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What is a Good Credit Score in the UK? (2026 Ranges)
Compare Experian, Equifax and TransUnion ranges and see what mortgage lenders look for.
26 Sep 2026 · Money Meister · 5 min read
The Quick Answer
A "good" credit score in the UK depends on which credit reference agency you're checking: Experian: 881+ (out of 999), Equifax: 420+ (out of 700), or TransUnion: 604+ (out of 710). However, most lenders consider 700+ with Experian sufficient for approval, while the top scores (961+ Experian) unlock the absolute best mortgage and credit card rates.
UK Credit Score Ranges (2026)
Unlike the US (which uses a single 300-850 FICO score), the UK has three credit reference agencies with different scoring systems. Here's what each considers "good":
| Rating | Experian (0–999) | Equifax (0–700) | TransUnion (0–710) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Excellent | 961–999 | 466–700 | 628–710 |
| Good | 881–960 | 420–465 | 604–627 |
| Fair | 721–880 | 380–419 | 566–603 |
| Poor | 561–720 | 280–379 | 551–565 |
| Very Poor | 0–560 | 0–279 | 0–550 |
Experian (0-999)
Most widely used by UK lenders
Equifax (0-700)
Used by many banks and building societies
TransUnion (0-710)
Formerly Callcredit, used for Credit Karma
What Credit Score Do You Need For...
A Mortgage in the UK?
Minimum: Technically approved from 580+ (Experian) with specialist lenders
Standard mortgages:700+ (Experian) gets you approved by high-street banks
Best rates:850+ (Experian) unlocks sub-4% fixed rates and 90-95% LTV deals
Reality Check
Lenders don't just look at your score-they manually review your credit report too. Someone with a 720 score but clean history might get approved, while a 850 score with recent missed payments could be rejected. The score is a guide, not a guarantee.
A Credit Card?
Basic cards:500-600 (Experian) - High APR (30-40%), low limits (£250-£1,000)
0% balance transfer cards:750+ (Experian) - 20-30 months interest-free
Rewards cards:850+ (Experian) - Amex, cashback, premium perks
Car Finance?
HP/PCP approval:650+ (Experian) - Interest rates 8-15%
Best rates (3-5%):800+ (Experian) - Manufacturer-backed finance offers
Phone Contract?
24-month contracts:600+ (Experian) - iPhone/Samsung flagships
Pay-as-you-go alternative: No credit check needed (for scores below 600)
Why is My Score Different on Each Platform?
Don't panic if your Experian score is 780 but Equifax shows 620. This is normal and happens because:
- Different scales: Experian uses 0-999, Equifax uses 0-700-comparing them directly is like comparing °C and °F
- Different data: Lenders only report to 1-2 agencies, so your credit card might only appear on Experian
- Different algorithms: Each agency weights factors differently (Equifax values payment history more, Experian values credit utilization more)
- Update timing: Information updates at different times-one agency might have last month's data while another has yesterday's
What Matters More Than Your Credit Score
Lenders Care About...
- 1. Recent payment history - Zero missed payments in last 12 months matters more than old defaults
- 2. Credit utilization - Using 30%+ of your credit limit hurts, even with perfect payments
- 3. Debt-to-income ratio - £5,000 debt on £60k salary is fine; £5,000 debt on £18k salary is risky
- 4. Electoral roll registration - Not registered = instant red flag for fraud risk
- 5. Financial associations - Joint accounts with someone who has bad credit affects you
- 6. Hard credit searches - More than 3-4 applications in 6 months looks desperate
UK Average Credit Scores (2026)
Wondering how you compare to others? Here's where the average UK adult sits:
| Age Group | Experian Avg | Typical Band |
|---|---|---|
| 18-25 | 721 | Fair |
| 26-35 | 792 | Fair |
| 36-45 | 836 | Fair |
| 46-55 | 887 | Good |
| 56-65 | 923 | Good |
| 66+ | 942 | Good |
Source: Experian UK Annual Credit Report 2025
How to Check Your Credit Score (Free)
You're entitled to check your credit report for free, as often as you like. Here's where to check each agency:
Official Reference: Citizens Advice - Checking and improving your credit rating
- Experian: Free via their app or website (statutory report always free, score costs £14.99/month unless you cancel trial)
- Equifax: Free via ClearScore (completely free, no trials)
- TransUnion: Free via Credit Karma (completely free, no trials)
Checking Your Score Doesn't Hurt It
This is a "soft search" and leaves no mark on your credit file. Only lenders checking your credit (hard searches) when you apply for credit affect your score. Check as often as you want!
How to Improve Your Credit Score
Whether you're at 650 trying to reach "Good" or 880 aiming for "Excellent", these actions work:
1. Register on Electoral Roll
Impact: +50-100 points. Takes 5 minutes at gov.uk/register-to-vote. Proves your identity and address.
2. Fix Credit Utilization Under 30%
Impact: +30-80 points. If you have £3,000 credit limit, keep balance below £900. Pay down or request limit increases.
3. Never Miss Payments (set up Direct Debits)
Impact: Prevents -100+ point drops. One missed payment stays on file for 6 years. Automate everything.
4. Correct Errors on Your Report
Impact: Variable. 1 in 4 UK credit reports contain errors. Dispute incorrect addresses, closed accounts still showing as open, or wrong payment statuses.
