Your credit score plays a major role in your financial life. It affects your ability to get approved for loans, secure favorable interest rates, and even qualify for certain jobs or rental properties. If you’re preparing to apply for credit or just want to improve your financial health, learning how to increase your credit score quickly can make a big difference.
While most credit score improvements happen over time, there are some fast steps you can take to boost your score, sometimes within weeks. This guide will walk you through those key strategies.
Before making changes, it helps to understand what factors make up your credit score. Most lenders use FICO scores, which range from 300 to 850. Your score is calculated using five main factors:
This breakdown shows why payment history and amounts owed have the biggest influence on your score. Focusing on these areas first will usually lead to the fastest results.
The first thing you should do is pull your credit report and check it for errors. You can access free credit reports weekly from all three major credit reporting agencies at AnnualCreditReport.com. Look for:
Disputing inaccurate information is one of the quickest ways to improve your credit score. According to a 2024 study by Consumer Reports and WorkMoney (and a 2004 PIRG report), more than a quarter of people had errors on at least one of their reports that could negatively impact their score.
To get help reviewing your report and filing disputes, consider scheduling a credit report review with a nonprofit credit counselor.
Collection accounts are one of the most damaging items on a credit report. If you see one listed, take a closer look before paying it off. Depending on which FICO score model your lender uses, paying off collections may or may not help your score.
Try to negotiate a “pay for delete” agreement with the original creditor. This is when you offer to pay the account in full in exchange for having it removed from your credit report. While not all creditors will agree, it’s worth asking.
If the debt is old—especially over 7 years—you may be able to request that the credit reporting agencies remove it completely.
Unpaid accounts that are past due but not yet in collections can still damage your score. Paying them off quickly may prevent them from being sent to collections and can stop further score damage. When making payments, always ask your creditor if they will update your report right away to show the account is current.
When cleaning up your credit, it might seem like a good idea to close unused cards. However, keeping old credit card accounts open is usually better for your score. Here’s why:
Even if you no longer use an old card, keeping it open (with no balance) can be a smart move.
One of the fastest ways to raise your score is to lower your credit card balances. This improves your credit utilization, which compares how much credit you’re using to how much you have available.
Here’s how it works:
Paying down balances is the safest and most effective way to improve this number. Avoid maxing out your cards, and make extra payments whenever possible.
Another way to lower your utilization ratio is to ask for a credit limit increase. If your card has a $5,000 limit and you get it raised to $7,500 without adding to your balance, your utilization instantly drops.
Be careful when requesting a limit increase, as some lenders may perform a hard inquiry. Too many inquiries in a short period can temporarily lower your score. Check with your card issuer before you request a change.
If your credit is in good standing, you may be able to request an increase without a hard pull. Some banks offer the option through your online account dashboard or mobile app.
While it may seem helpful to open a new credit card to improve your utilization, this tactic can backfire. New accounts affect your score in several ways:
If you’re working to improve your score fast, it’s best to avoid opening too many new credit accounts unless absolutely necessary.
Your credit mix refers to the different types of credit you use: credit cards, auto loans, installment loans, mortgages, etc. While this only makes up 10% of your FICO score, having a healthy variety of account types can still help.
If you’ve only had credit cards in the past, adding a small credit builder loan or secured installment loan may benefit your score over time. But this is not the fastest strategy; credit mix changes tend to have a smaller, slower effect.
One of the most common reasons for late payments is simply forgetting the due date. You can avoid this entirely by setting up automatic payments on all your accounts. Even if you just schedule the minimum payment, this will keep your accounts current and prevent damaging late marks.
Creating a monthly budget is key to staying current on your bills and managing debt. Use tools like the free household budget worksheet from Credit.org to track income, expenses, and upcoming payments.
Avoid overusing your cards or taking on new loans unless necessary. A solid financial plan will help you keep building credit and protect your progress.
