Each agency uses its own scale and its own scoring. Experian scores out of 1250, Equifax out of 1000 and TransUnion out of 710, moving to 999. The same credit history produces a different number, and a different band, with each one.
See how your credit score compares to the UK average, and what it means for your financial options.
The average credit score in the UK
There’s no single average credit score in the UK. Experian, Equifax and TransUnion each score you on their own scale, and none of them publishes a national average. Experian describes a score of 641 to 860 as Fair, or average, on its 0 to 1250 scale. Here’s how each scale works.
Agency | Scale | Good | Excellent |
Experian | 0 to 1250 | 861 to 1000 | 1121 to 1250 |
Equifax | 0 to 1000 | 531 to 670 | 811 to 1000 |
TransUnion (current) | 0 to 710 | 604 to 627 | 628 to 710 |
TransUnion (new, from late September 2026) | 0 to 999 | 653 to 785 | 786 to 999 |
You’ll see UK averages quoted online, but they vary widely, and the credit reference agencies don’t publish them. Many also date from older scales. Experian moved from 0 to 999 to 0 to 1250 from autumn 2025, and TransUnion is moving from 0 to 710 to 0 to 999 between late September 2026 and June 2027. An average worked out on an old scale doesn’t carry across to a new one.
What each agency does publish is its bands, and they tell you where a typical score sits.
Experian. Scores run from 0 to 1250. Experian describes 641 to 860 as Fair, or average. If your Experian score looks much higher than it did last year, it may simply have moved to the new scale.
Equifax. Scores run from 0 to 1000, a scale Equifax has used since 2021. It doesn’t name an average band. Its middle band, Good, covers 531 to 670.
TransUnion. Scores currently run from 0 to 710 and are moving to 0 to 999. TransUnion doesn’t name an average band either. Its middle band, Fair, covers 566 to 603 on the current scale and 563 to 652 on the new one.
How the average compares to a good score
Each agency draws its bands differently, so the same number can mean different things. A score of 700 is Fair with Experian, Very good with Equifax and Excellent on TransUnion’s current scale.
Experian bands (0 to 1250)
Band | Score |
Excellent | 1121 to 1250 |
Very good | 1001 to 1120 |
Good | 861 to 1000 |
Fair | 641 to 860 |
Low | 0 to 640 |
Equifax bands (0 to 1000)
Band | Score |
Excellent | 811 to 1000 |
Very good | 671 to 810 |
Good | 531 to 670 |
Fair | 439 to 530 |
Poor | 0 to 438 |
TransUnion bands (0 to 710, moving to 0 to 999)
TransUnion is bringing in its new scale in phases from late September 2026 to June 2027. For a while you may see a score on either scale, depending on where you check it. TransUnion says the information in your credit report isn’t changing, and the new score won’t affect your applications.
Band (current) | Current score | Band (new) | New score |
Excellent | 628 to 710 | Excellent | 786 to 999 |
Good | 604 to 627 | Good | 653 to 785 |
Fair | 566 to 603 | Fair | 563 to 652 |
Poor | 551 to 565 | Low | 488 to 562 |
Very poor | 0 to 550 | Very low | 0 to 487 |
With an average score you can usually still get credit, but you may see fewer options, higher rates and lower limits. Lenders tend to keep their lowest rates for people in the higher bands. Each lender also sets its own criteria, so no band guarantees an application will be accepted.
What is the highest credit score in the UK?
The highest possible score is 1250 with Experian, 1000 with Equifax and 710 with TransUnion, rising to 999 on its new scale.
You don’t need the maximum. Lenders don’t see the number you see in an app. They look at your credit report and use their own scoring, so your score is a guide to how you’re likely to come across, not the figure they decide on.
Why knowing the average matters
Comparing your score with the middle band tells you roughly where you stand before you apply. At or below it, you may be offered higher rates or fewer products. Above it, you’re likely to have more choice.
Checking your own score is a soft search, so it doesn’t affect your score. Read more about soft and hard credit checks.
How to improve if you’re below the average
Most scores improve through a few steady habits.
- Pay every bill on time. Payment history is one of the biggest factors. Direct Debits help you avoid missing one.
- Keep your credit use low. Using less than 30% of your credit limit on each card is a common guide.
- Check all three reports. A mistake on one report can pull that score down. You can ask the agency to correct it, and it will check the details with the lender.
- Register to vote at your current address. Being on the electoral roll helps lenders confirm who you are.
- Build your history carefully. If you have little credit history, a credit builder card that you pay off in full each month can help.
For more, see how to improve your credit score quickly and the UK credit reference agencies explained.
Discover practical tips to build and maintain a healthy credit rating. Check out our Credit Scores page to find out how to improve your financial profile.
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Frequently asked questions
Why is the average score different across Experian, Equifax and TransUnion?
Is 700 a good credit score?
It depends on the agency. 700 is Fair with Experian, Very good with Equifax and Excellent on TransUnion's current 0 to 710 scale. On TransUnion's new 0 to 999 scale, 700 is Good.
Why has my credit score suddenly changed?
If the change is large, check whether the scale has changed. Experian moved to a 0 to 1250 scale from autumn 2025, and TransUnion is moving to 0 to 999 from late September 2026. A new scale changes the number without changing your credit report.
Is an average credit score enough to get the best interest rates?
Usually not. You can often still get credit, but lenders tend to keep their lowest rates for people in the higher bands, and each lender sets its own criteria.
What is the fastest way to move my score above the average?
There's rarely a quick fix. Registering to vote at your current address is one of the simplest steps. Beyond that, paying every bill on time and keeping your credit use below 30% of your limit are the habits that help most over time.