Debt-to-Income Ratio Calculator
Measure your monthly debt payments against gross income: the ratio mortgage lenders use.
About the Debt-to-Income Ratio Calculator
Enter your gross monthly income, your housing payment and other monthly debt payments. The calculator gives the front-end (housing) and back-end (all debts) ratios lenders use.
Debt-to-income (DTI) compares what you owe each month with what you earn before tax. Lenders often look for a back-end DTI of 36% or less and a front-end (housing) ratio near 28%; many conventional mortgages allow up to 43–50%, and the CFPB uses 43% as a common reference point.
The formula
DTI = monthly debt payments ÷ gross monthly income × 100
Worked example
Income 6,000 a month; housing 1,600; other debts 600
- Front-end: 1,600 ÷ 6,000 = 26.7%
- Back-end: 2,200 ÷ 6,000 = 36.7%
- Many lenders still approve between 36% and 43%
Questions people ask
What counts as debt?
Housing, car and student loans, card minimums, personal loans and child support; not utilities or groceries.
How can I lower it?
Pay down balances, avoid new loans, or increase income.