Is a FICO score of 821 good?

Asked by: Kamryn Harber I  |  Last update: February 17, 2026
Score: 4.2/5 (63 votes)

A FICO® Score of 821 is well above the average credit score of 714. An 821 FICO® Score is nearly perfect. You still may be able to improve it a bit, but while it may be possible to achieve a higher numeric score, lenders are unlikely to see much difference between your score and those that are closer to 850.

How many people have a FICO Score above 825?

Your score falls in the range of scores, from 800 to 850, that is considered Exceptional. Your FICO® Score and is well above the average credit score. Consumers with scores in this range may expect easy approvals when applying for new credit. 21% of all consumers have FICO® Scores in the Exceptional range.

What is an acceptable FICO Score?

670 to 739: Good Credit Score

Lenders generally view those with credit scores of 670 and up as acceptable or lower-risk borrowers.

How rare is an 800 credit score?

Even better, just over 1 in 5 people (21.2%) have an exceptional FICO credit score of 800 or above, all but guaranteeing access to the best products and interest rates.

What is the average FICO Score in the US?

The average FICO credit score in the US is 717, according to the latest FICO data. The average VantageScore is 701 as of January 2024.

FICO Score vs Credit Score [What's the Difference?]

44 related questions found

Does anyone have a 900 credit score?

While older models of credit scores used to go as high as 900, you can no longer achieve a 900 credit score. The highest score you can receive today is 850. Anything above 800 is considered an excellent credit score.

What is a good FICO score to buy a house?

A 620 credit score is typically what you'll need to get a mortgage for a home purchase. Although you can buy a house with a credit score as low as 500, you'll pay a higher rate and make a larger down payment.

What is a good FICO score to buy a car?

Your credit score is a major factor in whether you'll be approved for a car loan. Some lenders use specialized credit scores, such as a FICO Auto Score. In general, you'll need at least prime credit, meaning a credit score of 661 or up, to get a loan at a good interest rate.

How many people have a FICO score over 800?

Twenty-three percent of Americans have a credit score between 800 and 850, considered "exceptional" by FICO. A credit score at the top of that range -- 850 -- is considered a perfect score. Twenty-four percent have a FICO® Score between 750 and 799, making the "very good" bracket.

Can I get a mortgage with 825 credit score?

Key takeaways. You can get a mortgage with a credit score as low as 620, 580 or even 500, depending on the type of loan. Some mortgage lenders offer bad credit loans with more flexible qualifying requirements but higher costs. Others offer free credit counseling to help you improve your score before applying for a loan ...

What is the average credit card debt in the US?

At the close of 2019, the average household had a credit card debt of $7,499. During the first quarter of 2021, it dropped to $6,209. In 2022, credit card debt rose again to $7,951 and has increased linearly. In 2023, it reached $8,599 — $75 shy of the 2024 average.

What can I do with a 821 credit score?

They appear on just 1.0% of the credit reports of people with FICO® Scores of 821. 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.

What US city has the worst credit rating?

South Burlington, Vt., is the city with the highest credit score, while Detroit is the city with the lowest, according to personal finance site WalletHub.

What is the perfect FICO score?

And when it comes to credit, 850 is the highest the FICO® Score scale goes. For more and more U.S. consumers, practice is making perfect. According to recent Experian data, 1.54% of consumers have a "perfect" FICO® Score of 850. That's up from 1.31% two years earlier.

What credit score is needed to buy a $300k house?

You can buy a $300,000 house with only $9,000 down when using a conventional mortgage, which is the lowest down payment permitted, unless you qualify for a zero-down-payment VA or USDA loan. Different lenders have different rules, but typically they require a 620 credit score for conventional loan approval.

What FICO score is necessary to get the best rates?

According to credit expert John Ulzheimer, a 760 will get you the best mortgage rate and a 720 score is all you need for the best interest rate for an auto loan. "I always tell people, shoot for 760 or better," Ulzheimer told CNBC Select. "That way, they're safe for all loan types and cards."

How to build credit quickly?

9 ways to build credit fast
  1. Dispute credit report errors. ...
  2. Pay down your credit card balances. ...
  3. Become an authorized user. ...
  4. Deal with delinquent accounts. ...
  5. Open a credit card account. ...
  6. Take out a credit builder loan. ...
  7. Request a credit limit increase. ...
  8. Keep a mix of different account types.

What is the average American's credit score?

The average credit score in the United States is 705, based on VantageScore® data from March 2024. It's a myth that you only have one credit score. In fact, you have many credit scores, because there are many different types of credit scores and scoring models.

What are the 5 factors that affect your credit score?

Credit 101: What Are the 5 Factors That Affect Your Credit Score?
  • Your payment history (35 percent) ...
  • Amounts owed (30 percent) ...
  • Length of your credit history (15 percent) ...
  • Your credit mix (10 percent) ...
  • Any new credit (10 percent)

How common is 825 credit score?

Membership in the 800+ credit score club is quite exclusive, with fewer than 1 in 6 people boasting a score that high, according to WalletHub data. Since so few people have such high scores, lenders don't split the 800+ credit score crowd into smaller groups that get separate offers.

Is it rare to have an 800 credit score?

A credit score of 800 means you have an exceptional credit score, according to Experian. According to a report by FICO, only 23% of the scorable population has a credit score of 800 or above.

What is the highest credit score to buy a house?

There's no single, specific credit score that will automatically qualify you for a mortgage (though having the maximum score of 850 certainly never hurts). However, while lenders might not set precise qualifying numbers, they do have minimum credit score requirements.

Is credit karma accurate?

Overall, Credit Karma may produce a different result than one or more of the three major credit bureaus directly. The slight differences in calculations between FICO and VantageScore can lead to significant variances in credit scores, making Credit Karma less accurate than most may appreciate.