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What is a Good Credit Score in the UK? The Numbers Explained

David Morris
by David Morris · Updated May 2026
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"Is 750 a good credit score?" It depends. On which scale? Which agency? Which lender's standards? The answer most articles give is essentially "it depends" and then they don't actually tell you the numbers. Here's the actual breakdown.

This guide gives you the score ranges from all three UK credit reference agencies, explains what each band means in practice, and tells you what score you actually need for a credit card, loan or mortgage.

Why credit score ranges are confusing

The UK has three credit reference agencies (Experian, Equifax and TransUnion), each running its own scale, each with different bands. The same person can have three quite different-looking scores — none of which is "wrong".

Key differences between the scales:

  • Experian: 0-999
  • Equifax: 0-1,000
  • TransUnion: 0-710

So a "good" Experian score (721+) isn't directly comparable to a "good" TransUnion score (566+). The numbers look very different but represent similar underlying creditworthiness. Always check what scale you're looking at before celebrating or panicking. Our guide to the three credit reference agencies covers this in more detail.

Experian credit score ranges

Experian's scale runs from 0 to 999, divided into five bands:

  • 0-560: Very poor. Most credit applications will be declined. Specialist lenders only.
  • 561-720: Poor. Limited options, higher rates. Credit-builder products are appropriate at this level.
  • 721-880: Fair. Mainstream credit becomes available, though usually at less competitive rates.
  • 881-960: Good. Most mainstream products at competitive rates. The "sweet spot" for most borrowers.
  • 961-999: Excellent. Access to the best rates, premium cards, lowest mortgage deals.

Experian is the most widely used agency by mainstream lenders, particularly for mortgages. If you're planning a major application, the Experian score is the one to pay closest attention to.

Equifax credit score ranges

Equifax's scale runs from 0 to 1,000. Their banding is a bit different:

  • 0-379: Very poor. Mainstream credit applications likely to be declined.
  • 380-419: Poor. Specialist lenders, credit-builder products.
  • 420-465: Fair. Some mainstream credit available, rates won't be the best.
  • 466-700: Good. Most mainstream products available, competitive rates.
  • 701-1,000: Excellent. Best rates, top-tier credit products.

You can see your Equifax data for free through ClearScore. The "good" band starts much earlier on this scale than on Experian, which can be confusing — a 500 Equifax score is "good", but 500 on Experian would be "very poor".

TransUnion credit score ranges

TransUnion's scale is the most compact:

  • 0-550: Very poor. Specialist lenders only.
  • 551-565: Poor. Limited options.
  • 566-603: Fair. Some mainstream credit available.
  • 604-627: Good. Most mainstream products at fair rates.
  • 628-710: Excellent. Top tier — best deals available.

The smaller range can be alarming if you're used to seeing larger numbers, but a 600 TransUnion score is genuinely good — it's not that you're closer to the bottom of the scale.

You can see your TransUnion data for free through Credit Karma.

What score do you need for a mortgage?

Most mainstream mortgage lenders want at least "good" — so:

  • Experian: 881+
  • Equifax: 466+
  • TransUnion: 604+

"Excellent" unlocks the very best deals. "Fair" might still get you a mortgage, but you'll pay more and have fewer lender options. "Poor" usually requires specialist lenders charging substantially higher rates.

That said — your credit score is only one of several factors mortgage lenders look at. Affordability, deposit size, employment stability and existing debts all matter. Even a perfect score won't get you a mortgage you can't comfortably afford. Use our mortgage affordability calculator to see how much you'd be likely to qualify for given your circumstances.

What score do you need for a loan?

Personal loans are more flexible than mortgages. Rough thresholds:

  • Mainstream personal loans at competitive rates: "Good" or better
  • Mainstream personal loans at moderate rates: "Fair"
  • Specialist personal loans (higher rates): "Poor"
  • Credit-builder loans / guarantor loans: "Very poor"

The relationship between your score and the rate you're offered is roughly linear. A score in the middle of the "good" band might get you 8% APR; deep in "excellent" you might get 5%; "fair" might mean 12-15%. Over a five-year £10,000 loan, those rate differences add up to thousands of pounds. Our loan repayment calculator shows the impact.

