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Credit score ranges chart
FICO and VantageScore bands from your score — the band, the points to the next band, and about how many Americans score below you. The bands are the same for everyone — your income and age are not part of the score.
★ MONEY · CREDIT SCORE RANGES CHART · FICO & VANTAGESCORE 2026
Credit Score Ranges Chart: FICO & VantageScore 2026
Score 720: FICO Good (670–739), VantageScore Good (661–780), 20 points to Very Good, 61 points to Excellent, about 44% of Americans score below 720. This is reference table #261 in the Bright Side Kit money collection: the FICO and VantageScore bands, the share of Americans in each FICO band, and the score you need for good and best loan rates. Put in your FICO score and the calculator looks up its band, the points to the next band, and about how many Americans score below you.
How the ranges work
On the defaults — a FICO score of 720 — the FICO band is Good (670–739), the VantageScore band is Good (661–780), the next FICO band (Very Good) starts at 740, so it is 20 points away, the next VantageScore band (Excellent) starts at 781, so it is 61 points away, and about 44% of Americans score below 720.
FICO and VantageScore are different models — the same person has two different numbers, and neither is wrong. The average American FICO score is 715 (Experian, 2025) and 70% of Americans score 670 or better. The bands are the same for everyone — your income and age are not part of the score. The score changes monthly as your credit report changes.
The two models use different band edges, so one score can sit in different bands on each model: a score of 720 is Good on both, but a score of 799 is Very Good on FICO and Excellent on VantageScore, while a score of 580 is Fair on FICO and Poor on VantageScore. Look up your FICO score first — it is the score most mortgage lenders use — then check where the same number falls on VantageScore, which is the score many free credit-monitoring apps show.
The FICO score ranges
The table below is the FICO Score 8 range, with the share of American consumers in each band from Experian data (September 2025). Every cell is derived from the stated bands and shares, never hand-typed. The shares add to 100.0%: 14.7 + 14.9 + 20.1 + 27.5 + 22.8.
| FICO band | Score range | Share of consumers 2025 | What it means |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poor | 300–579 | 14.7% | Most lenders decline; secured cards and credit-builder loans are the usual path. |
| Fair | 580–669 | 14.9% | Approved for many cards and loans, but at higher rates; FHA mortgages start at 580. |
| Good | 670–739 | 20.1% | The "good" line most lenders use; approved for most credit at near-average rates. |
| Very Good | 740–799 | 27.5% | Better rates on mortgages, auto loans and cards; the largest group of Americans. |
| Exceptional | 800–850 | 22.8% | The best rates lenders offer; about 1.8% of Americans hold a perfect 850. |
The worked example, line by line
Setup: the input score is S = 720. The FICO bands are Poor 300–579, Fair 580–669, Good 670–739, Very Good 740–799, Exceptional 800–850, with band shares 14.7%, 14.9%, 20.1%, 27.5% and 22.8%. The VantageScore 3.0 bands are Very Poor 300–499, Poor 500–600, Fair 601–660, Good 661–780, Excellent 781–850.
Line 1 — FICO band lookup: 720 falls in 670–739, so the FICO band is Good.
Line 2 — VantageScore band lookup: 720 falls in 661–780, so the VantageScore band is Good.
Line 3 — points to the next FICO band: the next FICO band (Very Good) starts at 740, so 740 − 720 = 20 points to Very Good.
Line 4 — points to the next VantageScore band: the next VantageScore band (Excellent) starts at 781, so 781 − 720 = 61 points to Excellent.
Line 5 — the percentile interpolation: the Good band starts at a cumulative 29.6% (14.7 + 14.9 below it), and 720 sits 50 points into the 69-point Good band (670–739), so 29.6 + (50/69) × 20.1 = 29.6 + 14.5652 = 44.1652%, which rounds to about 44%. The word "about" matters: this is a linear interpolation inside the band, an approximation, not an exact count of Americans.
Every branch, checked
Score 850: FICO Exceptional (800–850), VantageScore Excellent (781–850), already in the top FICO band, already in the top VantageScore band, about 100% of Americans score below 850. The ceiling of the scale — a perfect score, and about 1.8% of Americans hold one.
