What Is an Excellent Credit Score and How Can You Get One?
- Credit scores are based on information in your credit report, including your payment history and credit usage.
- FICO Scores are the most widely used by lenders, and a FICO Score of 800 or above is considered excellent.
- An excellent credit score makes it easier to borrow money at a low cost, get rental housing or a mortgage and qualify for cheaper insurance premiums.
A credit score is a numerical prediction of how well you’ll manage credit cards and loans in the future based on the information in your credit report.
An excellent credit score — a FICO Score in the 800-plus range or a VantageScore between 781 and 850 — shows lenders you’ll be responsible with repayment. Excellent credit borrowers can typically access lower rates and fees, better terms and more loan options.
What is an excellent credit score?
An excellent credit score is a FICO Score of 800 or higher, or a VantageScore 3.0 score of 781 to 850. Different credit scoring models weigh the information on your credit report a little differently, but scores are primarily based on similar factors, like payment history, credit usage and the age and mix of credit accounts.
A perfect credit score is typically a score of 850, and can be tough to get. But it’s also unnecessary, as any score in the excellent range can help you qualify for a low interest rate on a loan.
Excellent FICO Score
A FICO Score is the most popular brand of credit score, used by 90% of top lenders. The score is a number generated based on the information in your credit report.
Essentially, the score gives creditors a number that rates the likelihood you’ll keep up with your loan payments. Lenders and credit card issuers use FICO Scores to determine if you qualify for a loan or credit card and to calculate your interest rate, so a higher credit score means better and cheaper borrowing opportunities.
An excellent FICO Score is 800 or above.
| Credit band | Rating |
|---|---|
| 800+ | Excellent credit |
| 740-799 | Very good credit |
| 670-739 | Good credit |
| 580-669 | Fair credit |
| <580 | Poor credit |
The average FICO Score in the U.S. was 715 as of April 2025, according to FICO, and most Americans (71.3%) have a FICO Score in the good or excellent score range, according to a LendingTree study. FICO Scores generally increase with age.
Excellent VantageScore
A VantageScore is another brand of credit scoring model that, like FICO, generates a score based on the information in your credit report. However, VantageScore weighs aspects of your credit history a bit differently than FICO. An excellent VantageScore is between 781 and 850.
| Credit band | Rating |
|---|---|
| 781-850 | Excellent credit |
| 661-780 | Good credit |
| 601-660 | Fair credit |
| 300-600 | Poor credit |
The average VantageScore in the U.S. is 702 as of May 2025, according to VantageScore. About two-thirds (61%) of Americans have a VantageScore that’s “good” or better, according to a LendingTree study.
Why does an excellent credit score matter?
Save on interest rates
People with excellent credit typically have green flags on their credit report. Items like a consistent on-time payment history and low credit utilization ratio show potential creditors they can manage debt well. This track record of success enables lenders to offer lower interest rates to excellent credit borrowers.
A lower interest rate can make a significant difference in the cost of the loan over time, which means people with excellent credit can save money whenever they borrow.
For example, a LendingTree study showed that a borrower with very good credit could save a significant wad of cash compared to a fair credit borrower, based on the best offers available for the following loan types with average balances:
- Mortgage: $30,544 in savings over 30 years
- Auto loan: $4,253 in savings over 5 years
- Credit card: $4,032 in savings over a variable term
- Personal loan: $2,041 in savings over 3 years
Borrowers with excellent credit could potentially save even more.
Easier borrowing options
If you have excellent credit, it’s easier to qualify for auto loans and personal loans with lower rates and fees and better terms. For example, if you’re shopping for a new car, you may find that some dealerships offer low or no-interest financing options that save you money. 0% APR car loans are typically only available to people with excellent credit.
And if you’re facing an unexpected expense (like a home repair or medical bill), you’ll also have your pick of the best personal loan lenders. Some lenders that serve borrowers with good or excellent credit have lower APRs and don’t charge any fees. An excellent credit score may also help you qualify for a larger loan amount or a longer repayment term.
