Yes, an 826 credit score is exceptional, placing you in the top tier of borrowers, often considered "perfect" because it qualifies you for the best interest rates and loan terms, similar to someone with a perfect 850 score. This score indicates you're a very low-risk borrower, leading to easy approvals for premium credit cards, mortgages, and auto loans with the most favorable conditions.
They appear on just 0.7% of the credit reports of people with FICO® Scores of 826. An Exceptional credit score can mean opportunities to refinance older loans at more attractive interest, and excellent odds of approval for premium credit cards, auto loans and mortgages.
23% of US Consumers Have Exceptional Credit
Close to a quarter of consumers in 2025 have a credit score considered exceptional—a FICO® Score between 800 and 850. The 23% of consumers with a FICO® Score of 800 or higher improves on the 21.2% of consumers with an 800-plus FICO® Score in 2023.
14.5% of people have a credit score of 800 or higher:
All columns may not add up to 100% due to rounding.
Pay your bills on time
Prioritize and schedule your monthly payments, making sure to pay at least the minimum payment on time every month on all your accounts. Try to pay more than what's due whenever possible. This helps to pay down debt faster, save on interest expense and may improve your credit score.
It is rare to have an 850 credit score, but not impossible, and may be useful when applying for credit opportunities. Achieving and maintaining an 850 credit score can be difficult as it takes time, diligence and commitment to manage your credit effectively.
Quick Answer. For a score with a range of 300 to 850, a credit score of 670 to 739 is considered good. Credit scores of 740 and above are very good while 800 and higher are excellent. For credit scores that range from 300 to 850, a credit score in the mid to high 600s or above is generally considered good.
No, checking your own credit history, credit report, or credit score won't affect your credit score. When you check your own credit report, it's considered a soft inquiry (or soft check or soft pull). A soft inquiry is a credit check being done for a reason other than applying for new credit.
Your score falls in the range of scores, from 800 to 850, that is considered Exceptional. Your FICO® ScoreΘ and is well above the average credit score. Consumers with scores in this range may expect easy approvals when applying for new credit.
Twenty-four percent of Americans have a credit score between 800 and 850, considered "exceptional" by FICO.
The 2-2-2 credit rule is a guideline for building strong credit, suggesting you should have two active credit accounts (like cards or loans) for at least two years, with consistent on-time payments for those two years, often with a minimum credit limit of $2,000 per account, to demonstrate financial responsibility to lenders, especially for mortgages. It's a benchmark to show you can handle credit well over time, reducing lender risk and improving approval odds for major loans.
If you want to increase your score, there are some things you can do, including:
The 15/3 credit card payment method is a strategy to potentially boost your credit score by making two payments per billing cycle: one about 15 days before your statement closes (to lower reported utilization) and another around 3 days before the payment due date (to cover the rest and avoid late fees), though its actual impact on credit scoring is debated. It works by keeping your reported balance lower when the card issuer reports to bureaus, but experts note the specific timing isn't magical, and focusing on the reporting date is key.
Credit scores can range from 300 to 850. A score of 850 is considered a perfect score. About 1.76% of Americans have a perfect score, according to Experian data.
How does my income affect my credit score? Your income doesn't directly impact your credit score, though how much money you make affects your ability to pay off your loans and debts, which in turn affects your credit score. "Creditworthiness" is often shown through a credit score.
The 3-7-3 Rule in mortgages isn't a loan type but a federal timeline from the TILA-RESPA Integrated Disclosure (TRID) rule, ensuring borrower protection by mandating disclosures within 3 business days of application, a 7-business-day wait between the initial Loan Estimate and closing, and another 3-day wait if significant changes (like APR) occur, giving borrowers time to review costs before committing to a loan.
Your 816 FICO® ScoreΘ falls in the range of scores, from 800 to 850, that is categorized as Exceptional. Your FICO® Score is well above the average credit score, and you are likely to receive easy approvals when applying for new credit.
One late payment on a credit card, personal or auto loan, or mortgage might have an immediate negative effect, though it would likely be small if it was only a single late payment. Consistent on-time payments for those credit-related bills helps improve your credit score.