Score 800: FICO Exceptional (800–850), VantageScore Excellent (781–850), already in the top FICO band, already in the top VantageScore band, about 77% of Americans score below 800. The first score in the top band on both models — 77.2% of Americans sit below it.
Score 799: FICO Very Good (740–799), VantageScore Excellent (781–850), 1 point to Exceptional, already in the top VantageScore band, about 77% of Americans score below 799. One point short of Exceptional on FICO, already Excellent on VantageScore.
Score 740: FICO Very Good (740–799), VantageScore Good (661–780), 60 points to Exceptional, 41 points to Excellent, about 50% of Americans score below 740. The first Very Good score — and the best-rate line, where the lowest mortgage and auto-loan rates start.
Score 739: FICO Good (670–739), VantageScore Good (661–780), 1 point to Very Good, 42 points to Excellent, about 50% of Americans score below 739. One point below the best-rate line — the cheapest single point on the whole scale.
Score 670: FICO Good (670–739), VantageScore Good (661–780), 70 points to Very Good, 111 points to Excellent, about 30% of Americans score below 670. The first Good score — where most lenders' standard rates begin, and 70% of Americans score 670 or better.
Score 669: FICO Fair (580–669), VantageScore Good (661–780), 1 point to Good, 112 points to Excellent, about 30% of Americans score below 669. One point below the "good credit" line — Fair on FICO, Good on VantageScore.
Score 580: FICO Fair (580–669), VantageScore Poor (500–600), 90 points to Good, 21 points to Fair, about 15% of Americans score below 580. The FHA mortgage minimum — the lowest score for an FHA loan with 3.5% down.
Score 579: FICO Poor (300–579), VantageScore Poor (500–600), 1 point to Fair, 22 points to Fair, about 15% of Americans score below 579. One point below the FHA minimum — the line between Poor and Fair.
Score 500: FICO Poor (300–579), VantageScore Poor (500–600), 80 points to Fair, 101 points to Fair, about 11% of Americans score below 500. Deep in Poor on both models — about 11% of Americans score below 500.
Score 300: FICO Poor (300–579), VantageScore Very Poor (300–499), 280 points to Fair, 200 points to Poor, about 0% of Americans score below 300. The floor of the scale — a model-level outcome, not an error.
The reverses, worked backwards
Score for Very Good: 740 — at 739 the figures are Score 739: FICO Good (670–739), VantageScore Good (661–780), 1 point to Very Good, 42 points to Excellent, about 50% of Americans score below 739. The star is POINTS. Verdict: LOOKUP — 740 is the first score in Very Good.
Score for Exceptional: 800 — at 799 the figures are Score 799: FICO Very Good (740–799), VantageScore Excellent (781–850), 1 point to Exceptional, already in the top VantageScore band, about 77% of Americans score below 799. The star is POINTS. Verdict: LOOKUP — 800 is the first score in Exceptional.
Points to climb from 720 to Very Good: 20 — 720 + 20 = 740 gives Score 740: FICO Very Good (740–799), VantageScore Good (661–780), 60 points to Exceptional, 41 points to Excellent, about 50% of Americans score below 740, and 19 points gives Score 739: FICO Good (670–739), VantageScore Good (661–780), 1 point to Very Good, 42 points to Excellent, about 50% of Americans score below 739. The star is POINTS. Verdict: LOOKUP.
Score for VantageScore Excellent: 781 — at 780 the figures are Score 780: FICO Very Good (740–799), VantageScore Good (661–780), 20 points to Exceptional, 1 point to Excellent, about 68% of Americans score below 780. The star is POINTS. Verdict: LOOKUP — 781 is the first score in VantageScore Excellent.
Score for Good: 670 — at 669 the figures are Score 669: FICO Fair (580–669), VantageScore Good (661–780), 1 point to Good, 112 points to Excellent, about 30% of Americans score below 669. The star is POINTS. Verdict: LOOKUP — 670 is the first score in Good.