What score do you need for a credit card?

Credit cards vary widely in their requirements:

  • Credit-builder cards: "Poor" or "Very poor" — designed for people rebuilding
  • Standard credit cards: "Fair" or "Good"
  • 0% balance transfer cards (long periods): "Good" or "Excellent"
  • Premium rewards and cashback cards: "Excellent"
  • Travel and concierge cards: "Excellent" plus high income

The credit card market is the most welcoming to people with bad credit — credit-builder cards exist specifically for borrowers with thin or damaged files. They're an excellent route back to a healthy credit profile if used responsibly.

Does a perfect score matter?

Honestly? Not really.

Lenders aren't looking for a perfect score. They're looking for evidence that you can be trusted to repay. The difference between a "good" score and a "perfect" score, in real-world terms, is usually small:

  • Same acceptance for most products
  • Often the same headline rate (the lowest rates are usually offered at "excellent", not "perfect")
  • The same access to mainstream credit

The bigger difference is between "fair" and "good". That's where you go from "limited options at moderate rates" to "wide options at competitive rates". Aim for that step first. The lift from "good" to "excellent" is worth pursuing once you're there, but it shouldn't dominate your decisions.

How to find out your score

All three credit reference agencies offer free access to your score and full credit report:

  • Experian directly via experian.co.uk
  • Equifax via ClearScore (clearscore.com)
  • TransUnion via Credit Karma (creditkarma.co.uk)

None of them affect your credit score in any way — checking your own score is always a soft search, invisible to lenders. Sign up to all three: it takes about 30 minutes total, and it gives you the full picture. Our guide to checking your credit score covers what to look for once you're in.

How to move from good to excellent

If you're already at "good" and want to push higher, the levers are:

  • Keep utilisation low. Below 10% for the best scores.
  • Time-aged accounts. Older accounts help — keep your oldest cards open.
  • Mix of credit. A combination of revolving credit (cards) and instalment credit (loans) helps.
  • Long stable address history. Frequent moves hurt slightly.
  • Zero recent applications. Hard searches drop off after 12 months — let them.
  • Perfect payment history for several years. The longer the clean run, the higher you climb.

Going from good to excellent often takes 12-24 months of consistent positive behaviour. For some people, the difference in real-world outcomes isn't worth the effort. For others — particularly anyone planning a major mortgage application — it's well worth chasing.

Our credit improvement guide covers the full toolkit for moving up the scale.

Frequently asked questions

Is 700 a good credit score?

It depends entirely on which agency you're checking. 700 on Experian (out of 999) is just below the 'good' band of 721+. 700 on Equifax (out of 1,000) is in the 'excellent' band. 700 on TransUnion (out of 710) is genuinely excellent — almost the top of the scale. Always check what scale you're looking at before judging your score.

Do I need an excellent score to get the best deals?

Not necessarily. The "good" band on each agency's scale is enough to access most mainstream credit at competitive rates. "Excellent" opens up the very best deals, premium rewards cards and the lowest mortgage rates — but the gap between "good" and "excellent" is often smaller than the gap between "fair" and "good". Aim for "good" first, then improve from there.

What credit score do you need for a mortgage?

Mainstream mortgage lenders typically want a 'good' score or above. Specialist lenders will consider 'fair' or 'poor' scores at higher rates. The exact threshold varies between lenders — and a good score doesn't guarantee a mortgage on its own. Affordability, deposit size, employment stability and existing debts all matter just as much.

Why is my score different at each agency?

Three reasons: different agencies use different scoring scales (Experian up to 999, Equifax up to 1,000, TransUnion up to 710), they hold slightly different data (not all lenders report to all three), and their scoring models weight factors differently. So the same person can have one score that looks 'fair' on one scale and 'good' on another.

How long does it take to go from fair to good?

For most people, three to nine months of focused effort. The fastest changes come from paying down high credit card balances, registering on the electoral roll and correcting errors. Going from 'good' to 'excellent' usually takes longer — often a year or more of consistent positive behaviour combined with the natural ageing of any older negative data.