What Is Credit Age?
Credit age, also called length of credit history, measures how long your credit accounts have been open. It includes three components: the age of your oldest account, the age of your newest account, and the average age of all your accounts combined. Together, these make up about 15% of your FICO credit score.
A longer credit history generally signals to lenders that you have more experience managing credit responsibly. This is why someone with a 10-year-old credit card in good standing typically scores higher than someone who just opened their first card, even if both have perfect payment records.
How Credit Age Is Calculated
Your credit age is typically measured as the average age of all open accounts. For example, if you have three accounts open for 8 years, 4 years, and 1 year, your average credit age would be about 4.3 years. FICO considers anything over 7 years a good credit age, while under 2 years is considered thin.
This is why opening several new accounts in a short period can hurt your score — each new account lowers your average age. It's also why closing old accounts can be risky, since removing your oldest account drops the average.
Why Improving Credit Age Is Challenging
Unlike other credit score factors, you can't quickly improve credit age. You can pay down a balance in a month to improve utilization, or make a payment to improve payment history. But credit age simply requires time.
This can be frustrating for people who are new to credit or young adults just starting their financial lives. The good news is that while you can't speed up time, there are strategies to maximize the credit age you do have.
Strategies to Improve Your Credit Age
Keep old accounts open. Even if you no longer use your first credit card, keeping it open preserves your oldest account age. Use it for a small recurring purchase (like a streaming subscription) and set up autopay so it stays active without effort.
Become an authorized user. Being added as an authorized user on a family member's long-standing credit card can add that account's full history to your credit report. If a parent has a card open for 15 years and adds you, that 15-year history may appear on your report.
Avoid opening unnecessary accounts. Every new account pulls down your average age. Before applying for a new card, ask whether you truly need it. Space out new credit applications and only open accounts you plan to keep long-term.
Start early. The sooner you open your first credit account, the sooner the clock starts ticking. A secured credit card or credit builder loan is a great way to start building credit age even without a strong credit profile.
Common Mistakes That Hurt Credit Age
Closing your oldest credit card is the most common mistake. Even if it has an annual fee, consider whether the age benefit outweighs the cost. Sometimes calling the issuer and requesting a product change to a no-fee card preserves the account history without the annual cost.
Opening store cards impulsively at checkout is another pitfall. That 10% discount might not be worth the hit to your average account age, especially if you're actively building credit.
Credit Age in Context
Remember that credit age is only 15% of your score. If your payment history (35%) and utilization (30%) are strong, a shorter credit age won't hold you back dramatically. Focus on the factors you can control right now, and let your credit age grow naturally over time.
Start Your Credit Age Clock
A Self Credit Builder Account adds a new tradeline that reports to all three bureaus from day one — helping new-credit users establish history while also saving money. It's a low-risk way to start your credit-age clock.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the average age of accounts on a credit report?
Average account age is the sum of all account ages divided by the number of accounts. For example, two cards that are 4 and 2 years old have an average age of 3 years.
Does closing a credit card hurt my credit age?
Closed accounts stay on your report for 10 years, so closing a card doesn't immediately shorten your credit age. But once the closed account drops off, your average age recalculates — potentially lowering your score.
How long does it take to build credit age?
There's no shortcut. The only way to increase credit age is time — keeping your oldest account open and avoiding new accounts that drag the average down.
Can becoming an authorized user help my credit age?
Yes, if the primary cardholder has a long-standing account in good standing. Many issuers report the full account age to authorized users, instantly adding years to your credit history.
Learn more about building credit with Firstcard.