5. Close Joint Accounts with Ex-Partners
Impact: Prevents score contamination. Their bad credit affects you. File a "Notice of Disassociation" with all 3 agencies.
6. Space Out Credit Applications (6+ Months Apart)
Impact: Prevents -10 point hits per search. Use "eligibility checkers" before applying-they don't leave hard searches.
For the complete step-by-step guide, see: How to Improve Your Credit Score UK
The Bottom Line
A "good" UK credit score is 881-960 on Experian, 420-465 on Equifax, or 604-627 on TransUnion. However, reaching these thresholds doesn't guarantee approval-lenders also examine your full credit report, income, existing debts, and employment stability.
Focus less on hitting a magic number and more on the fundamentals: pay everything on time, keep credit utilization low, register to vote, and fix any errors. These actions improve both your score and your actual creditworthiness in lenders' eyes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 868 a good credit score in the UK?
+
Not quite — 868 sits at the top of Experian's 'Fair' band (721-880), just below 'Good' (881-960). You'll be approved for most credit cards and loans, typically at average rates. Moving into the 881+ Good band is usually a matter of cutting credit card utilisation below 25% or correcting errors on your credit report. On Equifax (0-700), the equivalent would be roughly the mid-400s.
What is the highest credit score you can get in the UK?
+
The maximum scores are 999 on Experian, 700 on Equifax, and 710 on TransUnion. Reaching the absolute maximum isn't necessary — anything in the 'Excellent' bands (961+ Experian, 466+ Equifax, 628+ TransUnion) unlocks the best rates, and scores beyond that have no practical benefit.
What is a good credit score for a mortgage in the UK?
+
Most high-street lenders want 700+ on the Experian scale, with 850+ unlocking the best rates and higher LTV deals. Specialist lenders can work with scores from 580, but at significantly higher rates. Lenders also assess your full credit report, deposit, income and existing debts — a score alone doesn't guarantee approval.
What is the average credit score in the UK?
+
The average Experian score in the UK is around 700-800 depending on age: 721 for 18-25s, 792 for 26-35s, 836 for 36-45s, 887 for 46-55s, and 923+ for 56+. The typical adult sits in the Fair-to-Good range, so an 880+ score is above average.
Why is my credit score different on Experian, Equifax and TransUnion?
+
Each agency uses a different scale (Experian 0-999, Equifax 0-700, TransUnion 0-710), scores different data (lenders report to only 1-2 agencies), weights factors differently, and updates at different times. Comparing scores across agencies directly is meaningless — compare against each agency's own bands instead.
What is TransUnion credit score range?
+
TransUnion (Credit Karma) scores 0-710: 0-550 Very Poor, 551-565 Poor, 566-603 Fair, 604-627 Good, 628-710 Excellent. The average UK TransUnion score is ~620 (top of Good). TransUnion is used heavily for Credit Karma, Barclaycard and some mortgage lenders — a 580 TransUnion is Fair but the same person often scores 740 on Experian, so compare within agency bands, not across them.
Is 604 a good credit score on TransUnion?
+
Yes, 604 is the start of Good on TransUnion (604-627). It signals low default risk and unlocks competitive rates on cards and loans, but the best mortgage rates need 628+ Excellent. To move up: keep utilisation under 25% and fix report errors — see the 3-agency table below.
What is a good Equifax credit score?
+
On Equifax (ClearScore) 0-700: 0-279 Very Poor, 280-379 Poor, 380-419 Fair, 420-465 Good, 466-700 Excellent. 420 is the Good threshold — most high-street banks approve at 420+, with 466+ unlocking the best rates. If your Equifax is Good but Experian is lower, lenders who check Equifax will see you favourably — check all three separately.
What is the UK credit score range?
+
The UK has three separate credit score ranges because Experian, Equifax and TransUnion each use a different scale. Experian runs 0-999 (Very Poor to Excellent), Equifax runs 0-700, and TransUnion (Credit Karma) runs 0-710. There is no single UK credit score range and no official 'UK score' — a good score is one inside the upper bands of whichever agency you are checking. Use the range chart above to see all three side by side.
What is the credit score range chart UK?
+
The credit score range chart above maps every band for all three UK agencies in one table: Experian (0-999) Very Poor 0-560, Poor 561-720, Fair 721-880, Good 881-960, Excellent 961-999; Equifax (0-700) Very Poor 0-279, Poor 280-379, Fair 380-419, Good 420-465, Excellent 466-700; TransUnion (0-710) Very Poor 0-550, Poor 551-565, Fair 566-603, Good 604-627, Excellent 628-710. Lenders see the same bands but each weighs your full report, not just the number.
Related Tools & Guides
Related reading
How to Improve Your Credit Score
Move from fair to good with practical, step-by-step credit actions.
Mortgage Borrowing Calculator
See how income and commitments shape affordability alongside credit profile.
Couple Mortgage Bad Credit Guide
Understand mortgage options when one partner has weaker credit.
Written by Darren
Founder & editor at Money Meister. Writes and reviews UK tax, mortgage, and budgeting guidance from primary sources (GOV.UK, HMRC, ONS).
Reviewed against current HMRC, FCA, ONS and Ofgem guidance before publication. How we research and review.