Debt-to-Income Ratio Calculator — Check Your DTI
Lenders check your debt-to-income ratio (DTI) before approving a mortgage, car loan, or personal loan. This free DTI calculator adds up your monthly debt payments, divides them by your gross monthly income, and shows both ratios lenders use: front-end DTI for housing costs alone and back-end DTI for all debts. It also shows how much room you have before the common 36% and 43% limits. Everything is calculated in your browser, and nothing you enter is stored or sent anywhere.
How DTI is calculated
DTI = total monthly debt payments ÷ gross monthly income × 100. Use income before taxes and deductions, and count required payments only: rent or your full mortgage payment, loan installments, minimum credit card payments, and court-ordered support. Groceries, utilities, phone plans, and subscriptions are not part of DTI.
Example: gross income is $6,000 a month. Rent is $1,500, a car payment $400, student loans $250, and card minimums $150. Front-end DTI is $1,500 ÷ $6,000 = 25%, and back-end DTI is $2,300 ÷ $6,000 = 38.3%.
Typical DTI limits by loan type
| Loan type | Typical maximum back-end DTI |
|---|---|
| Conventional mortgage | 36% preferred; up to 45–50% with strong credit and savings |
| FHA mortgage | 43%, sometimes higher with compensating factors |
| VA mortgage | 41% guideline, together with a residual income test |
| USDA mortgage | 29% front-end and 41% back-end |
| Auto and personal loans | Varies by lender; under 36% usually gets the best offers |
If your ratio is high, the debt payoff calculator shows which balances to clear first, and the home affordability calculator turns your DTI into a realistic home price.
How to use Debt-to-Income Calculator
- Enter your gross income before taxes, per month or per year.
- Add your rent or full mortgage payment, including property tax, insurance, and HOA dues.
- Enter the minimum monthly payment for your car, student, and personal loans and credit cards.
- Read your back-end and front-end DTI and the rating against common lender limits.
- Check how much monthly debt you could add before reaching 36% or 43%.
Features
- Front-end and back-end DTI — See the housing ratio and the total debt ratio that mortgage lenders review.
- Clear rating — Your ratio is labeled good, manageable, high, or very high against common lending guidelines.
- Room to borrow — Find the extra monthly payment you could take on before 36% and 43%, or the income that would bring you to 36%.
- Private — Your figures stay in your browser; nothing is saved or uploaded.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a good debt-to-income ratio?
Below 36% is generally considered good, ideally with no more than 28% going to housing. Between 36% and 43% most lenders still approve mortgages, with less flexibility. Above 43% the options narrow to programs such as FHA loans with strong compensating factors, and above 50% most lenders decline new credit.
Do lenders use gross or net income for DTI?
Gross income: your pay before taxes, retirement contributions, and health insurance come out. Self-employed borrowers usually use net business income from tax returns, often averaged over two years. Using take-home pay makes your ratio look higher than a lender will calculate it.
Which debts count toward DTI?
Recurring required payments: mortgage or rent, car loans, student loans, personal loans, minimum credit card payments, and child support or alimony. Utilities, groceries, phone bills, and subscriptions do not count. When you apply for a mortgage, the lender replaces your current rent with the new mortgage payment, including property tax and insurance.
How can I lower my debt-to-income ratio quickly?
Pay off small loans completely, since each one removes its whole monthly payment, and pay credit cards down to lower their minimums. Avoid new financing before you apply, ask about refinancing to reduce payments, and include all eligible income, such as regular bonuses or a co-borrower's salary.