What Is Considered A Fair Credit Score?

WAYHOME studio/Shutterstock.com

If you’ve recently found out your credit score falls into the “fair” range — typically between 580 and 669 for FICO scores and 601 to 660 for VantageScore — you’re likely wondering exactly what this means and how it may impact your finances. Luckily, fair credit is better than poor credit. However, it’s still far from the good and excellent ranges.

Fair credit may limit your financing options and make qualifying for the best interest rates and loan terms harder. However, with discipline and a few smart strategies, you can build your credit score and eventually access better financial opportunities.

What is a fair credit score?

As of the most recent data published in April 2025, the average FICO credit score in the U.S. is 715. This places it solidly within the good credit range. In contrast, a fair FICO credit score ranges from 580 to 669, which is 46 points below the national average.

Some lenders use VantageScore instead of FICO scores. While they work similarly, the ranges are not the same. The average VantageScore across the U.S. is currently 702, according to data from March 2025. A fair VantageScore — also known as near prime — falls between 601 and 660, which is about 40 points below the average.  

While fair credit might sometimes be called “average credit,” it’s still below the actual average credit score in America, regardless of whether you’re referring to a FICO score or VantageScore. Having a fair credit score often means you won’t qualify for the best credit cards and loans, although there certainly are credit cards for fair credit as well as some fair credit personal loans. For the most competitive rates, you’ll want to improve your credit score and work on building a positive credit history.

What is the range of credit scores?

Your credit score range is based on the information in your credit history.

FICO, the most commonly used credit scoring model, categorizes scores into five groups:

VantageScore categorizes scores into four groups:

What causes a fair credit score?

A fair credit score can happen for a variety of reasons. While everyone’s credit history is different, if you have a fair credit score, you’re likely dealing with one or more of these factors:

• A late or missing payment.
• An account in collections.
• Credit report errors.
• Limited credit accounts.
• High credit utilization.
• Excessive hard inquiries.
• Shorter credit history.

It can be hard to know exactly what’s impacting your credit score without reviewing your credit report, but tackling these issues may help boost your score.

Fair vs. good credit

Your financial opportunities get significantly better once you pass the threshold from fair credit into good credit. The difference affects your approval odds for credit cards and loans, how much you’ll pay in interest and even what your monthly payment will be.

For example, the average auto loan rate for a fair credit borrower is 9.83 percent, while good credit borrowers have average rates of 6.70 percent. If you decide to take on a $30,000 auto loan with a 36-month term, you’d pay significantly more for the same loan with a fair credit score of 600 than with a good credit score of 700. 

On the same note, credit cards for people with good credit typically offer higher rewards, lower interest rates and better perks. With good credit, you’ll also have access to more credit card options. This is generally true across the board — as your credit improves, you generally see rates go down and approval odds go up.

What cards can I apply for with fair credit?

Many of today’s best rewards credit cards are only available to people with good or excellent credit. But that doesn’t mean you’re out of luck if your score is in the fair range. There are numerous cards for people with fair credit that still provide worthwhile benefits and perks. For example, here are two cards we recommend:

Bankrate’s CardMatch tool

Don’t want to run endless hard credit inquiries to find a credit card for fair credit? Use Bankrate’s CardMatch tool to prequalify for a card that fits your needs without affecting your credit score.

Compare top cards

How to improve a fair credit score

While having a fair credit score is better than having bad credit, there’s still plenty of room for improvement. If you’re looking to bump your score to the good or even excellent ranges, start with these tips:

• Make all credit card payments on time. Payment history accounts for 35 percent of your FICO score. Avoid late payments, and if you do, try to pay the bill before it is 30 days past due. Catching up quickly can keep late payments from being reported to the three credit bureaus.
• Keep balances as low as possible. Your credit score is also largely based on credit utilization ratio. Keeping your balance as low as possible decreases your utilization ratio and increases your credit score.
• Increase available credit. Believe it or not, you can boost your credit score by requesting a credit limit increase or applying for a new credit card. If you have more credit available to you — and if you avoid turning that new credit into new debt — your credit utilization ratio will go down and your credit score should go up.
• Check credit reports for errors. According to a 2024 report released by Consumer Reports and WorkMoney, 44 percent of Americans who checked their credit reports found at least one error. Inaccurate information could decrease your credit score. Check your Experian, Equifax and TransUnion credit reports regularly and dispute any errors you find.

As you use credit responsibly, you should see your credit score improve over time. Depending on where you are in your credit-building journey, you could see significant improvement in just a few months.

Bottom line

A fair score can limit your choices for loans and credit cards and often results in higher interest rates. If you’re ready to focus on improving your score, get started by employing key strategic financial habits, including consistently paying bills on time, keeping balances low and routinely checking your credit report for errors. Having a fair credit score means you’re in a better position than those with poor credit, but there’s still work to be done to reach the good or excellent ranges.