A perfect 850 credit score might seem impossible to achieve, but plenty of Americans have hit this milestone. While you don’t need a perfect score to get the best credit cards and mortgage terms, those who reach 850 tend to share a few key habits that set them apart.
If you’re aiming to improve your credit — or just curious about what it takes — here are four common traits of people who have a perfect credit score.
1. They always pay on time
The biggest factor in your credit score is payment history, making up 35% of your FICO® Score. People with an 850 credit score never miss a payment — whether it’s a credit card, mortgage, or utility bill.
Even one late payment can knock your score down, but it’s important to note that most creditors won’t report your late payment until it’s 30 days or more past due. That means if you’re only a few days or a couple of weeks late, your creditor may not report it to the credit bureaus.
To avoid late payments:
- Set up autopay to ensure bills are never missed.
- Use payment reminders or calendar alerts.
- Pay early when possible to stay ahead of due dates.
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2. They keep credit card balances low
Another major credit score factor is credit utilization. That’s the percentage of all your available credit divided by your total outstanding debts. Those with an 850 credit score keep their utilization below 10%, even though the general rule of thumb is staying under 30%.
For example, if they have a $10,000 credit limit, they make sure their balance stays below $1,000 — normally paying it off in full each month.
If you’re trying to have a perfect credit score, don’t be afraid to open a high-limit credit card or ask your existing card issuers to extend your credit limits. That will increase your available credit and lower your credit utilization ratio.
3. They have a long credit history
Credit age makes up 15% of your FICO® Score, and people with an 850 score typically have decades of responsible credit use. While you can’t speed up time, you can make smart choices to improve this factor:
- Keep old accounts open. Closing a long-standing credit card lowers your average credit age, which can drop your score.
- Avoid opening too many new accounts. Each new card lowers your average credit age and adds a hard inquiry to your report.
- Start young. Many top scorers got their first credit card in their late teens or early 20s and used it responsibly.
If you no longer want to use a credit card, it’s generally better to keep the account open and use the card for an occasional small purchase to keep the account active. Just make sure there isn’t an annual fee you’re losing money on.
4. They check their credit report regularly
Even the most responsible credit users can get hit with fraudulent charges, errors, or identity theft. That’s why people with perfect scores monitor their credit reports closely.
Get in the habit of checking your credit report at least once a year. You can get a free credit report from AnnualCreditReport.com to look for mistakes. And if you see any errors, dispute them immediately. If you suspect any fraud, freeze your accounts to prevent anything new from being opened in your name.
A perfect credit score is cool, but unnecessary
While reaching a perfect 850 FICO® Score isn’t necessary, practicing these habits can help you build and maintain an excellent score to qualify for the best credit cards and mortgage rates.
By paying on time, keeping balances low, maintaining old accounts, and monitoring your credit report, you’ll be well on your way to elite credit status.
