It could take several years to build your credit from 400 to 700. The exact timing depends on which types of negative marks are dragging down your score and the steps you take to improve your credit going forward.
You can use WalletHub’s free credit score simulator to find out how specific actions will affect your score and how long it will take to reach your credit score goal.
Average Recovery Time for Negative Marks on Your Credit Report
| Action | Average Recovery Time |
| Applying for new credit | 3 months |
| Closing an account | 3 months |
| Maxing out a credit card | 3 months |
| Missing a payment, default | 1-2 years |
| Bankruptcy | 7-10 years |
Source: VantageScore
Derogatory marks, such as collections or bankruptcies, significantly lower your credit score. However, the negative impact declines as time goes on. You can expedite your credit score’s recovery, too.
How to Improve Your Credit Score From 400 to 700
To raise your score as soon as possible, you must inundate your credit reports with positive information. The two most important factors affecting your credit score are payment history and credit utilization. Below, we highlight some of the steps you can take to improve both.
Pay All of Your Bills on Time
You have to consistently pay all of your bills on time in order to build a good or excellent credit score. Even one late payment on your credit report can cause your score to fall by up to 100 points, or even more in some cases.
Late payments can indicate to lenders you are not reliable when it comes to managing your financial obligations, which can make it more difficult for you to obtain credit in the future. If you are having trouble making payments, you should contact your creditors as soon as possible to discuss your options.
Reduce Your Debt
The more debt you have, the worse it generally is for your credit score. You can employ a variety of strategies to help reduce your debt, including simple budgeting and using a balance transfer credit card or debt consolidation loan to lower the cost of what you owe.
In addition, you could attempt to negotiate with creditors to lower your interest rates or monthly payments, or seek professional guidance from a non-profit service. Effective debt management can help you improve your credit score and maintain financial stability in the long term.
Use a Secured Card Responsibly
You can use a secured credit card to build a history of on-time payments. Secured cards usually require a deposit, the amount of which also serves as your credit limit, making them easy for people with a 400 credit score to get approved for. You can compare the best secured cards for free here at WalletHub.
Bring Your Utilization Below 30%
Credit utilization measures how much of your credit limit you’re using, based on your monthly statement balance. It’s calculated for each line of credit you have as well as for all of them together. Keeping your utilization below 30% is good for your credit score, and a ratio of 1-10% is ideal. High credit utilization can signal that you are relying too heavily on credit and may not be able to manage your debts effectively.
You can use WalletHub’s free credit score simulator to find out how specific actions may affect your credit. You can also get personalized credit-improvement tips from our analysis tool.
This answer was first published on 04/04/23. For the most current information about a financial product, you should always check and confirm accuracy with the offering financial institution. Editorial and user-generated content is not provided, reviewed or endorsed by any company.
FAQs
Jump to them.
- Pay on time (35% of your score) The most critical part of a good credit score is your payment history. ...
- Reduce your debt (30% of your score) ...
- Keep cards open over time (15% of your score) ...
- Avoid credit applications (10% of your score) ...
- Keep a smart mix of credit types open (10%)
The time it takes to raise your credit score from 500 to 700 can vary widely depending on your individual financial situation. On average, it may take anywhere from 12 to 24 months of responsible credit management, including timely payments and reducing debt, to see a significant improvement in your credit score.
Can you recover from a 400 credit score? ›
It's never too late to start working toward a better FICO® Score, and your 400 FICO® Score is as good a starting point as any. Bringing your score up into the fair range (580-669) could help you gain access to more credit options, lower interest rates, and reduced fees.
How quickly can a credit score go up? ›
The length of time it will take to improve your credit scores depends on your unique financial situation, but you may see a change as soon as 30 to 45 days after you have taken steps to positively impact your credit reports.
Is 650 a good credit score? ›
As someone with a 650 credit score, you are firmly in the “fair” territory of credit. You can usually qualify for financial products like a mortgage or car loan, but you will likely pay higher interest rates than someone with a better credit score. The "good" credit range starts at 690.
Can I buy a house with a 700 credit score? ›
Yes. Assuming the rest of your finances are solid, a credit score of 700 should qualify you for all major loan programs: conventional, FHA, VA and USDA loans all have lower minimum requirements, and even jumbo loans require a 700 score at minimum.
Can you build a 700 credit score in 3 months? ›
It may take you 4 months to a year to reach the credit score of 700. Your credit score improvement is completely dependent on your financial activities.
Why did my credit score go from 524 to 0? ›
Credit scores can drop due to a variety of reasons, including late or missed payments, changes to your credit utilization rate, a change in your credit mix, closing older accounts (which may shorten your length of credit history overall), or applying for new credit accounts.
What is a 700 FICO score? ›
FICO credit scores, the industry standard for determining credit risk, range from 300 to 850 — with 670 to 739 considered a good score, 740 to 799 is very good and 800 to 850 is exceptional. A 700 score puts you in the middle of the good range but still slightly below the average credit score of 716.
Is a 900 credit score possible? ›
Highlights: While older models of credit scores used to go as high as 900, you can no longer achieve a 900 credit score. The highest score you can receive today is 850. Anything above 800 is considered an excellent credit score.
If you plan to use a mortgage to buy a house, you'll most likely be unable to do so with a 400 credit score. But if you're paying in cash, it doesn't matter how low your score is.
Can I buy a house with a 475 credit score? ›
You'll typically need a credit score of 620 to finance a home purchase. However, some lenders may offer mortgage loans to borrowers with scores as low as 500. Whether you qualify for a specific loan type also depends on personal factors like your debt-to-income ratio (DTI), loan-to-value ratio (LTV) and income.
What brings your credit score up the fastest? ›
4 tips to boost your credit score fast
- Pay down your revolving credit balances. If you have the funds to pay more than your minimum payment each month, you should do so. ...
- Increase your credit limit. ...
- Check your credit report for errors. ...
- Ask to have negative entries that are paid off removed from your credit report.
Bottom line. If you have a credit card balance, it's typically best to pay it off in full if you can. Carrying a balance can lead to expensive interest charges and growing debt.
How to jump credit score fast? ›
Paying your bills on time Is one of the most important steps in improving your credit score. Pay down your credit card balances to keep your overall credit use low. You can also phone your credit card company and ask for a credit increase, and this shouldn't take more than an hour.
How many points does your credit score go up each month? ›
It all depends on your unique situation and the specific actions you're taking to improve your credit. Realistically, you probably won't see your credit score increase by more than 10 points in a month.
How to get a 900 credit score? ›
A credit score of 900 is not possible, but older scoring models that are no longer used once went up to 900 or higher. The highest possible credit score you can get now is 850.
Can you raise your credit score from 500 to 800? ›
To increase your credit score to 800, you'll need a nearly flawless payment history, a credit utilization rate well below 30%, a healthy mix of credit types, and an extensive credit history. The average American has a credit score of 716, well within the range of what is considered a good credit score.
Can you recover from a 500 credit score? ›
The bad news about your FICO® Score of 500 is that it's well below the average credit score of 714. The good news is that there's plenty of opportunity to increase your score. 99% of consumers have FICO® Scores higher than 500. A smart way to begin building up a credit score is to obtain your FICO® Score.
