Debt-to-Income Ratio Calculator

Calculate your DTI ratio to see how lenders view your debt load.

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Result

Fill in the fields above, then press Calculate.

The Debt-to-Income (DTI) Calculator shows what percentage of your gross income goes to debt payments. Lenders use DTI as a key qualification metric for mortgages, auto loans, and other credit. Calculate both front-end DTI (housing only) and back-end DTI (all debts) to understand your debt load and borrowing capacity.

Enter your gross monthly income and all recurring monthly debt payments. Click Calculate to see your front-end DTI (housing only) and back-end DTI (all debts), along with a qualification assessment for mortgage lending.

Examples

Homebuyer with a $6,500 Monthly Income

You earn $6,500/month gross. Your housing costs are $1,600 (mortgage, taxes, insurance) and other debts are $450 (car loan $350, student loan $100). Your front-end DTI is 24.6% ($1,600 / $6,500) and back-end DTI is 31.5% ($2,050 / $6,500). Both are within the conventional loan limits of 28% and 36%.

High Debt-to-Income Warning

You earn $4,800/month gross with a proposed housing payment of $1,500, a car payment of $400, credit card minimums of $200, and a personal loan of $150. Your front-end DTI is 31.3% and back-end DTI is 46.9% ($2,250 / $4,800). The back-end ratio exceeds the 43% maximum for most qualified mortgages, signaling you may need to reduce debt first.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a good debt-to-income ratio?
Most lenders prefer a back-end DTI of 36% or less. The FHA allows up to 43%, and some programs may go to 50%. A front-end DTI under 28% is generally recommended.
What is the difference between front-end and back-end DTI?
Front-end DTI only considers housing costs (mortgage/rent, taxes, insurance). Back-end DTI includes all recurring debt obligations such as car loans, student loans, and credit card minimums.
Does DTI affect my credit score?
DTI itself does not directly affect your credit score, but lenders use it alongside your credit score to evaluate loan applications. High DTI can result in loan denial regardless of credit score.
Related Calculators
Mortgage Calculator
House Affordability Calculator
Debt Payoff Calculator
Budget Calculator

Quick Tips

  • •Keep your back-end DTI under 36% for conventional lending and under 43% for FHA lending to qualify for mortgages.
  • •Paying down credit card balances (which reduce minimum payments) improves your DTI faster than paying off car loans.
  • •Your DTI improves when income increases (promotion, raise) or debts decrease (pay off loans) - focus on both.
  • •Before applying for a mortgage, consider paying down or eliminating high-minimum debts to lower your DTI.
  • •Lenders calculate DTI multiple ways; check with multiple lenders as DTI calculations may vary slightly.