300 is the lowest credit score that a person can have. It’s impossible for a score to drop below 300 for any reason.
Learning how credit scores work can be mystifying, especially if you’re establishing credit for the first time. When it comes to Gen Z, 42% don’t fully understand how credit scores work. Naturally, one of the most common questions is “What is the lowest credit score?” 300 is the lowest credit score anyone can have—but there's a difference between knowing your score and having a plan to improve it.
We'll discuss credit scores and credit ranges in this guide, and we’ll share five steps for improving low credit. Building credit can pave the way for tons of great opportunities like low-interest loans and premier credit cards. The next time someone asks, “what is the lowest credit score,” you may have an answer.
Credit scores typically fall into five different ranges—Poor, Fair, Good, Very Good, and Excellent. Each range encompasses a set value of credit scores; the “Poor” category covers the widest range of credit scores and while the “Excellent” section covers the smallest range.
Different credit agencies and websites generally classify credit score ranges similarly, with slight variations. More often than not, you’ll encounter the following information:
Several different factors may contribute to lower credit scores, including:
Routinely monitor your credit reports to catch any errors or potential fraud. Remember, public information appears on your credit report for up to 10 years.
A low credit score can impact your life in numerous ways:
Lenders, real estate agents, banks, and loan agencies use our credit scores to gauge our financial trustworthiness. These entities may interpret “Poor” and “Fair” scores as a sign that someone either won’t make their payments on time or at all. Securing a loan can be very difficult with Poor or Fair credit—and even if you do, that loan will have significantly higher interest rates.
A low credit score also makes it difficult to increase your credit limit in several ways; most banks are hesitant to offer new cards or grant a credit limit increase to Poor or Fair credit applicants.
If a potential employer runs a credit check, a bad credit score can also harm your chances of getting employed. Lastly, many landlords will turn down applicants with credit scores below a certain threshold.
Securing a loan with a low credit score can be challenging, but it’s not impossible. Nonprofit organizations like credit unions can accommodate clients with Poor or Fair credit. It’s even possible to acquire a mortgage with bad credit if your score is hovering above 580.
Be wary of scams and fraud when searching for low-credit loans; cybercriminals may try to glean sensitive information by imitating legitimate lenders. Prudence is your best bet—research the person or organization that you’re speaking to by looking them up online to verify their identity before providing your SSN.
There’s only one direction to go if you’re at the bottom, and that’s up. Someone with a score of 300 can repair their credit by making plans and taking action. The following five steps can help you start on the road to recovery from even the lowest credit scores—and stay the course as things improve.
Equifax®, Experian, and TransUnion® are America’s most significant credit bureaus. These agencies provide reports about our credit history, and the law requires them to provide one free credit report each year, which you can access at AnnualCreditReport.com.
Credit.com also provides a free credit score, plus a credit report card that grades your credit activity and offers practical feedback.
Everyone makes mistakes, including credit lenders and credit bureaus. If you find false or inaccurate information on your credit report, you can challenge the accuracy of these blemishes. Contact the corresponding credit agency and company that made the mistake and respectfully request assistance.
Hard credit inquiries result from lenders and agencies looking at your credit history when you apply for a card or a loan. Inquiries don’t stick around forever, but they can significantly inconvenience you by making your score seem lower than it really is.
Don’t apply for too many new cards while working to improve your credit. A mistimed hard inquiry can make the difference between securing a loan and having to wait months to try again.
Paying off your debt will always be one of the best ways to improve your credit—it’s more a matter of figuring out how to best go about doing so.
As tempting as it may be to pay off your smallest accounts, paying off your largest debts will make the largest difference on your credit report. Large debts contribute to your credit utilization ratio the most, so paying them off will free up tons of space. A large debt might also belong to one of your oldest accounts, and time is a significant factor that impacts credit. Whittling down a massive loan over time could tangibly boost your score in real time.
No, it is not possible to have a credit score of zero. Due to standard credit score ranges, even individuals with bad credit will typically have a score of at least 300. If someone has no credit score at all, it is not considered “zero,” it just means more information needs to be gathered to determine a number. This is also known as being “credit invisible.”
It’s impossible for a person’s credit score to drop to 250, but it’s uncommon, as 300 is the lowest number most standard credit scoring models will recognize.
However, a person’s specialized FICO® score, specifically their Auto Score and Bankcard score, can range from 250-900 as they focus on more specific areas of your credit. Auto and Bankcard scores help lenders decide if they’ll offer you an auto loan or credit card, respectively.
A credit score of 300 will make it difficult to secure auto loans, home loans, and credit cards from respected lenders. Poor credit scores also can affect insurance premiums and interest rates.
While the numbers vary depending on demographics like age and location, the average credit score in America is 715. This is based on 2025 data collected from FICO.
Trying to buy a house with a low credit score? It’s certainly possible to get a home loan with a low credit score—but the process may be much more difficult. Most mortgages require a credit score of around 620.
Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loans can be monumentally beneficial to individuals with Poor or Fair credit scores. However, you may be required to make a larger down payment. Veterans Affairs (VA) loans and United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) loans might also be worth exploring.
While there is no set minimum, a credit score of 660 or above is generally recommended before applying for an auto loan. Lower credit scores tend to translate to higher annual percentage rates, but as your credit score rises, you will find you qualify for better loan terms.
The most important step you can take to improve your credit score is to stay on top of your credit report. You can request a free credit report from all three main credit reporting agencies—Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion—once a year.
The details on these reports can help you make sure your credit is accurate, up-to-date and correctly representative of your borrowing behavior. Additionally, having access to your report and credit score can help you determine what areas you need to focus on to rebuild your credit.
To get your free Experian Vantage 3.0 credit score, you can also sign up for your free credit report card.