What Each Type of Inquiry Actually Is
When someone accesses your credit file, that access is recorded as an inquiry. But there are two very different kinds, and the distinction has real consequences for your credit score.
A hard inquiry (also called a hard pull) happens when a lender or creditor reviews your credit file because you've applied for something — a credit card, a car loan, a mortgage, an apartment lease, or sometimes a new utility account. You typically have to give explicit permission for a hard pull. Because it signals you're actively seeking new credit, it can knock a few points off your score.
A soft inquiry (or soft pull) happens when someone accesses your credit for a reason that isn't a formal credit application. This includes checking your own credit, a landlord running a background check in some states, a credit card company sending you a pre-approval offer, or an employer screening your file. Soft pulls do not affect your credit score at all — they appear on reports you can see, but lenders cannot see them.
To put it plainly: hard inquiries are the ones that matter for your score; soft inquiries are essentially invisible to everyone except you. See our guide to reading your credit report line by line for how both types appear in your file.
| Criterion | Hard Inquiry | Soft Inquiry |
|---|---|---|
| Triggered by | Applying for credit or loans | Background checks, pre-approvals, self-checks |
| Affects credit score | Yes — typically a small, temporary dip | No impact whatsoever |
| Visible to lenders | Yes | No — only visible to you |
| Stays on report for | Two years | Varies; generally shorter |
| Requires your permission | Yes — explicit consent needed | Not always required |
| Rate-shopping protection | Yes, for mortgage/auto/student loans | Not applicable |
How Much Do Hard Inquiries Actually Hurt?
The honest answer: usually not much, and not for long. For most people, a single hard inquiry lowers a credit score by fewer than five points, according to general guidance from the major credit scoring companies. Consumers with a short credit history or few accounts may see a slightly larger dip.
Hard inquiries stay on your credit report for two years, but their scoring impact typically fades after twelve months. So the temporary ding matters most if you're planning a major loan application — like a mortgage — in the near future.
<5 pts
Typical score drop from one hard inquiry
FICO has stated that for most consumers, a single hard inquiry results in a drop of fewer than five points.
12 months
How long a hard inquiry affects your score
Although hard inquiries remain on your report for two years, their influence on your score generally fades within twelve months.
14–45 days
Rate-shopping window recognized by scoring models
FICO and VantageScore each define a window during which multiple loan inquiries of the same type are counted as a single inquiry.
There's also an important protection built into most scoring models: rate shopping. If you apply for multiple mortgages, auto loans, or student loans within a short window (commonly 14 to 45 days, depending on the scoring model), those inquiries are often bundled and counted as just one. This lets you compare lenders without compounding the score impact. Credit card applications, however, don't get this same grouping treatment — each one counts separately.
Stacking up many hard inquiries in a short period can signal financial stress to lenders, so it's worth being intentional about when you apply for new credit. For a fuller picture of actions that can quietly chip away at your score, see common moves that can hurt your credit score.
Found an Unfamiliar Hard Inquiry?
If you spot a hard inquiry you don't recognize, don't ignore it — it could indicate someone applied for credit in your name without your permission. You have the right to dispute inaccurate or unauthorized inquiries with the credit bureau that reported them. Learn more about how the credit dispute process works. Also consider placing a fraud alert or security freeze on your report if you suspect identity theft.
This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute personalized financial or credit advice. Consider speaking with a qualified financial professional about your individual situation.
