How Many Points Can a Hard Inquiry Lower Your Credit Score?

Quick Answer: How Many Points Does a Hard Inquiry Cost?

• Most people see a drop of about 0–5 points from a single hard inquiry on FICO® scores. myFICO+1

• Some people – especially those with thinner or riskier credit files – may see up to around 10 points impact per inquiry. Experian+1

• Multiple inquiries in a short period can cause more noticeable drops (10–20+ points total), because it can look like you’re desperate for credit. InCharge Debt Solutions+1

• Inquiries usually affect scores for about 12 months, even though they can remain on your reports for up to two years. Capital One+1

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  Hard inquiries are a relatively small factor (around 10% of many credit score models) compared with payment history and credit utilization, which carry much more weight. Wikipedia

Bottom line: a single hard inquiry is not a big deal. What really hurts is late payments, high balances, and a pattern of frequent applications for new credit.

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What Exactly Is a Hard Inquiry?

A hard inquiry (also called a “hard pull”) happens when a lender checks your credit report because you applied for credit – for example:

• Credit card application

• Auto loan or lease

• Mortgage or home equity loan

• Personal loan or debt consolidation loan

• Sometimes: cell phone, utilities, or apartment rental applications

Because the lender is deciding whether to lend you money, scoring models treat this as a sign you’re taking on new risk. So they may adjust your score slightly downward to reflect that. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau+1

By contrast, soft inquiries are checks that don’t result from an application for new credit – like checking your own score, pre-approval offers, and some employment or insurance screening. Soft inquiries do not affect your credit scores at all. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau+1

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How Many Points Can a Single Hard Inquiry Lower Your Score?

Here’s the honest, slightly annoying truth: there’s no fixed “one size fits all” number. But we can talk about typical ranges.

Typical impact range

Based on data from FICO, Experian, and major card issuers:

• FICO® Scores: Most people lose less than 5 points from a single hard inquiry. myFICO+1

• VantageScore®: A hard inquiry generally drops the score by a few points, sometimes around 5–10 points, depending on the credit profile. VantageScore+2VantageScore+2

• One inquiry can also have no visible impact at all if your file is strong and you already have other inquiries on your report. Experian+1

Think of it this way: in a 300–850 scoring range, losing 3–5 points is usually a tiny and temporary wobble, not a major setback. Wikipedia

Real-life example

• Angela, with a 750 score, applies for a new rewards card.

• David, with a thin credit file and a 640 score, applies for a store card and a personal loan within a month.

Neither of them is “ruined” by one application, but David feels it more because his profile is more fragile.

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Why There Isn’t a Single Exact Number of Points

Credit scoring models look at your whole file, not just the inquiry. The same hard pull can hit two people differently.

Factors that change the impact:

1. Thickness of your credit file

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     A thick file (many accounts, long history, strong on-time record) can absorb inquiries easily.

   • A thin or new file may see a bigger percentage impact because there’s less positive data.

2. Number of recent inquiries

   • One inquiry? Usually a shrug.

   • A cluster of 5–7 inquiries in a few months? That can signal risk, especially if they’re not clearly from rate-shopping (like multiple credit cards).

3. Types of accounts you’re applying for

4. Existing risk level

   • If you already have late payments, high utilization, or collection accounts, a new inquiry may push your score down a bit more – because the model already views you as higher risk.

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How Long Does the Point Drop Last?

Two important timelines:

1. On your credit report:

2. In your credit score calculation:

   • Many models only factor them into your score for about 12 months, and the impact is usually strongest in the first 3–6 months, then fades. Capital One+1

In other words:

The points you lose from a hard inquiry are typically short-term and reversible – assuming the rest of your credit behavior is solid.

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How Multiple Hard Inquiries Can Add Up

While a single hard inquiry is no big deal, repeated inquiries over a short period can add up.

When multiple inquiries become a problem

• One or two inquiries in a year? Usually not a big issue.

• Several different inquiries (cards, personal loans, store cards) in a few months? That can start looking like financial stress or credit-seeking behavior, and your score can drop 10–20+ points in total. InCharge Debt Solutions+1

Lenders know that people applying for lots of revolving credit or personal loans quickly are more likely to default, so the scoring models react accordingly.

Rate-shopping is treated differently

Here’s some good news:

• FICO and VantageScore treat rate-shopping (for auto loans, mortgages, and sometimes student loans) as one inquiry, even if your report shows many pulls within a short window. VantageScore+1

• Depending on the score version, that “shopping window” may be around 14–45 days.

So if you’re shopping for a car loan or mortgage, it’s actually smart to get multiple quotes within a short period – your score typically only absorbs one inquiry’s worth of impact.

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Do Hard Inquiries Really Matter That Much?

In the grand scheme of things: not nearly as much as most people fear.

Most popular scoring models (like FICO) weigh your credit this way: Wikipedia

• Payment history: ~35%

• Amounts owed / utilization: ~30%

• Length of credit history: ~15%

• New credit (including inquiries): ~10%

• Credit mix: ~10%

Hard inquiries are just one slice of the “new credit” category.

