What counts as a good credit score, and what score do I really need?

On the common FICO scale of 300 to 850, ranges are roughly: 800+ exceptional, 740 to 799 very good, 670 to 739 good, 580 to 669 fair, and below 580 poor. In practice, once you cross into the mid-700s you'll qualify for the best rates on mortgages, auto loans, and credit cards, and pushing higher yields little extra benefit. You don't need a perfect 850. What score you "need" depends on the goal: renting an apartment or getting a decent card requires far less than landing the lowest mortgage rate. Focus on reaching the low-to-mid 700s and then maintaining it with on-time payments and low utilization rather than chasing the last few points.