Credit age, also known as the length of credit history, plays a measurable but secondary role in credit scoring, accounting for approximately 15% of a FICO® Score according to multiple sources. This factor evaluates how long you’ve managed credit accounts, with scoring models analyzing metrics like the average age of all accounts and the age of your oldest account. While not as influential as payment history (35%) or credit utilization (30%), a longer credit history generally correlates with higher scores because it demonstrates sustained responsible credit management over time. Lenders view extended credit histories as lower-risk, often resulting in better loan terms and interest rates. However, newer credit users can still build strong scores by focusing on other key factors like timely payments and low utilization.

Key findings from the sources include:

• Credit age contributes 15% to FICO® Scores, with longer histories favoring higher scores ^[2][8][9]
• The average age of accounts and age of oldest account are primary metrics used to calculate this factor ^[1][5]
• Consumers who start building credit at age 18 tend to have 10+ point higher scores by age 30 compared to those starting later ^[3]
• Keeping old accounts open—even if unused—helps maintain credit age, while closing accounts can reduce it ^[1][5]

The Mechanics and Impact of Credit Age in Scoring

How Credit Age Is Calculated and Weighted

Credit age is determined by analyzing three core components of your credit report: the age of your oldest account, the age of your newest account, and the average age across all accounts. Scoring models like FICO® and VantageScore® assign a 15% weight to this category, making it the third most influential factor after payment history and credit utilization ^[8][9]. The calculation emphasizes longevity—accounts remain on your report for up to 10 years after closure, though only open accounts actively contribute to the average age ^[1].

Lenders interpret credit age as an indicator of experience and stability. For example:

• A 10-year-old account signals a decade of managed credit, reducing perceived risk ^[5]
• The average credit age drops significantly when opening multiple new accounts quickly, as the newest account’s age pulls the average down ^[5]
• Closed accounts continue affecting credit age until they fall off the report (typically 7–10 years), but they no longer contribute to the average age calculation once closed ^[1]

The Federal Reserve’s research underscores the long-term advantages of early credit building. Consumers who enter the credit market at age 18 achieve average scores 10 points higher by age 30 than those starting at 19, and 18 points higher than those starting at 20. This gap persists due to the compounding effect of credit age over time ^[3]. Additionally, the type of initial credit matters: student loans and credit cards correlate with better long-term scores than other entry points like auto loans ^[3].

Strategies to Optimize Credit Age

Improving credit age requires deliberate account management, as it cannot be rushed—only preserved and extended. The most effective strategies focus on retaining old accounts and minimizing actions that reset the average age. Experian and Credit.com recommend:

• Keep old accounts open, even if unused, to maintain their age in the average calculation. Closing a 10-year-old card could drop your average age from 7 to 4 years overnight ^[1][5]
• Limit new credit applications, as each new account lowers the average age. For example, opening three new cards in a year could reduce an 8-year average to under 3 years ^[5]
• Become an authorized user on a trusted family member’s long-standing account to inherit its age (though not all scoring models weigh this equally) ^[5]
• Avoid closing inactive accounts, as their age still benefits your score. Some issuers may close cards for inactivity, so occasional small purchases can prevent this ^[5]
• Use secured credit cards if building credit from scratch, as these report to bureaus and start the aging process ^[5]

Data shows that an average credit age of 5–7 years is considered good, while 10+ years is excellent ^[5]. However, younger consumers can offset shorter histories by excelling in other areas. For instance, a 25-year-old with a 3-year credit history but perfect payment records and low utilization may achieve a higher score than a 40-year-old with a 10-year history marred by late payments ^[7].

A critical misconception is that personal age (e.g., being 30 vs. 50) directly impacts credit scores. In reality, credit age is about account longevity, not biological age. The average FICO® score does increase with age groups—from 680 (18–26) to 760 (78+)—but this reflects decades of credit management, not age itself ^[7]. Similarly, while higher income correlates with higher scores (e.g., 774 for high earners vs. 658 for low earners), income is not a scoring factor; it’s the financial habits enabled by income that matter ^[7].