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What counts as a good credit score in the UK?

There is no pass mark. Experian, Equifax and TransUnion each run their own scale, and a lender uses none of them.

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The short answer

Each credit reference agency uses its own scale, and none of those scores is shown to a lender. Lenders build their own score from your file and your application. What helps is a clean run of on-time payments, low credit usage, no recent flurry of applications and electoral roll registration.

3Agencies, each with its own scale
Under 30%Guide for credit limit use
6 yearsHow long a default stays
12 monthsClean history lenders look for
What is on this page
  1. The scales, and why comparing them is pointless
  2. What the file is actually worth in pounds
  3. What a lender actually wants to see
  4. What changes quickly, and what does not
  5. Common myths

The scales, and why comparing them is pointless

Each agency has its own range. A number that looks alarming on one scale is unremarkable on another.

Agency Top of the scale What the number is
Experian <td data-label="Top of the scale">1,250</td> Experian's own view of your file
Equifax 1,000 Equifax's own view
TransUnion <td data-label="Top of the scale"><td data-label="Top of the scale">1,250</td></td> TransUnion's own view

None of these numbers is shown to a lender. They exist to give you a rough sense of direction.

A lender builds its own score from your file and your application. That is why someone with an excellent app score can still be declined.

What the file is actually worth in pounds

A clean file is not a badge. It is a price.

Your file Typical effect On a £200,000 mortgage
Clean, low usage, on the electoral roll Mainstream pricing The rate everyone advertises
Thin, little credit history Fewer lenders Often a small premium
One missed payment in 12 months Some lenders decline Often a small premium
Default in the last 3 years Specialist lenders only Can add noticeably to the monthly cost
Recent county court judgment Very few lenders A large premium, if any offer at all

Illustrative, not a quote. The direction is consistent even as rates move, which is why the free checks are worth doing early.

What a lender actually wants to see

  • A clean recent run of on-time payments
  • Credit limit usage kept low
  • No recent flurry of applications
  • Stable address history and electoral roll registration
  • Any defaults or judgments old enough to be losing weight
  • Accounts that are active rather than a file with nothing on it

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What changes quickly, and what does not

Quick, within about two monthsRegistering on the electoral roll, paying down a card balance, correcting an error on the file.
Medium, three to twelve monthsBuilding a clean run of on-time payments. Letting hard searches age. Reducing overall balances.
Slow, yearsDefaults and county court judgments, which stay six years from the date they were recorded.
NeverChecking your own file, your salary, your savings, or paying rent outside a reporting scheme.

Common myths

You have a credit blacklist entry

No such thing

There is no blacklist. There is a file, and lenders read it differently from each other.

Closing old cards helps

Usually not

It reduces your total available credit, which raises your usage percentage. Leaving an old account open often looks better.

Checking your score lowers it

It does not

Your own checks are soft searches. Only applications create hard searches.

Where you stand

Check all three if
  • You plan to apply for a mortgage within a year
  • You have been declined without a clear reason
  • You have moved address several times
  • You once held a joint account with someone you no longer speak to
The score is a distraction if
  • You are comparing numbers between different apps
  • You are paying a firm to improve it
  • You are closing old accounts to tidy up
  • You are relying on it instead of reading the file

Check broadband before you make an offer

Broadband speeds can vary street by street, so check the exact address before you commit. Ofcom's free checker shows which broadband speeds and mobile coverage are available at any UK property.

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Questions people actually ask

What is a good credit score in the UK?
There is no single answer, because each agency uses a different scale and no lender sees those numbers. A clean file with on-time payments and low credit usage matters far more than the score.
Why is my score different on each app?
Because each agency holds slightly different data and scores it on its own scale. That is why you should check all three before a large application.
How quickly can I improve my credit file?
Registering on the electoral roll and reducing card balances can show within about two months. Building a clean payment history takes six to twelve months. Defaults take six years.
Does closing a credit card help my score?
Usually not. It reduces your available credit, which raises the percentage you are using. Keeping an old account open with a zero balance often looks better.
Can I get a mortgage with a low score?
Possibly. Lenders look at the file rather than an app score. A recent default narrows your choices, but a specialist lender may still consider you.
How do I check broadband speed at a property?
Use Ofcom's free broadband and mobile checker at checker.ofcom.org.uk. Enter the property's postcode and choose the address to see which broadband speeds and mobile coverage are available before you make an offer.

Where to go next

Credit score explainedThe full picture on your file.First-time buyer guidePreparing to apply.Mortgage in principleWhere the file gets checked.Budgeting and debtThe wider picture.Debt help explainedIf there is real damage.How much can I borrow?The affordability side.
Where these figures come from

Figures checked on 1 September 2026 and correct for the 2026/27 tax year. Rates change, so check the source before you act on a number.

Written by Ben Tomlin. We do not give regulated debt advice and we are not paid to refer you anywhere for it. The charities named on this page are free.

Last reviewed September 2026.

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