Debt-to-Income Ratio Calculator
The DTI number lenders check before approving you.
Reviewed by the Calculation Machine team · Updated 24 October 2026 · How we check our maths
Your values
ⓘ Live results
- Back-end DTI
- 40.8%
- Front-end (housing) DTI
- 30%
- Lender view
- Acceptable to most lenders
- Room before 43%
- $130.00 of extra monthly debt
Quick answer
Your debt-to-income ratio (DTI) is your total monthly debt payments divided by your gross (pre-tax) monthly income, times 100. Lenders look at back-end DTI, which includes housing plus all other debts, and many cap it around 43%. With $6,000 of monthly income, an $1,800 mortgage and $650 of other payments, DTI is 2,450 ÷ 6,000 = 40.8%.
What the Debt-to-Income Ratio calculator does
This calculator gives the two ratios a mortgage or loan underwriter checks: front-end DTI (housing payment only) and back-end DTI (housing plus every other monthly debt payment). It labels the result the way lenders tend to see it and shows how much extra monthly debt you could take on before reaching 43%.
Use it before applying for a mortgage, car loan or refinance, or when deciding whether paying off a loan first would improve your approval odds. If you are working out a price range, the house affordability calculator runs these ratios in reverse to give a maximum home price.
DTI uses gross income and minimum required payments, not what you actually spend. Living costs such as groceries, utilities and insurance premiums are not debts and are left out, which is why a DTI that satisfies a lender can still feel tight in practice.
The formula
Back-end DTI = (housing + other debt payments) ÷ gross monthly income × 100 Front-end DTI = housing ÷ gross monthly income × 100
| Symbol | Meaning | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| housing | Rent, or the full mortgage payment including property tax, homeowners insurance, mortgage insurance and HOA dues | $ per month |
| other debt payments | Minimum payments on car loans, student loans, credit cards, personal loans, plus child support or alimony | $ per month |
| gross monthly income | Income before tax and deductions; annual salary ÷ 12 | $ per month |
These definitions follow US mortgage underwriting practice (Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, FHA). The 43% figure was the general debt-to-income cap in the CFPB's original Qualified Mortgage rule; it remains a common benchmark, though current guidelines allow higher ratios in some cases. This page also serves searches for a debt-to-income ratio calculator — DTI and debt-to-income ratio are the same measure.
Worked examples
Typical mortgage applicant
A household earning $6,000 a month before tax, with a planned $1,800 mortgage payment and $650 in car and student-loan minimums.
Inputs
- Gross monthly income6000 $
- Rent or mortgage1800 $
- Other monthly debt payments650 $
Result
- Back-end DTI40.8%
- Front-end (housing) DTI30%
- Lender viewAcceptable to most lenders
- Room before 43%$130.00 of extra monthly debt
Back-end DTI is 40.8% and front-end is 30%. That is within most lenders' limits, but only $130 of extra monthly debt fits before 43%, so a new car loan before closing could cause problems.
Renter with modest debts
A single renter earning $4,200 a month gross, paying $1,150 rent and $280 on a car loan.
Inputs
- Gross monthly income4200 $
- Rent or mortgage1150 $
- Other monthly debt payments280 $
Result
- Back-end DTI34%
- Front-end (housing) DTI27.4%
- Lender viewExcellent
- Room before 43%$376.00 of extra monthly debt
Back-end DTI of 34% is under the classic 36% guideline, so this borrower is in a strong position for a loan application. The front-end ratio of 27.4% is also under the 28% benchmark.
High earner, heavy debts
A household earning $9,500 a month with a $2,900 housing payment and $1,700 of other minimums, including two car loans.
Inputs
- Gross monthly income9500 $
- Rent or mortgage2900 $
- Other monthly debt payments1700 $
Result
- Back-end DTI48.4%
- Front-end (housing) DTI30.5%
- Lender viewHigh — approvals get harder
- Room before 43%$0.00 of extra monthly debt
Back-end DTI is 48.4% even though housing alone is a reasonable 30.5%. Paying off one car loan would do more for approval odds than a larger down payment.
DTI limits by loan type
Limits vary with credit score, cash reserves and the lender's own rules, so treat these as typical starting points rather than guarantees.
| Benchmark | Front-end | Back-end |
|---|---|---|
| Classic 28/36 guideline | 28% | 36% |
| General benchmark for many mortgages | — | 43% |
| Conventional loans with automated approval | — | Up to 50% with strong compensating factors |
| FHA loans (standard guideline) | 31% | 43%, higher with compensating factors |
| VA loans | — | 41% guideline; residual income also assessed |
What counts as debt and what does not
Include: rent or mortgage (with tax, insurance, mortgage insurance and HOA dues), car loans and leases, student loans (even if deferred, lenders often count a payment), credit card minimum payments, personal loans, and court-ordered child support or alimony.
Leave out: utilities, phone and internet, groceries, car and health insurance, subscriptions, and income taxes. These matter for your budget but are not part of DTI.
If a card balance is paid in full every month, lenders still usually count the minimum payment shown on your credit report.
How to lower your DTI before applying
- Pay off small balances completely. Clearing a $1,500 card removes its whole minimum from the ratio; paying down half of a large loan does not change its monthly payment.
- Avoid new credit in the months before a mortgage application, including store cards and car financing.
- Count all income you can document, such as regular overtime, bonuses or rental income with a two-year history.
- Add a co-borrower if someone else on the loan has income and few debts.
- Choose a cheaper home or larger down payment to cut the housing payment, which lowers both ratios. The mortgage payment calculator shows how price and rate change that payment.
How to use the Debt-to-Income Ratio Calculator
- 1Enter gross monthly income — the amount before tax. For a salary, divide the annual figure by 12.
- 2Enter your rent, or the full mortgage payment you expect including tax, insurance and HOA dues.
- 3Add up the minimum payments on every other debt from your credit report or statements and enter the total.
- 4Read back-end DTI (the one lenders focus on), front-end DTI, and how much room is left before 43%.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good debt-to-income ratio?
Under 36% is generally considered good, and under 28% for housing alone. Most mortgage lenders are comfortable up to about 43%, and some programs go higher for borrowers with strong credit and savings.
Is DTI based on gross or net income?
Gross income — what you earn before tax and payroll deductions. Because it ignores taxes, your real share of take-home pay going to debt is higher than the DTI figure.
Does rent count in debt-to-income ratio?
Yes, when you are applying for a non-mortgage loan, current rent is usually included as your housing payment. For a mortgage application, the new mortgage payment replaces the rent.
Does DTI affect my credit score?
No. Credit scores do not use income, so DTI is not part of the score. Credit utilization — card balances as a share of limits — does affect the score, and lowering it often lowers DTI too.
Can I get a mortgage with a 50% DTI?
Sometimes. Conventional loans approved through automated underwriting can reach 50% with good credit and reserves, and FHA can allow high ratios with compensating factors, but options and rates narrow above 43%.
References
- What is a debt-to-income ratio? (Ask CFPB) — Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
- Selling Guide (debt-to-income ratios) — Fannie Mae
- Handbook 4000.1, FHA Single Family Housing Policy Handbook — US Department of Housing and Urban Development
About this calculator
- Built and reviewed by the Calculation Machine team · How we build and test calculators
- Last reviewed: October 24, 2026
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