What is a good credit score?

A FICO score of 670 or above is generally considered good. Scores of 740 and above are very good, while 800 and above are excellent. Most lenders offer the best interest rates to borrowers with scores above 740.

How accurate is this credit score simulator?

This simulator uses a simplified model based on publicly documented FICO factor weightings. It shows directional impact — the real FICO algorithm is proprietary, so actual score changes may differ. Use it to understand which factors matter most.

How long does it take to improve a credit score?

Small improvements like reducing utilization can show up within 30 days. Recovering from a missed payment takes 6 to 12 months of on-time payments. Major negative marks like collections or bankruptcy can affect your score for 7 to 10 years.

Does checking my own credit score lower it?

No. Checking your own score is a soft inquiry and has no impact. Only hard inquiries from lenders when you apply for credit can temporarily lower your score, typically by 5 to 10 points for a few months.

Credit Score Simulator

Q: What hurts your credit score the most?

Missing payments has the biggest negative impact since payment history is 35% of your score. A single 30-day late payment can drop your score by 60 to 110 points. Maxing out credit cards (high utilization) is the second biggest factor at 30%.

See how your financial decisions affect your credit score. Adjust the five FICO factors, run what-if scenarios, and get personalized tips to improve your score. Everything runs privately in your browser.

Your Current Credit Score (300–850)

Payment History (35%) 90%

Percentage of on-time payments

Credit Utilization (30%) 30%

Balance as % of credit limit (lower is better)

Credit History Length (15%) 5 yrs

Average age of credit accounts in years

Credit Mix (10%) 2

Types of accounts (1 = one type, 5 = diverse mix)

New Credit Inquiries (10%) 1

Hard inquiries in last 12 months (fewer is better)

PoorFairGoodVery GoodExcellent

What-If Scenarios

What if I pay off debt?

What if I open a new card?

What if I miss a payment?

How FICO Credit Scores Work

Your FICO credit score is a three-digit number ranging from 300 to 850 that lenders use to evaluate your creditworthiness. It is calculated from five weighted factors drawn from your credit reports at the three major bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Understanding these factors is the first step toward managing and improving your score.

Payment history carries the most weight at 35% of your score. It tracks whether you pay bills on time across credit cards, mortgages, auto loans, and other accounts. Even a single 30-day late payment can drop your score by 60 to 110 points, and the impact lasts up to seven years on your report. Consistently paying on time is the most powerful way to maintain a strong score.

Credit utilization accounts for 30% and measures how much of your available revolving credit you are using. If your credit cards have a combined limit of $10,000 and your balances total $3,000, your utilization is 30%. Experts recommend keeping utilization below 30%, and below 10% is ideal for the highest scores. Paying down balances or requesting credit limit increases both reduce utilization.

Understanding Score Ranges and Their Impact

Credit scores are divided into five categories. Scores below 580 are considered Poor and typically result in loan denials or very high interest rates. The Fair range (580 to 669) qualifies you for some products but at above-average rates. Good scores (670 to 739) give you access to most financial products at competitive rates. Very Good (740 to 799) earns you better-than-average terms, while Excellent scores (800 to 850) unlock the lowest rates and best credit card rewards programs available.

The remaining three factors — credit history length (15%), credit mix (10%), and new credit inquiries (10%) — are smaller but still meaningful. A longer credit history demonstrates reliability. Having a mix of revolving accounts (credit cards) and installment loans (mortgage, auto) shows you can manage different types of debt. Each hard inquiry from applying for credit temporarily lowers your score by a few points, so spacing out applications is wise.

Improving Your Credit Score Over Time

Improving your credit score is a gradual process, but small actions compound. Start by setting up autopay to guarantee on-time payments. Next, focus on reducing credit utilization by paying more than the minimum or making bi-monthly payments. Avoid closing old accounts since they contribute positively to your average account age. Only apply for new credit when necessary to limit hard inquiries. Regularly reviewing your credit reports for errors through AnnualCreditReport.com is also essential — disputed inaccuracies that get removed can provide an instant score boost.

This simulator uses a simplified FICO-like model to estimate how changes to each factor would shift your score. While actual FICO scoring is proprietary and more nuanced, the directional impact shown here is based on publicly documented FICO factor weightings. Use it to understand which areas offer the most room for improvement in your credit profile.