Score at the 50th percentile: exactly 740.6436 — displayed 741 gives Score 741: FICO Very Good (740–799), VantageScore Good (661–780), 59 points to Exceptional, 40 points to Excellent, about 50% of Americans score below 741 (about 50.2% below, unrounded), and 740 gives Score 740: FICO Very Good (740–799), VantageScore Good (661–780), 60 points to Exceptional, 41 points to Excellent, about 50% of Americans score below 740 (49.7% unrounded). The star is POINTS. Verdict: CONTINUOUS — this is an interpolation, approximate: the percentile function is bisected between 740 (49.7% below) and 741 (50.1661% below) to find where it crosses 50%.
What the defaults assume
The defaults are a FICO score of 720 — FICO Good (670–739), VantageScore Good (661–780), 20 points to Very Good, 61 points to Excellent, about 44% of Americans score below 720. FICO and VantageScore are different models — the same person has two different numbers, and neither is wrong. The average American FICO score is 715 (Experian, 2025) and 70% of Americans score 670 or better. The bands are the same for everyone — your income and age are not part of the score. The score changes monthly as your credit report changes. A score of 300 — Poor / Very Poor, about 0% below — is the floor of the scale, and a score of 850 — Exceptional / Excellent, about 100% below — is the ceiling; both are model-level outcomes, not errors. The calculator asks for a whole number from 300 to 850, so 299 and 851 are validation errors, not results, and a non-integer score such as 720.5 is rejected the same way.
The VantageScore 3.0 ranges
VantageScore 3.0 uses different band edges from FICO, so the same number can land in a different band. A score of 799 is Very Good on FICO but Excellent on VantageScore; a score of 580 is Fair on FICO but Poor on VantageScore.
| VantageScore band | Score range | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Very Poor | 300–499 | Very hard to get approved; the lowest VantageScore band. |
| Poor | 500–600 | Limited options; subprime cards and higher-rate loans. |
| Fair | 601–660 | Approved for many products, at above-average rates. |
| Good | 661–780 | Most lenders' comfort zone; competitive rates. |
| Excellent | 781–850 | The best rates; the top VantageScore band. |
The score thresholds lenders actually use
Four numbers matter more than the rest of the scale: the FHA floor, the conventional-mortgage floor, the "good credit" line, and the best-rate line.
| Threshold | Score | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| FHA mortgage minimum | 580 | The lowest score for an FHA loan with 3.5% down (HUD). |
| Conventional mortgage minimum | 620 | The usual floor for a Fannie Mae / Freddie Mac loan. |
| "Good credit" line | 670 | Where most lenders' standard rates begin. |
| Best-rate line | 740 | Where the lowest mortgage and auto-loan rates start. |
Output · formula · meaning
| Output | Formula | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| FICO band | look up S in the FICO table | Good (670–739). |
| VantageScore band | look up S in the VantageScore 3.0 table | Good (661–780). |
| Points to next FICO band | next FICO band lower bound − S (0 at the top band) | 20 points to Very Good. |
| Points to next VantageScore band | next VantageScore band lower bound − S (0 at the top band) | 61 points to Excellent. |
| Share of Americans below | band-start cumulative + (S − band-lo) ÷ (band-hi − band-lo) × band share, rounded to the nearest whole percent, always "about" | about 44%. |
| Score for Very Good | first score in the Very Good band | 740 → 740. |
| Score for Exceptional | first score in the Exceptional band | 800 → 800. |
| Points to climb from 720 to Very Good | 740 − 720 | 20 → 20. |
| Score for VantageScore Excellent | first score in the VantageScore Excellent band | 781 → 781. |
| Score for Good | first score in the Good band | 670 → 670. |
| Score at the 50th percentile | bisection on the percentile function, 740 to 741, target 50% | 741 → 741. |
| At 739 (one below Very Good) | calc(739) | Score 739: FICO Good (670–739), VantageScore Good (661–780), 1 point to Very Good, 42 points to Excellent, about 50% of Americans score below 739. |
| At 799 (one below Exceptional) | calc(799) | Score 799: FICO Very Good (740–799), VantageScore Excellent (781–850), 1 point to Exceptional, already in the top VantageScore band, about 77% of Americans score below 799. |