The most important long-term action you can take to raise your credit score is to pay every bill on time. Even one missed payment can have a serious negative impact on your score. Your payment history accounts for 35 percent of your total credit score, making it the most influential factor.
If you struggle to keep up with due dates, set up calendar reminders or enroll in auto-pay. Even minimum payments made on time help your credit, while late payments stay on your credit report for up to seven years.
Many people believe you need to carry a balance to build credit, but that’s not true. You can and should pay off your credit card in full every month to avoid interest charges. A zero balance will never hurt your score.
What matters most is how much of your credit you are using. As mentioned above, your credit utilization ratio should stay under 30 percent, and ideally under 10 percent. Keeping your balances low shows lenders you’re not overly reliant on credit.
Every time you apply for a new credit card or loan, a hard inquiry is added to your credit report. Too many hard inquiries in a short time frame can lower your score and signal to lenders that you may be a risk.
If you need to apply for credit, do it strategically. Rate-shopping for a mortgage or auto loan is usually treated as a single inquiry if done within a short period. But applying for multiple credit cards in a month will likely hurt your score more than it helps.
Sometimes it’s necessary to open a new account, especially if you’re trying to build credit for the first time. If that’s the case, start with a secured credit card or a credit-builder loan. These are designed for people with limited credit history and can help you establish positive payment activity without much risk.
Avoid applying for cards with high interest rates or excessive fees. Read the terms carefully, and look for cards from trusted sources. You can learn more in our guide on how to build your credit from nothing.
Another way to build credit quickly is to become an authorized user on someone else’s credit card. This means a trusted person, such as a parent or spouse, adds you to their account. Their account history then appears on your credit report.
To benefit from this strategy, the primary user’s account must be in good standing. That means low balances, on-time payments, and a long account history. If the account is mismanaged, it could actually hurt your credit.
Not all credit scoring models weigh authorized user accounts the same way, but this tactic can be especially helpful for someone with a limited or damaged credit history.
While bank accounts are not reported to the credit bureaus and do not affect your credit score directly, maintaining active checking and savings accounts can indirectly help your credit over time.
Here’s how:
If you’ve had issues with past accounts (such as overdrafts or account closures), consider checking your ChexSystems report. Like your credit report, it can be reviewed and corrected if needed.
Lenders like to see that you can manage more than one type of debt. A healthy mix of installment loans (like student loans or car loans) and revolving credit (like credit cards) can benefit your score.
Don’t take on new debt just to improve your credit mix, but if you’re considering a small loan or line of credit that fits your budget, it could provide an added boost. For example, taking out a credit-builder loan through a nonprofit lender can help you improve your credit history while building savings.
Learn more about credit-builder loans and other tools that don’t require using a traditional credit card.
Regular monitoring helps you stay on top of changes to your credit report and alerts you to fraud or errors. If someone opens a fraudulent account in your name, the sooner you catch it, the easier it is to resolve.
You can monitor your credit in a few ways:
It’s also smart to freeze your credit with all three major credit bureaus if you’re not actively applying for new credit. This prevents new accounts from being opened in your name without your permission.
Even if you follow every tip in this guide, some improvements take time. Negative items like late payments or collections usually remain on your credit report for several years. But their impact fades over time, especially when new, positive information is added.
Keep making on-time payments, using credit responsibly, and watching your accounts closely. Many people see improvement within a few months of starting better habits, and major changes over 12 to 18 months.
Improving your credit score quickly is possible, especially if you address issues like high balances, late payments, and outdated errors. But long-term improvement comes from consistency: paying on time, avoiding too much new credit, and using your accounts responsibly.
Use this guide as a starting point. Take small, focused steps. And remember that progress is always possible, even if you’ve made mistakes in the past.
If your credit situation feels overwhelming, or if you’re struggling with debt, you don’t have to figure it out alone. Certified counselors at Credit.org offer free, confidential support to help you:
Speaking to a counselor will not hurt your credit score, and many people find it’s the turning point in their journey toward financial freedom.
