Average Credit Score in Canada: What the Number Means and Where You Stand
Searching for the average is really a way of asking "am I doing okay?" That question has a better answer than a national mean. This guide explains what the official sources say about the scale, why Equifax and TransUnion scores differ, whether age matters, and which habits move your number. For the band chart and a quick rule of thumb, see our companion post on what a good credit score is in Canada.
On this page
Is there an official average?
We looked for one. The Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (FCAC), the federal body that explains credit reports and scores, describes the 300 to 900 range, the factors involved and how to improve a score. Its credit report and score basics page does not give an average score. Equifax Canada's page on what a good score is does not give a national average or a date for one. TransUnion Canada's pages on credit scores, on what makes a good score and on what affects your score do not give one either.
That does not mean averages never exist. Bureaus and other companies sometimes publish figures in research or media releases, and those can be real. But a number copied from site to site, with no named bureau, no date and no method, is not something to base decisions on. We are not going to give you a figure we could not trace to a primary source.
It also helps to know why a single average is slippery. The FCAC says credit bureaus and lenders use different formulas to calculate scores and do not share the exact details. TransUnion notes that companies use different scoring models, ranges and scales, so a number from one scorer does not carry the same meaning at another. An average of mixed scores from mixed models would blur those differences.
How the 300 to 900 scale works
The FCAC says scores usually range from 300 to 900 and that a higher score is better. TransUnion Canada describes a credit score as a three-digit number usually between 300 and 900. Equifax Canada says the same range generally applies.
Your score is a summary of the information in your credit report: your accounts, balances, payment record and applications. Lenders use it as one input. TransUnion says each lender decides which score range it considers a good or poor credit risk, so there is no universal pass mark. A score that qualifies you with one lender may not get the same rate from another.
What the bands mean
Equifax Canada publishes these rating bands on its page about good credit scores. Treat them as a guide, not a rule that every lender follows.
| Score | Equifax Canada label | What the page says |
|---|---|---|
| 760 and up | Excellent | Top band |
| 725 to 759 | Very good | Strong score |
| 660 to 724 | Good | Lower edge of good is 660 |
| 560 to 659 | No label given | Below 660 may be less likely to qualify for better loan terms |
| Generally below 560 | Poor | Higher risk to lenders |
The page does not put a label on the 560 to 659 range. Some other sources call it fair, and our good credit score post uses that label as a rule of thumb. TransUnion's pages we checked did not publish numeric bands, which is a good reminder that the bands are one bureau's guide.
Why Equifax and TransUnion differ
Canada has two main credit bureaus, Equifax and TransUnion, as the FCAC notes. Each keeps its own file on you, built from what lenders and other creditors report to it. Lenders do not always report to both, so the files can differ. On top of that, the formulas are different.
Differences that look larger than that are worth a look. Compare the two reports line by line, and if something is wrong, our guide to fixing an error on your credit report walks through the dispute steps. For a longer comparison, read Equifax vs TransUnion in Canada.
Age and your score
People often search for the average by age. We did not find an age breakdown on any of the primary pages we checked, so we will not offer one. What we can say from the sources is this:
- TransUnion Canada says personal details such as age, salary and marital status are not factors in your credit score.
- Length of credit history is a factor. The FCAC lists how long each account has been on your report, and TransUnion lists the age of your oldest account, newest account and average age of all accounts.
So age does not enter the formula directly, but time does. If you are young or new to Canada, a short history is a normal starting point, not a judgment. Our guide to building credit and the post on the secured credit card cover ways to start a file.
What moves a score
The sources agree on the main drivers. They differ on the weights, which is expected, because the models differ.
| Factor | What the sources say |
|---|---|
| Payment history | The FCAC calls it the most important part. Equifax Canada gives an approximate weight of 35%. TransUnion calls it typically the most important aspect. |
| Credit used vs limit | Equifax Canada: about 30%. The FCAC suggests using less than 30% of your total limit; TransUnion suggests keeping balances below 35%. |
| Length of history | Equifax Canada: about 15%. Closing an older account can shorten your history, per the FCAC. |
| Credit mix | Equifax Canada: about 10%. The FCAC says different types of credit may help. |
| Inquiries | Equifax Canada: about 10%. Hard inquiries from applications count; checking your own report does not. |
Equifax Canada says its weights are general figures because scoring models differ, and TransUnion's page lists the same five factors without percentages.
