Credit Score Mortgage Calculator: Rate & Payment 2026
Enter your credit score, home price, down payment and loan term to see the mortgage interest rate you are likely to qualify for, your estimated monthly payment and total interest — and whether your score meets the conventional threshold.
Results
Rates are estimates for conventional loans in 2026 and change with the market. Use our free mortgage calculator for the full monthly cost including taxes and insurance.
How to Use the Credit Score Mortgage Calculator
Enter your FICO credit score, the home price you are targeting, your down payment percentage and loan term. The calculator converts your score into one of four conventional-loan rate tiers — excellent (760-850), good (700-759), fair (660-699) and poor (620-659) — and applies that rate to your loan amount to show your estimated monthly payment and total interest over the term. If your score is below 620, it will flag that you generally will not qualify for a conventional mortgage.
How Your Credit Score Affects Your Rate
Lenders use your credit score to judge how risky it is to lend to you. A higher score signals a greater likelihood of on-time payments, so you are offered a lower rate. On the same loan, a borrower in the excellent tier can save thousands in interest compared with a borrower in the fair tier. Small score improvements — even 20 or 30 points — can move you into a lower rate tier and meaningfully lower your payment. You can also compare the minimum scores by loan type in our credit score and mortgages guide.
Rate Tiers Used in This Calculator
These estimates match common conventional 30-year rate levels in 2026: excellent (760-850) around 6.25%, good (700-759) around 6.50%, fair (660-699) around 6.875% and poor (620-659) around 7.25%. Below 620 you generally will not qualify for a conventional loan, though FHA and other programs may still be an option. Your actual rate also depends on the market, loan size, down payment and lender.
Frequently Asked Questions
What credit score do I need to buy a house?
The minimum credit score depends on the loan type: FHA requires 500 (with 10% down) or 580 (with 3.5% down), conventional loans typically need 620, VA loans have no official minimum but most lenders require 620, and USDA loans need 640.
How does my credit score affect my mortgage rate?
A higher credit score gets you a lower interest rate. On a $300,000 loan, a borrower with a 760+ score might get 6.25% while a borrower with a 660 score might get 6.875%, a difference of roughly $120/month and over $43,000 in extra interest over 30 years.
What is a good credit score for a mortgage?
For the best interest rates most lenders want a FICO score of 740 or higher, which typically lands in the 760-850 "excellent" tier. Scores of 700-759 still get good rates; below 620 you generally won't qualify for a conventional loan.