Can qualify for credit card rewards
Rewards credit cards offer cash back or points that you can use to book travel or buy gift cards. To qualify for the best rewards cards, you’ll need good or excellent credit. And if you have excellent credit, you’re more likely to qualify for premium rewards cards that offer the best perks.
Some of the best rewards credit cards offer sign-up bonuses that could be used to book a free trip. Premium travel rewards cards that come with an annual fee may pay for themselves through statement credits for travel, dining, entertainment and streaming subscriptions. You may also get benefits like access to airport lounges and travel insurance, along with higher rewards earnings rates on certain purchases.
An excellent credit score may also help you qualify for 0% APR credit cards, which allow you to avoid interest for a period of time and can be helpful if you need to make a large purchase.
May get insurance discounts
People can have multiple credit scores based on the information in their credit report. For example, insurance companies may use your credit-based insurance score to determine your premium. This score is different from your personal credit score, but it’s based on similar factors like your payment history and outstanding debt.
Most auto insurance and homeowners insurance companies consider your credit-based insurance score when setting your premium in states where it is legal to do so. Actuarial studies show a correlation between higher credit scores and a lower likelihood of filing a claim, so insurers typically charge lower premiums to people with excellent credit.
Better access to housing
An excellent credit score can save you a significant chunk of change on your monthly mortgage payment. A LendingTree study showed that borrowers with very good credit could save an average of $223 per month relative to fair credit borrowers with the best available offers.
It follows that an excellent credit score could allow you to afford a more expensive home with the same monthly budget. In fact, raising your credit score could make the difference between being able to afford a starter home in your area and being priced out of the housing market.
Further, a high credit score gives you access to more loan programs and lenders. While fair credit borrowers may be limited to FHA loan programs that require mortgage insurance premiums, excellent credit borrowers can qualify for conventional loans that typically cost less overall.
Even if you rent, an excellent credit score could be an advantage, especially in a tight rental market. Landlords evaluate prospective tenants’ credit scores to predict how likely they are to pay rent on time.
How can you get an excellent credit score?
- Stay on top of your bills: Your payment history is the most important factor in most credit scoring models, and it makes up 35% of your FICO Score. Missed or late payments on your debts negatively impact your score, so set a reminder or set up auto pay to build a positive payment history.
- Don’t max out your credit cards: Your credit utilization ratio (the share of your total credit limit you’re using) makes up 30% of your FICO Score. Keeping your balances low shows that you’re not racking up debt and contributes to a higher score.
- Use different types of credit: Having a mix of revolving and nonrevolving credit shows lenders you’re experienced with different types of borrowing — for example, having a credit card along with a student loan or auto loan may increase your score.
- Build a long credit history: The length of your credit history and the average age of your credit accounts makes up 15% of your FICO Score. A long credit history shows you’re experienced with paying off debt, so don’t close your old credit cards if possible.
- Only borrow what you need or can afford to: When you take on debt, you cut into your monthly budget and increase the risk of financial hardship in the event you lose your job. Plus, new applications for credit hurt your score a little. Avoid applying for multiple credit cards within a short period, and keep your applications for new credit to a minimum.
- Check your credit reports for errors: Incorrect or fraudulent information on your credit report could drag down your credit score. You can view your free credit report weekly at AnnualCreditReport.com, or view directly from Experian, Equifax or TransUnion. Look for common errors, like accounts that don’t belong to you, incorrectly-labeled delinquent accounts or multiple listings for the same debt.
If you need support building and maintaining excellent credit, LendingTree Spring is like a digital personal assistant that monitors your credit and gives you personalized advice. The app even shows you a breakdown of the factors impacting your score and makes it easier to dispute errors on your TransUnion report by walking you through the signup process.
Frequently asked questions
A 750 VantageScore is considered excellent, but a 750 FICO Score is in the “very good” range.
A 900 credit score exists, but it isn’t very common. You’ll typically only see it if you’re looking at someone’s FICO® Auto Score or FICO Bankcard Score, whose models do go up to 900. However, a base FICO Score only goes up to 850.
More than 22% of Americans have an excellent credit score, or a FICO Score between 800 and 850, according to 2024 data from Experian.
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