Credit score

A number, usually from 300 to 850, that tells lenders how likely you are to repay.

A credit score is calculated from your credit report. The most common, the FICO score, ranges from 300 to 850; higher is better.

FICO says the biggest factors are payment history (about 35%) and amounts owed, including credit utilization (about 30%), followed by length of credit history, new credit and the mix of accounts.

The habits that help most are simple: pay every bill on time, keep card balances low compared with your limits, and avoid opening many new accounts at once.