| At 739 (19 points from 720) | calc(739) | Score 739: FICO Good (670–739), VantageScore Good (661–780), 1 point to Very Good, 42 points to Excellent, about 50% of Americans score below 739. |
| At 780 (one below VantageScore Excellent) | calc(780) | Score 780: FICO Very Good (740–799), VantageScore Good (661–780), 20 points to Exceptional, 1 point to Excellent, about 68% of Americans score below 780. |
| At 669 (one below Good) | calc(669) | Score 669: FICO Fair (580–669), VantageScore Good (661–780), 1 point to Good, 112 points to Excellent, about 30% of Americans score below 669. |
| At 740 (one below the 50th-percentile score) | calc(740) | Score 740: FICO Very Good (740–799), VantageScore Good (661–780), 60 points to Exceptional, 41 points to Excellent, about 50% of Americans score below 740. |
| Score 850 | same model | Score 850: FICO Exceptional (800–850), VantageScore Excellent (781–850), already in the top FICO band, already in the top VantageScore band, about 100% of Americans score below 850. |
| Score 800 | same model | Score 800: FICO Exceptional (800–850), VantageScore Excellent (781–850), already in the top FICO band, already in the top VantageScore band, about 77% of Americans score below 800. |
| Score 799 | same model | Score 799: FICO Very Good (740–799), VantageScore Excellent (781–850), 1 point to Exceptional, already in the top VantageScore band, about 77% of Americans score below 799. |
| Score 740 | same model | Score 740: FICO Very Good (740–799), VantageScore Good (661–780), 60 points to Exceptional, 41 points to Excellent, about 50% of Americans score below 740. |
| Score 739 | same model | Score 739: FICO Good (670–739), VantageScore Good (661–780), 1 point to Very Good, 42 points to Excellent, about 50% of Americans score below 739. |
| Score 670 | same model | Score 670: FICO Good (670–739), VantageScore Good (661–780), 70 points to Very Good, 111 points to Excellent, about 30% of Americans score below 670. |
| Score 669 | same model | Score 669: FICO Fair (580–669), VantageScore Good (661–780), 1 point to Good, 112 points to Excellent, about 30% of Americans score below 669. |
| Score 580 | same model | Score 580: FICO Fair (580–669), VantageScore Poor (500–600), 90 points to Good, 21 points to Fair, about 15% of Americans score below 580. |
| Score 579 | same model | Score 579: FICO Poor (300–579), VantageScore Poor (500–600), 1 point to Fair, 22 points to Fair, about 15% of Americans score below 579. |
| Score 500 | same model | Score 500: FICO Poor (300–579), VantageScore Poor (500–600), 80 points to Fair, 101 points to Fair, about 11% of Americans score below 500. |
| Score 300 | same model | Score 300: FICO Poor (300–579), VantageScore Very Poor (300–499), 280 points to Fair, 200 points to Poor, about 0% of Americans score below 300. |
Who uses this
- The first-time homebuyer checking the mortgage floors: they learn the FHA minimum is 580 and the conventional minimum is 620 — and they check that the best-rate line is 740 before deciding how much score to build before applying.
- The cardholder rebuilding credit: they learn a score of 579 is Poor and 1 point from Fair — and they check that 580 is also the FHA mortgage minimum before setting their next target.
- The car buyer timing a loan: they learn a score of 720 is Good, with about 44% of Americans below them — and they check that 20 points to Very Good is the gap to the best auto-loan rates before signing.
- The saver tracking their progress: they learn the 50th percentile sits at about 741 and the average American FICO score is 715 — and they check their own score against both numbers each month as their credit report changes.
Accuracy & limitations
The bands and shares come from Experian data (September 2025): the FICO band shares are 14.7%, 14.9%, 20.1%, 27.5% and 22.8%, and the average American FICO score is 715. The percentile is a LINEAR INTERPOLATION inside the band — an approximation, always "about": it assumes scores are spread evenly inside each band, which they are not, so about 44% for a score of 720 is a guide, not a count. The bands are the same for everyone; your income and age are not part of the score. The score changes monthly as your credit report changes, and FICO and VantageScore are different models — the same person has two different numbers, and neither is wrong. Use the chart to see where you stand and what the next band costs in points, not as a promise of any particular loan rate.
