GDS / TDS Calculator
Check your Gross and Total Debt Service ratios in seconds — the two numbers Canadian lenders use to decide how much mortgage you qualify for.
🇨🇦 CanadaHow this GDS / TDS calculator works
Canadian lenders measure affordability with two debt-service ratios. The Gross Debt Service (GDS) ratio is your monthly housing costs divided by your gross monthly income. Housing costs are your mortgage payment, property tax, heating, and 50% of any condo or strata fees. This calculator sums those four items, divides by your income, and shows the result as a percentage.
The Total Debt Service (TDS) ratio adds all your other monthly debt payments — car loans, credit cards, lines of credit, student loans — to your housing costs, then divides by income. Because it captures every obligation, TDS is always equal to or higher than GDS and gives lenders the fuller picture of your monthly commitments.
Most lenders look for a GDS at or below 39% and a TDS at or below 44%. Staying under both thresholds signals that you can comfortably carry the mortgage. If either ratio exceeds its limit, you may need a larger down payment, a less expensive home, or to pay down other debts before applying. This tool flags whether you are inside or outside those typical limits.
Use this as a planning tool. Individual lenders apply their own overlays, insured mortgages through CMHC use firmer caps, and your approved figures depend on credit, employment, and the lender's stress-test rate. When you are ready, speak with a licensed Canadian mortgage professional for an accurate assessment.
Debt-service ratio questions
GDS (Gross Debt Service) measures the share of your gross monthly income that goes to housing costs — mortgage payment, property tax, heating, and half of any condo/strata fees. TDS (Total Debt Service) adds all your other monthly debt payments on top. Canadian lenders use both to decide how much you can borrow.
Most Canadian lenders look for a GDS at or below 39% and a TDS at or below 44%. Some lenders allow higher ratios for strong applicants, while insured mortgages through CMHC apply firmer caps. Staying under these thresholds improves your odds of approval.
Lenders include just half of your monthly condo or strata fees in the housing-cost portion of the GDS and TDS calculation. This is a standard Canadian convention because part of those fees covers reserves and services rather than core shelter costs.
Other debts include car loans and leases, credit card minimum payments, lines of credit, student loans, and any other recurring obligations. These are added to your housing costs to produce the TDS ratio, which gives lenders a complete view of your monthly commitments.
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