What Is a Fair Credit Score?
9 Min Read | Last updated: June 16, 2025
This article contains general information and is not intended to provide information that is specific to American Express products and services. Similar products and services offered by different companies will have different features and you should always read about product details before acquiring any financial product.
A fair credit score falls within the 580-669 FICO range. Get tips for improving your credit and find the best credit cards for fair credit scores today.
At-A-Glance
- A fair FICO® credit score falls between 580-669 and looks moderately risky to lenders, so you might see higher interest rates when getting approved for credit cards and loans.
- Credit scores aren’t fixed. Achieving a “good” score of 670 or higher is possible and may even raise your chances of getting approved for credit cards with better rates, rewards, and terms.
- Paying bills on time, keeping credit balances low, and avoiding too many loan applications at once may positively impact your fair credit score and elevate your range.
Even if you finished school years ago, you can still get graded on your credit score, an important three-digit number needed when applying for loans and Credit Cards. Landing within the fair credit score range can unlock various borrowing opportunities, but there’s always room to grow. Keep reading to understand where the fair credit score range is and what it means for your larger financial picture.
What Is Fair Credit?
Businesses mostly rely on VantageScore® and FICO® credit scoring systems to understand your creditworthiness or your trustworthiness as a borrower, and while both models let you score between 300-850, the range considered to be a fair credit score varies.1 The fair credit score range for FICO falls between 580-669, while VantageScore’s fair range spans 600-660.2
Here’s a breakdown of the complete FICO ranges:3
| Range | FICO Score | Risk Profile |
|---|---|---|
| Poor | 300-579 | Lenders often view this range as high-risk, so borrowers may have to pay deposits or higher fees to secure credit or loan approval. |
| Fair | 580-669 | FICO’s moderately risky fair range brings borrowers closer to credit qualification, but can be with higher interest rates and stricter terms. |
| Good | 670-739 | Borrowers with good credit pose even less risk for lenders but may not receive the lowest interest rates or most competitive terms. |
| Very Good | 740-799 | This low-risk range may qualify borrowers for affordable interest rates and favorable loan terms. |
| Exceptional | 800-850 | Borrowers pose the lowest risk, so they often get premium financial products at minimal costs, secure in-demand interest rates, enjoy high credit limits, and obtain the most sought-after loan terms. |
The VantageScore range is similar, but breaks their scores into the following categories:4
| Excellent | 748-850 |
|---|---|
| Very Good | 716-747 |
| Good | 661-715 |
| Fair | 600-660 |
| Poor | 300-599 |
Fair Credit Score Factors
FICO looks at the following five factors when calculating your credit score:5
- Payment History
Your payment pattern is the most heavily weighted scoring factor, making up an estimated 35% of the total calculation. - Credit Utilization
Credit utilization refers to how much of your total credit you’re using and makes up an estimated 30% of the calculation. - Credit Age
The age of your credit accounts makes up an estimated 15% of the total score’s weight, with older, well-managed accounts positively impacting your credit score. - New Credit Applications
How many credit applications and how spaced out they are from one another accounts for an estimated 10% of your score’s calculation. Frequent credit applications may look less stable to lenders. - Credit Mix
The diversity of your credit accounts contributes an estimated 10% of your score’s calculation, with well-managed mixes of car loans, mortgage payments, and credit card accounts positively impacting your score.
Is Fair Credit Good Enough to Get a Credit Card?
Fair credit isn’t necessarily bad but may come with financial limitations. While it’s still possible to qualify for credit cards and loans with fair credit, lenders may view fair-credit borrowers as riskier, which may mean higher interest rates and fewer favorable terms. Improving your score to the good credit range (670 or higher for both scoring models) can significantly expand your options.6
Not sure which credit card you’d qualify for? Consider checking to see which American Express® Credit Card you could be eligible with an initial soft credit check. This means there’s no impact on your credit score to see if you prequalify. If you do end up getting approved and choose to accept the Credit Card, there will be a hard credit check at that time. Not sure where to start? Consider the Blue Cash Everyday® Card (no annual fee) and the Blue Cash Preferred® Card (no annual fee for the first year then $95 per year after that). These cards offer 0% introductory APR for a limited period of time.
