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AhaBulb: Stuff Everyone Should Know · ahabulb.com/fico-biggest-factor

Which of these counts the MOST in your FICO credit score?

Paying bills on time is the single biggest factor in your FICO score, at about 35%.

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  1. How much you owe on your cards and loans
  2. How many years you've had credit
  3. Whether you pay your bills on time ✔

Why: Paying on time is the biggest piece of a FICO score, about 35%. How much you owe is close behind at about 30%. FICO scores run from 300 to 850.

Huh, didn't know that: FICO scores run from 300 to 850.

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If you think no one cares about you, try missing a couple of payments.
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References

Answer: Whether you pay your bills on time. Paying on time is the biggest piece of a FICO score, about 35%. How much you owe is close behind at about 30%. FICO scores run from 300 to 850.

  1. myFICO: How to Build Credit, payment history www.myfico.com/credit-education/credit-scores/how-to-build-credit
    Payment history (35%) How you've paid your bills in the past
    Checked 2026-10-09.
  2. myFICO: How to Build Credit, amounts owed www.myfico.com/credit-education/credit-scores/how-to-build-credit
    Amounts owed (30%) The amount of credit you're using
    Checked 2026-10-09.
  3. myFICO: FICO Score Versions www.myfico.com/legal/fico-score-versions
    Base FICO® Scores range from 300 to 850. Industry-specific FICO Scores range from 250-900.
    Checked 2026-10-09.

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