Discover how the length of your credit history affects your FICO score. Enter the date your oldest credit account was opened to calculate your credit age in years and months, see how it compares to national averages (7.4 years), and learn which credit score factor you've mastered.
Enter the date your oldest credit account was opened
The Credit Age Calculator measures the length of your credit history — specifically, the age of your oldest credit account. Credit age is one of the five key factors that make up your FICO credit score, accounting for 15% of your total score. Simply enter the date your oldest credit account was opened to calculate your credit age in years and months.
Here is how credit age is calculated and why it matters:
Understanding how credit age affects your FICO score is essential for managing your credit health. The table below shows how different credit age ranges impact your score.
| Credit Age Range | Score Impact | FICO Category | What It Means |
|---|---|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | Limited | New Credit | You are just starting your credit journey. Focus on building positive payment history. |
| 1–3 years | Building | Short History | You have established some credit but need more time to build a robust profile. |
| 3–7 years | Good | Average History | Your credit history is developing well. You are likely seeing positive score benefits. |
| 7–10 years | Very Good | Strong History | You have a solid credit history. Lenders view you as a reliable borrower. |
| 10+ years | Excellent | Excellent History | Your long credit history is a major asset. You likely qualify for the best rates. |
Credit age accounts for 15% of your FICO score. By understanding how old your credit history is, you can better predict which credit score factor you have mastered and where you need improvement. This knowledge helps you take targeted action to boost your score.
Track your progress from a thin file to an excellent credit history. Whether you are just starting out or have decades of credit history, knowing your credit age helps you set realistic goals for credit improvement and financial milestones.
Closing old credit accounts can significantly shorten your average credit age and hurt your score. Understanding the value of your oldest accounts helps you make smarter decisions about which cards to keep active and which to close.
See how your credit age compares to the national average and different age groups. The data below is based on industry reports from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and FICO.
| Demographic | Average Credit Age | Typical Score Range |
|---|---|---|
| National Average | 7.4 years | 680–720 |
| Age 18–25 | 1–2 years | 620–680 |
| Age 26–35 | 4–6 years | 650–720 |
| Age 36–50 | 8–12 years | 700–770 |
| Age 50+ | 12–20 years | 730–800 |
* Data based on industry averages. Individual results may vary based on credit behavior, account mix, and payment history. The national average credit age in the US is approximately 7.4 years as of 2026.
Credit age, also known as the length of credit history, refers to how long your credit accounts have been active. It is calculated from the date your oldest account was opened and considers the average age of all your accounts. Credit age matters because it accounts for 15% of your FICO score. A longer credit history demonstrates that you have experience managing credit responsibly over time, which makes you less risky in the eyes of lenders.
Yes, closing a credit card can hurt your credit age, especially if it is one of your oldest accounts. When you close a credit card, the account may remain on your credit report for up to 10 years, but it will eventually stop contributing to your average credit age. Additionally, closing a card reduces your available credit, which can increase your credit utilization ratio and further impact your score. A better strategy is to keep old accounts open and use them occasionally to keep them active.
Building a good credit history typically takes 3 to 7 years of consistent, responsible credit use. After about 3 years, your credit history moves from "short" to "average" in the eyes of FICO scoring models, which can start to positively impact your score. To reach the "excellent" category (10+ years), you need to maintain accounts in good standing for a decade or more. The key is to make all payments on time, keep your credit utilization low, and avoid opening too many new accounts at once.
The average credit age in the United States is approximately 7.4 years, according to industry data from FICO and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. This average varies significantly by age group: younger consumers (18–25) typically have a credit age of 1–2 years, while those over 50 often have credit histories spanning 12–20 years. The national average credit score hovers around 700, with longer credit histories correlating with higher scores.
Unfortunately, there is no quick way to improve your credit age — it simply takes time. However, there are a few strategies to help: (1) Become an authorized user on a trusted family member's older credit card account, which adds their account history to your credit report. (2) Keep your oldest credit accounts open and active, even if you rarely use them. (3) Avoid opening multiple new accounts in a short period, as this lowers your average credit age. (4) Ask your current credit card issuer if they offer product changes — switching card types while keeping the same account preserves your account history.