Debt-to-Income Calculator
Check your front-end and back-end DTI ratios to see how lenders will view your budget — and whether your numbers fit common mortgage approval limits.
🇺🇸 United StatesHow this debt-to-income calculator works
Debt-to-income (DTI) measures how much of your gross monthly income is committed to debt. Lenders use it as a quick read on whether you can comfortably take on a mortgage payment without overextending your budget — and it is one of the biggest factors in a mortgage approval.
Your front-end ratio looks at housing alone: your proposed monthly housing payment divided by your gross monthly income, expressed as a percentage. It answers a simple question — what share of your income would the home itself consume?
Your back-end ratio is broader and the one lenders weigh most. It adds your other monthly debts — car payments, student loans, and minimum credit card payments — to the housing payment, then divides by gross income. As a general guide, a back-end DTI at or below 36% is comfortable, 36–43% is acceptable for many loan programs, and above 43% may exceed the limits for some loans.
Use this to see where you stand before applying. If your ratio is high, paying down debt or trimming the target housing payment can move you into a stronger position. Actual approval also depends on your credit, reserves, and the specific loan program — a licensed loan officer can confirm the limits that apply to you.
Debt-to-income questions
DTI is the share of your gross monthly income that goes toward debt payments. Lenders use it to gauge how comfortably you can take on a mortgage. A lower DTI signals more room in your budget and generally makes approval easier.
Front-end DTI counts only your housing payment as a percentage of income. Back-end DTI counts your housing payment plus all other monthly debts — car loans, student loans, and credit card minimums. Lenders weigh the back-end ratio most heavily.
As a rough guide, a back-end DTI at or below 36% is comfortable, 36–43% is acceptable for many loan programs, and above 43% may exceed limits for some loans. Stronger credit, reserves, and certain programs can allow higher ratios, but lower is generally safer.
You can pay down or pay off existing debts, increase your gross income, or choose a smaller housing payment with a larger down payment or longer term. Even small reductions in monthly debt can move your ratio into a more favorable range.
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