Definition
The variety of account types on your credit report: revolving credit (cards, lines of credit) versus installment loans (auto, student, mortgage). Scoring models give a modest bonus for handling both kinds well, roughly a tenth of a classic score's weight.
Why it matters
Mix is real but small: never take on debt just to diversify a credit report. It mostly explains why someone with only credit cards plateaus slightly below someone who also handles an installment loan well.
Example
Two people pay flawlessly. One has three cards only; the other has two cards, an auto loan, and a mortgage. The second scores slightly higher on mix, but the gap is a fraction of what payment history and utilization drive.
Related terms
This definition is educational, not financial, legal, or tax advice. U.S. rules and limits change; verify time-sensitive details with official sources. See our disclaimer.