Payment history
The FCAC advises paying on time and, if you cannot pay in full, making at least the minimum. It also says not to skip a payment even if you are disputing a charge. Equifax adds that bills such as cell phones may be reported to the bureaus.
Utilization
The FCAC says to keep monthly utilization low even if you pay the full balance, because the balance reported to the bureaus is what counts. See our credit utilization guide.
Applications
The FCAC says hard inquiries, such as credit card or mortgage applications, affect your score, while soft inquiries such as checking your own report do not. When shopping for a car loan or mortgage, it says to get quotes within a 2-week period, because bureaus treat those as one inquiry. See does checking your credit score lower it.
Worked example: utilization
This example is illustrative arithmetic, not a prediction of your score. Say you have one card with a $6,000 limit and a reported balance of $2,400.
| Line | Arithmetic | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Utilization now | $2,400 / $6,000 | 40% |
| Balance at 30% of limit | $6,000 x 0.30 | $1,800 |
| Paydown needed before the statement | $2,400 - $1,800 | $600 |
The 30% line comes from the FCAC's guidance to use less than 30% of your total limit. Staying under it is a guideline. The FCAC and TransUnion do not say a specific paydown will raise your score by a specific number of points.
How to judge where you stand
Instead of chasing an average, use three checks.
- Find your band. Check your own score, then see whether it sits above 660, the lower edge of Equifax's good band. Our guide on how to check your credit score lists free ways to do it.
- Look at the reasons, not just the number. Which factor is holding you back: late payments, high balances, a short history or too many applications? The reasons tell you what to fix.
- Match it to your goal. Each lender sets its own cutoffs, per TransUnion. A mortgage lender, a card issuer and a landlord may look at different things. Ask the lender what it needs.
If your score moved, our post on why a credit score drops explains common causes.
More tools for budgeting and debt are on the tools page.
Questions people ask
What is the average credit score in Canada?
We could not find a single national average published by Equifax, TransUnion or the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada in the pages we checked. Use the published bands instead: 660 to 724 is good, 725 to 759 is very good, and 760 and up is excellent on Equifax Canada's scale.
What is a good credit score in Canada?
Equifax Canada describes 660 to 724 as good, 725 to 759 as very good and 760 and up as excellent. Scores below 660 may be less likely to qualify for better loan terms.
What is the highest credit score you can get in Canada?
Scores usually range from 300 to 900, according to the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada, Equifax Canada and TransUnion Canada. Higher is better.
Does age affect your credit score in Canada?
Not directly. TransUnion Canada says personal details such as age, salary and marital status are not factors in the score. Length of credit history is a factor, so time matters.
Why is my score different at Equifax and TransUnion?
The Financial Consumer Agency of Canada says bureaus and lenders use different formulas and do not share the exact details. Lenders also do not always report to both.
What affects your credit score the most?
The FCAC calls payment history the most important part of your score. Equifax Canada lists approximate weights of about 35% for payment history and about 30% for used credit against available credit, and notes models differ.
How much of my credit limit should I use?
The FCAC suggests using less than 30% of your total credit limit. TransUnion Canada suggests keeping balances below 35% of available credit.
Does checking my own credit score lower it?
No. The FCAC says soft inquiries such as checking your own report do not affect your score, and Equifax and TransUnion say the same about your own requests. Applications for new credit can create hard inquiries.
Looni reads statements you choose to share, read-only, and flags fees, subscriptions and interest charges so you can spot what is costing you. No advice, and it does not change your credit.
Sources
Financial Consumer Agency of Canada, Credit report and score basics (300 to 900 range, factors, different formulas, no average) and Improving your credit score (payment history, 30% utilization, 2-week rate shopping, inquiries); both modified July 1, 2026. Equifax Canada, What is a good credit score (bands, no national average) and How are credit scores calculated (approximate weights). TransUnion Canada, What is a credit score (range, 35% guidance, age not a factor), What affects my credit score (five factors) and What is a good credit score (depends on scorer and lender). The utilization example is illustrative; the arithmetic is ours.