Cite this calculatorBright Side Kit. “Credit Score Ranges Chart: FICO & VantageScore 2026” brightoolbox.com, 2026. Method: look up the score in the FICO Score 8 bands (Poor 300–579, Fair 580–669, Good 670–739, Very Good 740–799, Exceptional 800–850) and the VantageScore 3.0 bands (Very Poor 300–499, Poor 500–600, Fair 601–660, Good 661–780, Excellent 781–850); points to the next band = next band lower bound minus the score; the percentile is a linear interpolation inside the FICO band from the Experian band shares (cumulative below each band start: Poor 0%, Fair 14.7%, Good 29.6%, Very Good 49.7%, Exceptional 77.2%), always "about". Data sources: Experian, "What Is the Average Credit Score in the U.S.?" (data from September 2025, published March 30, 2026) https://expn.wp.experiancs.com/blogs/ask-experian/what-is-the-average-credit-score-in-the-u-s/ — for the band shares and the 715 average; FICO Score ranges as published by FICO (myFICO); VantageScore 3.0 ranges as published by VantageScore. Reverses: the score for Very Good is 740 (at 739 the figures are Good, 1 point to Very Good, about 50% below); the score for Exceptional is 800 (at 799 the figures are Very Good, 1 point to Exceptional, about 77% below); the points to climb from 720 to Very Good are 20 (720 + 20 = 740, and 19 points gives 739, Good); the score for VantageScore Excellent is 781 (at 780 the figures are VantageScore Good, 1 point to Excellent, about 68% below); the score for Good is 670 (at 669 the figures are Fair, 1 point to Good, about 30% below); the score at the 50th percentile is exactly 740.6436, displayed 741 (about 50.2% below, unrounded; at 740 the figures are about 50%, 49.7% unrounded). Defaults: score 720 → FICO Good (670–739), VantageScore Good (661–780), 20 points to Very Good, 61 points to Excellent, about 44% of Americans score below 720.
Bright Side Kit. "Credit Score Ranges Chart: FICO & VantageScore 2026" https://brightoolbox.com/credit-score-ranges-chart/ Accessed October 26, 2026.Frequently asked questions
What credit score range is a 720?
Good — about 44% of Americans score below 720. A FICO score of 720 falls in the Good band (670–739) and in the VantageScore Good band (661–780); it is 20 points from Very Good and 61 points from VantageScore Excellent.
What score do I need for Very Good credit?
740. Very Good starts at 740 on FICO (740–799); a score of 739 is still Good, one point short, and about 50% of Americans score below either.
What score do I need for Exceptional credit?
800. Exceptional starts at 800 on FICO (800–850); a score of 799 is Very Good, one point short, and about 77% of Americans score below either.
How many points do I need to go from 720 to Very Good?
20 points. Very Good starts at 740, so 740 − 720 = 20 points; 19 points only reaches 739, which is still Good.
What score do I need for VantageScore Excellent?
781. VantageScore Excellent starts at 781 (781–850); a score of 780 is still VantageScore Good, one point short, and about 68% of Americans score below 780.
What score is the 50th percentile — about half of Americans below me?
About 741. The exact interpolated score is 740.6436, so the displayed whole score is 741, which gives about 50.2% below (unrounded); this is an approximate interpolation, not an exact count, and 740 gives about 50% (49.7% unrounded).
What credit score do I need for a good mortgage rate?
740 for the best rates; 670 for the "good credit" line. The best-rate line is 740, where the lowest mortgage and auto-loan rates start; the "good credit" line is 670, where most lenders' standard rates begin; the FHA minimum is 580 and the conventional minimum is 620.
Why are my FICO score and VantageScore different?
Because they are different models, and neither is wrong. FICO and VantageScore use different formulas and different band edges — a score of 799 is Very Good on FICO but Excellent on VantageScore, and a score of 580 is Fair on FICO but Poor on VantageScore — so the same person has two different numbers.