Debt-to-Income Calculator

DTI is the share of your gross monthly income that goes toward debt payments. Lenders use it to gauge how much new debt you can reasonably take on. Lower DTI generally means more room to borrow at favorable terms.

Front-end DTI counts housing only (mortgage or rent). Back-end DTI counts housing plus every other monthly debt payment (cars, credit cards, student loans, personal loans). Mortgage underwriters typically look at both.

Common back-end thresholds: 36% or less is conservative, up to 43% is the Qualified Mortgage limit for many conventional loans, and some loan programs (FHA, VA) allow higher with compensating factors. Front-end is often capped around 28 to 31% depending on the loan. This calculator does not represent a loan offer.

Recurring monthly obligations: mortgage or rent, car loans/leases, credit card minimum payments, student loans, personal loans, child support and alimony, and similar. Insurance premiums, utilities, groceries, and discretionary spending generally do not count toward DTI.

Pay down high-balance debts (especially credit cards), avoid taking on new debt before a mortgage application, refinance to lower payments, or increase income. Even a few hundred dollars off monthly debt payments can shift DTI by a percentage point.

Gross income (before taxes and deductions). Lenders calculate DTI on gross income because tax and deduction situations vary so widely. Your take-home pay is what funds the payments in practice, so high taxes or benefit costs can make a borderline DTI feel tighter than the number suggests.