If you:

• Pay on time,

• Keep credit card utilization low (ideally under 30%, often under 10% for the best scores),

• Avoid late payments and collections,

…then a few inquiries won’t prevent you from having an excellent score.

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Smart Ways to Minimize the Impact of Hard Inquiries

Here’s how I advise people to handle inquiries strategically:

1. Apply only when you truly need to

Ask yourself: Is this new account improving my life or just adding temptation?

2. Cluster your rate-shopping

If you’re shopping for:

• A mortgage,

• An auto loan, or

• A student loan,

Try to do all your applications within a 14-day window. Many scoring models will treat those inquiries as one for scoring purposes.

3. Avoid “application binges”

Spacing out discretionary applications (like travel cards or store cards) helps your score:

• Wait at least 3–6 months between new credit card applications if you’re trying to improve your score.

• If you’ve had a rough patch – high utilization, late payments – rebuild for a while before adding more new accounts.

4. Protect your credit before big life events

If you know you’ll need a mortgage or auto loan in the next 6–12 months, protect your score:

• Avoid unnecessary new credit card applications.

• Pay down balances to lower utilization.

• Double-check your credit reports for errors and dispute anything inaccurate.

That way, the lender focuses on your strong payment history and low utilization, and the small hit from an inquiry won’t matter.

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FAQs About Hard Inquiries and Point Loss

Will checking my own credit score cost me points?

No. Checking your own credit report or score is a soft inquiry, which does not affect your credit score. You can safely check your reports regularly to monitor your progress. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau+1

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Can I remove a hard inquiry to get my points back?

Sometimes, but only in specific cases.

You can generally dispute and remove a hard inquiry if:

• You did not authorize it, or

• It’s clearly the result of fraud or identity theft.

For legitimate inquiries that you authorized, they normally cannot be removed early and will simply age off after about two years (with the scoring impact fading much sooner). Intuit Credit Karma

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Can a hard inquiry stop me from getting approved?

By itself, almost never.

Lenders know inquiries are normal when people shop for credit. What’s more likely to cause a denial is:

If the rest of your credit profile is strong, a single inquiry is usually just background noise.

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How many inquiries are “too many”?

There’s no magic number, but in practice:

• 1–3 recent inquiries: Usually fine, especially if they’re clearly connected to normal, responsible borrowing.

• 4–6+ recent inquiries (especially for credit cards or personal loans): Can start looking risky and may cost you more points.

If you’re rebuilding credit, I like to see people limit themselves to one new account every 6–12 months unless there’s a very good strategic reason for more.

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Key Takeaways

• A single hard inquiry generally costs about 0–5 points, sometimes up to ~10 depending on your situation.

• The effect on your credit score is small and temporary, often fading within 3–12 months, even though the inquiry stays on your report for about two years.

• Multiple inquiries in a short period can have a bigger cumulative impact, especially if they suggest financial stress.

• Scoring models protect rate-shopping for big loans (like cars and homes) by counting several related inquiries as one.

• Over the long term, on-time payments and low balances matter far more than a few inquiries.

If you’re using credit thoughtfully, hard inquiries are a normal and manageable part of your financial life – not something to be terrified of.

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Sources

1. myFICO – “Does Checking Your Credit Score Lower It?” (inquiry impact: usually less than 5 points). myFICO

2. Experian – “How Many Points Does an Inquiry Drop Your Credit Score?” (hard inquiries generally 5 points or less). Experian

3. Capital One – “How Many Hard Inquiries Is Too Many?” (inquiries stay 2 years, usually affect scores for 1 year). Capital One

4. VantageScore – “Guide to Your VantageScore Credit Score” & “Thinking About Applying for a Loan?” (inquiries drop scores by a few points; rate-shopping window). VantageScore+1

5. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau – “What Is a Credit Inquiry?” and “Does Requesting My Credit Report Hurt My Credit Score?” (definitions; soft inquiries don’t affect scores). Consumer Financial Protection Bureau+1

6. Equifax – “Understanding Hard Inquiries on Your Credit Report” (inquiries stay two years; impact typically shorter). Equifax

7. InCharge – “Will Multiple Credit Inquiries Hurt My Score?” (single inquiry ≤5 points; multiple inquiries can have larger cumulative effect). InCharge Debt Solutions

8. Credit Karma – “What Is a Soft Credit Check? Soft Pull vs. Hard Pull” (hard inquiries lower scores by a few points, often negligible; impact fades before 2-year mark). Intuit Credit Karma

9. Bankrate – “How Credit Inquiries Affect Your Credit Score” (many hard inquiries drop score about 5 points each). Bankrate

10. Wikipedia – “Credit Score in the United States” (factors and weightings used in common scoring models). Wikipedia

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Video Section: Learn More About Hard Inquiries

Here are some helpful videos for readers who prefer visual explanations:

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Disclaimer

This article is for general educational purposes only and is not financial, legal, or credit-repair advice. Credit scoring models and lender policies can change, and your situation may be unique. Before making major financial decisions, consider speaking with a qualified financial professional or directly with your lender.