Credit Cards for Fair Credit Scores
Whether you’re repairing poor credit or building your credit from scratch, some credit cards may be within reach for those with a fair credit score:
- Traditional Credit Cards
You may be eligible for some traditional credit cards, even with fair credit. Rewards credit cards may offer card members points, cash back, or miles for eligible purchases made with the card. - Secured Cards
Secured credit cards require card members to make a deposit that acts as a credit limit, significantly reducing lender risk. Of all the different types of credit cards, secured cards may be the most feasible to obtain if you’re no longer a student and looking to build or repair your credit. - Student Cards
Issuers design student credit cards for college students or recent graduates learning how to build credit, so the applications tend not to scrutinize smaller student incomes and shorter credit histories.
Tips to Improve Fair Credit
Following these tips may help you improve your credit habits and positively impact your credit score:7
- Make credit payments on time or early.
- Use as little a percentage of your total credit as possible, keeping your balances as close to zero as you can each month.
- Space out your applications for credit card and loans by months or years to help avoid clustered hard inquiries (thorough credit history checks).
- Diversify your credit mix with well-managed credit cards or different auto, mortgage, and student loans that you can afford to pay each month.
- Detect and dispute credit report errors, like accounts incorrectly labeled as closed or potentially fraudulent activity.
What Does a Closed Account Mean on Your Credit Report?
A closed account on your credit report means it is no longer active because you or the lender closed it.8 For credit cards, closure means you can no longer use the card. For loans like mortgages or car payments, a closed status can mean the loan is paid off, though in some cases, the lender may have sent the account to collections.
Your credit report may include details about closures, such as inactivity or lender action, which is another reason to check it regularly. Closed accounts may negatively impact your credit score by reflecting poor payment history or reducing available credit, which can raise your credit utilization rate. However, you can remove negative marks with time and keep improving.
Frequently Asked Questions
A good credit score to buy a house varies depending on the home, your bank, and other financial details like your income. In many cases, a fair credit score of 620 or higher may be suitable.9
With the main credit scoring models, a 900 credit score isn’t possible. The highest credit score possible is 850. However, some industries, such as auto lenders, may use industry-specific credit scoring models with a 900 maximum score.10
A car loan has no official minimum good credit score but scores over 600 may provide better interest rates and terms.11 Lower scores don’t necessarily bar you from an affordable loan, but you may want to wait until you score within the good range before applying.
The Takeaway
Securing credit approval with a fair credit score is possible but may be complicated. Fair range scores often translate to higher interest rates and more restrictive loan terms as borrowers may be considered at an increased risk of default. Practicing responsible credit behavior over time can positively impact your score, making an excellent credit score, and the better financial opportunities that come with it, more achievable.
1,4 “What Are the Different Credit Score Ranges?,” Experian
2,4 “Understanding VantageScore® Ranges,” Equifax
3 “What Is a Fair Credit Score?,” U.S. News - Money
5,7 “Credit Scores,” MyCreditUnion.gov
6 “What is considered a fair credit score?,” Bankrate
8 “What Do “Closed” and “Paid in Full” Mean on Credit Reports?,” Experian
9 “What is a good credit score to buy a house?,” Bankrate
10 “Average auto loan interest rates by credit score 2025,” Bankrate
11 “What’s the minimum credit score to buy a car?,” Bankrate
Carla Fried is a freelance journalist who has spent her entire career specializing in personal finance. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, Money, CNBC.com, and Consumer Reports, among many other media outlets.
All Credit Intel content is written by freelance authors and commissioned and paid for by American Express.
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The material made available for you on this website, Credit Intel, is for informational purposes only and intended for U.S. residents and is not intended to provide legal, tax or financial advice. If you have questions, please consult your own professional legal, tax and financial advisors.
