Debt to Income Ratio Calculator

Enter monthly housing costs, debts, and gross income to estimate front-end and back-end DTI.

Last reviewed: June 2026
Built and maintained by · Last updated June 2026

Gross Monthly Income

$

Housing Costs (Front-End)

$
$

Other Monthly Debts (Back-End)

$
$
$
$
Back-End DTI (All Debts)
39.17%
$2,350 total monthly debt / $6,000 gross income
Excellent
Good
Fair
High
0%28%36%43%55%+
Fair - May qualify with compensating factors
Front-End DTI (Housing Only)
27.50%
$1,650 housing cost / $6,000 gross income
Mortgage / Rent $1,400
Property Tax + Insurance $250
Car Payment(s) $400
Student Loans $200
Credit Card Minimums $100
Other Debts $0
Total Monthly Debt $2,350

Mortgage Guideline Check

Simplified reference check based on the front-end and back-end DTI thresholds shown below.

Conventional
-
Back <=36%, Front <=28%
FHA
-
Back <=43%
VA
-
Back <=41%
USDA
-
Back <=41%

Quick Answer

Your debt-to-income (DTI) ratio is your total monthly debt payments divided by your gross monthly income, expressed as a percentage. For example, $2,000 in debt payments on $6,000 of monthly income is a 33% DTI. Enter your income and debts above to calculate your ratio. Lenders generally prefer a DTI below 36%, though limits vary by loan type.

Planning estimate: This calculator uses simplified DTI math and reference thresholds. It is not a mortgage approval, loan quote, or underwriting decision. Lenders may use different rules, automated underwriting, credit history, assets, residual income, and compensating factors.

What this debt-to-income calculator estimates

This debt-to-income calculator estimates two mortgage affordability ratios from the values you enter. The front-end DTI uses housing costs only: mortgage or rent plus the property tax and insurance field. The back-end DTI adds other monthly debts such as car payments, student loans, credit card minimums, and any other recurring debt you enter.

The formula is simple: monthly debt payments divided by gross monthly income, multiplied by 100. The CFPB describes DTI as one way lenders measure whether a borrower can manage the monthly payments needed to repay money they plan to borrow. This page keeps that math visible so you can see which payments drive the ratio.

How to use the fields

  • Gross monthly income: use income before taxes and deductions, but only income you expect a lender to count and verify.
  • Housing costs: include the proposed mortgage or rent and recurring taxes, insurance, HOA dues, or similar housing charges when you are modeling a home purchase.
  • Other debts: include required monthly loan payments, credit card minimums, court-ordered payments, and other recurring obligations.
  • Do not add normal living expenses: groceries, utilities, fuel, medical costs, and childcare are real budget items, but they are not usually entered as DTI debts unless a program specifically requires them.

Worked examples

With the default inputs, gross monthly income is $6,000, housing is $1,650, and total monthly debt is $2,350. The calculator reports a 27.50% front-end DTI and a 39.17% back-end DTI. That is above the simplified conventional back-end guide on this page, but within the FHA, VA, and USDA guide cards shown by the calculator.

If gross monthly income is $8,000, housing is $2,000, and the only other debt is a $200 credit card minimum, total debt is $2,200. The calculator reports a 25.00% front-end DTI and a 27.50% back-end DTI, which is within all four simplified guide cards.

How to interpret the guide cards

The guide cards are not approvals. Conventional, FHA, VA, and USDA underwriting can consider credit history, reserves, residual income, employment, assets, automated underwriting findings, and compensating factors. VA guidance treats DTI as secondary to residual income, and USDA guidance describes both a housing ratio and a total debt ratio. Use the cards as a quick screen, then confirm program rules with a lender or housing counselor.

Ways to lower DTI before applying

  • Pay down required monthly payments: lowering a credit card minimum or paying off a small installment loan can reduce back-end DTI.
  • Choose a lower housing payment: a smaller loan, lower rate, larger down payment, or lower insurance/tax burden can lower front-end and back-end DTI.
  • Use only verifiable income: a lender may ignore income that is irregular, undocumented, or unlikely to continue.
  • Check the budget, not just the threshold: a DTI that passes a guide can still feel too tight once utilities, food, transport, childcare, repairs, and savings are included.

Sources and further reading

For background, see the CFPB explanation of debt-to-income ratio and its overview of qualified mortgage repayment checks. For program-specific caveats, see USDA Rural Development's ratio analysis chapter and the VA Lenders Handbook resource page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Debt-to-income ratio is monthly debt payments divided by gross monthly income. This calculator shows a housing-only front-end DTI and an all-debt back-end DTI.
Include required monthly debt payments such as mortgage or rent, taxes and insurance if relevant, car loans, student loans, credit card minimums, court-ordered payments, and other recurring debts. Do not add everyday expenses such as groceries or utilities.
No. The guide cards are simplified threshold checks. Actual approval can depend on credit, assets, employment, loan type, automated underwriting, residual income, documentation, and lender overlays.
Front-end DTI uses housing costs only. Back-end DTI adds housing plus other monthly debts, so it is usually higher and is often the more important repayment-capacity number.

Debt-to-income calculator quick reference

Debt-to-income calculator outputs
OutputMeaning
Front-end DTIHousing costs divided by gross monthly income.
Back-end DTIHousing costs plus other monthly debts divided by gross monthly income.
Debt breakdownThe monthly payments included in the back-end DTI total.
Guide cardsSimplified threshold checks, not loan approvals.