foundations · 4 min
How your FICO score is built
The five factors and the exact weights that move your score.
The 5 factors (and the exact weights)
| Factor | Weight | What moves the needle |
|---|---|---|
| Payment History | 35% | On-time payments, no 30/60/90-day lates, no charge-offs |
| Amounts Owed / Utilization | 30% | Balance ÷ limit on each card AND across all cards |
| Length of Credit History | 15% | Oldest account age + average age of all accounts |
| New Credit / Inquiries | 10% | Number of hard pulls and new accounts in last 12 months |
| Credit Mix | 10% | Healthy blend of revolving (cards) + installment (loans) |
Why the top two matter
Payment history + utilization = 65% of your score. If you fix nothing else, fix these two and you'll cover almost two-thirds of the algorithm.
Quick wins
- Set autopay-minimum on every revolving account today
- Pay your card balance before the statement date so the bureau sees a low number
- Never close your oldest card — keep it active with one small recurring charge
What FICO ignores
Income, employment, savings, age, race, and marital status are not scored. The algorithm only knows what's on your credit file.
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