Hard vs. Soft Credit Inquiries: What are the Key Differences?
Whether you're applying for a mortgage, credit card, or a home equity line of credit (HELOC), understanding how hard and soft credit inquiries affect your credit score is essential. These inquiries—sometimes called credit pulls or credit checks—determine what lenders see and whether your score takes a hit. In this article, we’ll explain the difference between soft and hard inquiries, how long they stay on your credit report, and how to shop for loans without hurting your credit.
Quick Comparison: Soft vs. Hard Credit Inquiries
Soft Inquiry:
Used for prequalification, mail offers, and background checks
Common before applying for a HELOC or credit card
Does not impact your credit score
Generally not visible to lenders (only to you)
May appear on your personal credit report, but doesn’t affect your score
Hard Inquiry:
Can reduce your credit score by 5–10 points
Visible to lenders reviewing your report
Used when submitting a formal credit application (e.g., HELOC, credit card, loan)
May affect your credit score for up to 12 months
Stays on your credit report for up to 2 years
What Is a Hard Credit Inquiry?
A hard credit inquiry—also called a hard pull or hard credit check—happens when you submit a formal application for credit. This signals to lenders that you're actively seeking financing, and they’ll need to evaluate your full credit profile before making a decision.
Common examples of hard inquiries:
Applying for a HELOC or mortgage
Submitting a credit card or personal loan application
Requesting to finance a car or student loan
Hard inquiries are visible to other lenders and can affect your credit score—up to 5 points, according to FICO, and as much as 10 points if a VantageScore is used. The impact is usually small and temporary, but multiple inquiries in a short period can add up if not managed carefully.
What Is a Soft Credit Inquiry?
A soft credit inquiry—or soft pull—is a type of credit check that does not affect your credit score. These happen when credit is not actively being extended, but someone wants to evaluate your creditworthiness in a low-impact way.
Common examples of soft inquiries:
Checking your own credit score
Getting prequalified for a HELOC or loan
Receiving prescreened credit offers by mail
Employment background checks
If you get a loan offer in the mail, that lender likely ran a soft inquiry through one of the credit bureaus to see if you fit their general criteria. They haven’t actually pulled your full report or affected your score.
Soft inquiries are only visible to you—not to other lenders.
Can Credit Checks Impact Your Credit Score?
The short answer: only hard inquiries do.
💥 Hard Inquiries
Can lower your score by up to 5–10 points
Appear on your credit report and stay for 2 years
Impact credit scores for up to 12 months
🛡️ Soft Inquiries
Have no effect on your score
Only visible to you when you check your credit report
🧠 What About Multiple Applications?
Many people worry that shopping around for rates will damage their score. The good news is that credit scoring models account for rate shopping:
FICO (newer models): Multiple applications for the same type of credit (like mortgages or HELOCs) within a 45-day window are counted as a single inquiry.
VantageScore and older FICO models: Use a shorter 14-day window.
Tip: Submit all loan or HELOC applications within a 14-day span to minimize impact.
How Long Do Credit Inquiries Stay on Your Credit Report?
Hard Inquiries
Visible to lenders
May reduce your credit score
Remain on your report for up to 2 years
Typically affect your score for up to 12 months
Soft Inquiries
Only visible to you
No impact on your score
Can appear on your report but do not influence lending decisions
Often used for rate checks and prequalification
While a hard inquiry remains on your credit report for two years, its effect on your credit score typically fades within the first 3–6 months.
Ways to Minimize the Impact of Hard Credit Inquiries
To protect your credit score when shopping for a loan or HELOC:
Get prequalified using soft credit checks whenever possible
Bundle loan applications into a 14–45 day shopping window
Only apply when you're ready to accept an offer
Avoid applying for unnecessary credit within a short timeframe
Check Your HELOC Rate Without Impacting Your Credit
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FAQs About Soft and Hard Credit Checks
What’s the difference between a soft inquiry and a hard inquiry?
A soft inquiry typically occurs when checking your own credit or receiving prequalified offers and does not affect your score. A hard inquiry is tied to a loan application and can lower your score slightly.
Can you remove hard inquiries from your credit report?
Only if the inquiry was unauthorized or incorrect. Legitimate hard pulls stay on your report for up to 2 years.
What does a soft credit check show?
It shows your credit score and a summary of your credit profile—not the full report. Lenders use this for rate checks or background screenings.
How much does a hard inquiry affect your credit score?
As much as 5 and 10 points, depending on your credit profile. The effect is temporary.
How many hard credit checks are too many?
If you have more than 3–4 hard pulls in a short time, lenders may view you as a higher risk—especially if your credit history is limited.
