Debt
Debt-to-Income Ratio Calculator
Calculate your front-end and back-end debt-to-income ratios to see how lenders are likely to view your monthly obligations.
Enter your gross monthly income, housing payment, and other debt payments to see the ratios lenders use to judge how much room is left in your budget.
Debt
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Scenario presets
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Example
A $7,000 monthly income with $1,800 housing and $600 other debt gives a back-end DTI around 34%, which most lenders view as healthy.
Results
Back-end DTI
34.3%
Front-end DTI
25.7%
Lender view
Healthy
Projection
Distribution view
No timeline is available for the current inputs.
Milestones
Decision cues
Breakdown
Cost mix
Result reading
DTI uses gross (pre-tax) income and required debt payments only. Everyday spending like groceries and utilities is not counted.
Planning cue
Use the output as a scenario test rather than a promise. Small input changes can materially change the result.
DTI uses gross (pre-tax) income and required debt payments only. Everyday spending like groceries and utilities is not counted.
How it works
What the result is showing you
These sections explain what the calculator measures, which assumptions matter most, and where the number can be misleading.
Front-end versus back-end DTI
Front-end DTI is your housing payment divided by gross monthly income. Back-end DTI adds all other required debt payments. Lenders care most about the back-end number because it captures your full monthly obligation.
The guidelines lenders use
A common benchmark keeps back-end DTI at or below 36%, though many mortgage programs allow up to 43% or higher with strong credit and reserves. Lower is safer and usually unlocks better terms.
Lowering your ratio
Because DTI is a ratio, you can improve it by raising income or by reducing the monthly payments that count against it. Paying off a small loan often helps more than its size suggests, since it removes the whole monthly payment.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Quick answers to the questions people ask most about this calculator.
What is a good debt-to-income ratio?
Many lenders look for a back-end DTI at or below 36%. Some mortgage programs allow up to 43% or more, but a lower ratio generally means easier approval and better rates.
What counts as debt in DTI?
Required monthly payments like rent or mortgage, auto loans, student loans, minimum credit card payments, and other installment loans. Everyday expenses like groceries and utilities are not included.
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