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Credit & debt guide
Hard vs soft credit inquiries
Soft inquiries do not affect your score; hard inquiries appear on your report for two years.
Sourced from official pages · Updated September 30, 2026📊
Credit & debt5 sections
2 official sources linked💡 Key takeaways
- Soft inquiries (checking your own credit, pre-approval offers) do not affect scores.
- Hard inquiries come from applying for credit and appear on your report for two years.
- FICO says a hard inquiry may affect scores for only about a year.
- Use pre-qualification tools that use soft checks before you apply.
The difference
| Type | Examples | Score effect |
|---|---|---|
| Soft inquiry | Checking your own credit, pre-approval offers | None; visible only to you |
| Hard inquiry | Applying for a credit card, loan or mortgage | May affect scores; stays on the report for two years |
Practical tips
- Checking your own reports and scores does not hurt your credit.
- Compare cards using pre-qualification tools that use soft checks before you apply — see our credit card comparison.
- According to FICO, a hard inquiry may affect scores for only about a year even though it stays on the report longer.
🧮 Examples
| Soft inquiry | Hard inquiry |
|---|---|
| Checking your own report or score | Applying for a credit card |
| Pre-approved offers | Applying for a mortgage, auto or personal loan |
| A lender checking existing accounts | Applying for some rentals or utilities that run credit |
Rate shopping
Scoring models often treat several inquiries for the same type of loan within a short window as one, so comparing mortgage or auto offers does not always multiply the effect. The window depends on the scoring model; ask lenders about their process.
🔤 Key terms
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Soft inquiry | A credit check that does not affect scores |
| Hard inquiry | A credit check from an application |
| Pre-qualification | An estimate using a soft check |
| Rate shopping window | A short period where similar inquiries may be treated as one |
⚠️ Common mistakes to avoid
- Applying for many cards at once.
- Assuming checking your own credit hurts it.
- Ignoring soft-pull pre-qualification tools.
- Not checking your report for inquiries you did not authorize.
🛠️ Try it yourself
❓ Frequently asked questions
Do hard inquiries hurt my score?
They may affect scores, typically for a limited time.
How long do they stay on my report?
Two years.
Is an inquiry from a mortgage lender treated differently?
Rate-shopping windows may apply; see above.
Do hard inquiries show to other lenders?
Yes.
📚 Sources
This guide is general information, not financial, tax or legal advice. Rules and limits change; confirm with the sources above or a licensed professional.