Debt-to-Income (DTI) Ratio Calculator
DTI is the first number a mortgage underwriter checks. Front-end DTI covers housing costs alone; back-end adds every other monthly debt. Calculate both and see how lenders will read your application.
Car, student loans, credit card minimums, personal loans.
- Front-end DTI (housing)
- 25.0%
How this calculator works
- Front-end DTI = housing ÷ gross monthly income. Back-end DTI = (housing + all debt payments) ÷ income. Lenders use gross (pre-tax) income and minimum required payments, not what you actually pay.
- Guidelines: conventional loans like ≤28%/36%, allow up to ~45–50% with strong compensating factors; FHA commonly approves up to 31%/43% and beyond.
Frequently asked questions
What DTI do I need for a mortgage?
Under 36% back-end is comfortable, 36–43% is approvable, 43–50% needs compensating strengths (reserves, credit), and above 50% is rarely approved.
What counts as debt in DTI?
Loan and card minimum payments, alimony/child support, and the new mortgage itself. Utilities, insurance premiums (non-escrowed), groceries, and phone bills do not count.
How do I lower my DTI fast?
Pay off small installment loans entirely (removes the whole payment), pay cards below reporting thresholds, or add documentable income — each moves the ratio within one or two statement cycles.
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Disclaimer: Results are estimates for educational purposes only and are not tax, legal, or financial advice. Tax rules are simplified (credits, phase-outs, and local taxes may not be modeled). Verify important decisions with the IRS, your state tax authority, or a licensed professional.