How fast can you realistically raise your credit score?
Isabella Turner
Updated on February 14, 2026
It is possible to raise your credit score within one to two months. It may take even longer, depending on what’s dragging down your score and how you handle it.
Can I raise my credit score 100 points in a month?
For most people, increasing a credit score by 100 points in a month isn’t going to happen. But if you pay your bills on time, eliminate your consumer debt, don’t run large balances on your cards and maintain a mix of both consumer and secured borrowing, an increase in your credit could happen within months.
How long does it take to improve your credit score?
But significant credit-score improvement is generally measured in months and years. And exactly how long it will take depends on three factors: Your Starting Point: You can build a credit score from scratch in about a month.
What can I do to increase my credit score?
Additionally, there are a couple other things you can do to start your journey to an increased score: Make credit card payments on time. This is especially helpful for those with no credit history because you have the chance to prove yourself by being consistent right off the bat. Remove incorrect or negative information from your credit reports.
How long does it take to build a credit score from scratch?
Your Starting Point: You can build a credit score from scratch in about a month. But it takes far longer to rebuild damaged credit. For example, someone with damaged credit who can only get approved for a secured credit card can generally improve to fair credit (and upgrade to an unsecured credit card) within 12 to 18 months.
How does paying your credit card bill increase your credit score?
Every month you pay your card’s bill on time will bump your credit score up, so set a routine and you can grow your creditworthiness quickly — as long as you can avoid missing a credit card payment. Your credit utilization ratio (also referred to as debt-to-available-credit ratio) is how much of your total credit limit you use.