Debt-to-Income Ratio Calculator
Compute your front-end and back-end debt-to-income ratio to see how lenders will view your application for a mortgage or loan.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is debt-to-income ratio?
Your total monthly debt payments divided by gross monthly income, as a percentage. Lenders use it to judge how much new debt you can handle.
What DTI do lenders want?
Generally under 36%, with 43% a common maximum for qualified mortgages. Lower is better; under 36% is considered healthy.
Front-end vs back-end?
Front-end counts only housing costs against income; back-end counts all monthly debts. Lenders look mainly at the back-end ratio.
Understanding the Debt-to-Income Ratio Calculator
This calculator finds your debt-to-income (DTI) ratio, the share of your gross monthly income that goes to monthly debt payments. Lenders use DTI to judge whether you can comfortably take on a new loan, so it matters for mortgage, auto, and personal loan applications. Enter your total monthly debt payments and your gross monthly income to get your back-end ratio as a percentage; add your projected housing payment to see the front-end ratio. Results are educational estimates to help you understand your standing. Actual approval depends on each lender's guidelines, your credit, and the loan program.
How it works
DTI divides your recurring monthly debt by your gross (pre-tax) monthly income, expressed as a percentage. The back-end (total) ratio counts all debt obligations: housing, minimum credit-card payments, auto and student loans, and other installment debt. The front-end (housing) ratio counts only housing costs. Typically excluded are utilities, groceries, insurance, and taxes, since they are living expenses rather than debt. Lower is better. As a rough guide, many lenders prefer a back-end DTI at or below 36%, conventional mortgages often allow up to about 43%, and some programs stretch higher with compensating factors. Read your result against the target for the loan you want, not as a pass or fail.
Worked example
Say your gross monthly income is $6,000. Your debts are a $1,500 mortgage, a $100 auto loan, and $400 in other minimum payments, totaling $2,000. Your back-end DTI is $2,000 / $6,000 = 0.333, or about 33%, which sits under the common 36% preference and well within the 43% mortgage benchmark. The front-end (housing-only) ratio is $1,500 / $6,000 = 25%. Both ratios suggest room in the budget, though a lender weighs credit and reserves too.
Tips & common mistakes
- Use gross (pre-tax) income, as the CFPB defines DTI on income before taxes and deductions.
- Include only debt payments; leave out utilities, groceries, insurance premiums, and taxes.
- Use minimum required payments for revolving debt like credit cards, not the full balance.
- Lowering DTI by paying down a small balance or boosting income can improve approval odds more than you expect.
- The 43% figure is a common benchmark, not a universal rule; CFPB's General QM standard now uses price-based thresholds and limits vary by lender and program.
Sources & methodology
- • Consumer Financial Protection Bureau — What is a debt-to-income ratio? (https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/what-is-a-debt-to-income-ratio-en-1791/)
- • CFPB — Qualified Mortgage / Ability-to-Repay General QM Final Rule (https://www.consumerfinance.gov/rules-policy/rules-under-development/qualified-mortgage-definition-under-truth-lending-act-general-qm-loan-definition/)
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Reviewed by the TopOpenTools editorial team · Last updated June 2026. These tools provide general estimates for educational purposes only and are not financial, tax, insurance, investment, or medical advice. Verify important decisions with a qualified professional.