejections
300–579	Poor	Limited options, high rates

What Affects Your Credit Score

In the US, FICO breaks it down as:

35% — Payment history (most important — never miss payments)
30% — Credit utilisation (keep below 30% of your limit)
15% — Length of credit history
10% — Credit mix (cards, loans, mortgage)
10% — New credit applications

UK agencies use similar factors but weight them differently. The core principle is the same: pay on time, don't max out cards, don't apply for lots of credit at once.

How to Improve Your Score — Fast

Register to vote (UK) — adds up to 50 points overnight on Experian
Pay every bill on time — set up direct debits for minimums at minimum
Reduce credit card utilisation — pay down balances so you're using less than 30% of your limit
Don't close old cards — length of history matters; keep them open with occasional small purchases
Space out applications — each hard search stays on your file for 2 years (UK) / 2 years (US)
Check for errors — mistakes on credit files are more common than you'd think; dispute them immediately

UK tip: Experian Boost lets you add regular payments (Netflix, Spotify, Council Tax) to your Experian score for free — can add up to 100 points.

What Score Do You Need for a Mortgage?

UK: Most high street lenders want a "good" score (881+ on Experian). Specialist lenders work with lower scores but at higher rates.

US: Conventional loans typically require 620+. FHA loans accept 580+. For the best rates, aim for 740+.

Planning to buy a home? Calculate how much you could borrow based on your income.

🏠 Mortgage Calculator