Quick answer
According to myFICO, a FICO score is built from five factors: payment history (35%), amounts owed (30%), length of credit history (15%), new credit (10%) and credit mix (10%). According to myFICO, your income, job, age, where you live and checks of your own credit do not factor in. Paying on time and keeping balances low matter most.
Your credit score is a summary of your credit report. Knowing which parts carry the most weight tells you where to spend your effort.
The five FICO factors
| Factor | Weight | What it measures |
|---|---|---|
| Payment history | 35% | Whether you have paid accounts on time |
| Amounts owed | 30% | Balances, especially credit card use vs limits |
| Length of credit history | 15% | How long your accounts have been open |
| New credit | 10% | Recent applications and new accounts |
| Credit mix | 10% | The variety of account types |
Weights are from myFICO and apply to the general population. Their importance varies from person to person.
1. Payment history
Late payments, collections and bankruptcies weigh here. myFICO says older problems count less than recent ones, so getting and staying current helps over time. See late payments on your credit report.
2. Amounts owed
Credit card utilization is the big piece. See credit utilization ratio.
3. Length of credit history
The age of your oldest account, newest account and the average. Keeping old no-fee accounts open helps.
4. New credit
Hard inquiries and recently opened accounts. myFICO says inquiries stay on your report for two years and FICO scores only consider the last 12 months. See how long hard inquiries stay.
5. Credit mix
Having both revolving credit (cards) and installment loans can help a little. It is not worth taking on debt just for mix.
What does not affect your score
According to myFICO, FICO scores do not consider:
- Your salary, occupation, title or employer. Lenders may still ask about them.
- Your age, or where you live.
- Race, color, religion, national origin, sex or marital status.
- Checking your own credit, prescreened offers, or reviews by lenders you already have accounts with.
- Anything not in your credit report, such as savings or checking balances.
- Taking part in credit counseling.
Ready to act? Read how to improve your credit score.
If you need to borrow while you work on your credit, use the form on this page to see whether partner lenders may have an offer, or call (800) 236-7761. Compare offers by APR and total cost.
Examples are illustrations, not offers. Approval, APR and terms depend on the lender, your state and your credit profile.
Frequently asked questions about what affects your credit score? the 5 fico factors
What is the biggest factor in a credit score?
Payment history, about 35% of a FICO score according to myFICO.
Does income affect my credit score?
Not your FICO score. myFICO says FICO scores do not consider salary, occupation or employer. Lenders may still ask about income when you apply.
Does checking my own credit lower my score?
No. The CFPB says checking your own credit is a soft inquiry and does not affect your scores.
Do I have one credit score?
No. You have many scores from different models and bureaus, and they can differ. The CFPB explains that scores vary depending on the model and the data used.
Sources
- myFICO: What's in my FICO Scores? (accessed 2026-10-09)
- myFICO: What's not in my FICO Scores (accessed 2026-10-09)
- myFICO: Payment history (accessed 2026-10-09)
- myFICO: How owing money can impact your credit score (accessed 2026-10-09)
- myFICO: Length of credit history (accessed 2026-10-09)
- myFICO: How new credit impacts your FICO Score (accessed 2026-10-09)
- myFICO: Credit mix (accessed 2026-10-09)
- CFPB: What is a credit inquiry? (accessed 2026-10-09)
- CFPB: What is a credit score? (accessed 2026-10-09)
Last updated 2026-10-09. How we research and update pages.