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The 5 factors in your FICO Score, ranked by weight

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Correction, Sept 29, 2026: Clarifications: FICO says these weights are for the general population and can differ for your credit profile. The 90–110 point drop for one 30-day late payment comes from a FICO simulation reported around 2011, not a measured average; your drop depends on your profile. The 30% utilization figure is a rule of thumb the CFPB cites, not a FICO cutoff. A closed account keeps counting toward your history when it closed in good standing; we could not confirm the exact 10-year figure from a primary FICO source.
The 5 factors in your FICO Score, ranked by weight
Not all equal weight. Your FICO Score comes from five categories, weighted very differently for most people. The biggest factor carries 3.5 times the weight of the smallest.

Not all equal weight

Your FICO Score comes from five categories, weighted very differently for most people. The biggest factor carries 3.5 times the weight of the smallest.

The math: 35% ÷ 10% = 3.5x the weight

Source: myFICO — What's in my FICO Scores, as of Sept 2026

Payment history: 35%. This is the single biggest piece of your score. One payment reported 30+ days late can undo months of on-time payments, even if your balances are low.

Payment history: 35%

This is the single biggest piece of your score. One payment reported 30+ days late can undo months of on-time payments, even if your balances are low.

The math: in a 2011 FICO example, one 30-day late payment took a 780 score down about 90–110 points. Your drop depends on your profile.

Source: FICO research (2011 example); myFICO

Amounts owed: 30%. This is mostly about how much of your limit you're using. A $3,000 reported balance on a $10,000 limit is 30% utilization. Staying under 30% is a common rule of thumb; lower generally scores better.

Amounts owed: 30%

This is mostly about how much of your limit you're using. A $3,000 reported balance on a $10,000 limit is 30% utilization. Staying under 30% is a common rule of thumb; lower generally scores better.

The math: $3,000 ÷ $10,000 = 30% utilization

Source: CFPB — How do I get and keep a good credit score?; myFICO, Amounts owed

Length of history: 15%. This looks at how long your accounts have been open: your oldest account, your newest, and the average age of all of them. A closed account can count toward this for up to 10 years.

Length of history: 15%

This looks at how long your accounts have been open: your oldest account, your newest, and the average age of all of them. A closed account can count toward this for up to 10 years.

The math: opened 2016, so about 10 years old as of Sept 2026

Source: myFICO

Credit mix: 10%. This looks at whether you've managed different types of credit — a card, a car loan, maybe a mortgage. You don't need one of each; opening loans just for mix rarely helps.

Credit mix: 10%

This looks at whether you've managed different types of credit — a card, a car loan, maybe a mortgage. You don't need one of each; opening loans just for mix rarely helps.

The math: credit mix is 10%, so it's 1/3.5 the weight of payment history (35%)

Source: myFICO — Credit mix

New credit: 10%. Every hard inquiry from a new application can shave a few points, and several close together add up. Rate-shopping one mortgage, auto or student loan within 14–45 days usually counts as one inquiry.

New credit: 10%

Every hard inquiry from a new application can shave a few points, and several close together add up. Rate-shopping one mortgage, auto or student loan within 14–45 days usually counts as one inquiry.

The math: FICO groups mortgage, auto or student loan inquiries within 14 days as one (45 days on newer versions). Credit cards aren't grouped.

Source: myFICO — How to Rate Shop and Minimize the Impact to Your FICO Scores

Sources and assumptions

Assumptions:

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