Debt-to-Income Ratio Calculator
Enter your gross monthly income, your housing payment, and your other monthly debt payments to see the front-end and back-end debt-to-income (DTI) ratios lenders use to qualify you.
Enter your income and debts
Your total monthly income before taxes and deductions.
Rent or mortgage plus property tax, insurance, and any HOA dues.
Non-housing debts: car loans, student loans, and minimum credit card payments. Use 0 if none.
Many lenders look for a back-end ratio at or below 36%.
- Housing (front-end) ratio
- 22.50%
- Total monthly debt
- $2,500.00
- Max debts at 36%
- $2,880.00
- Max debts at 43%
- $3,440.00
How the debt-to-income ratio is calculated
Your debt-to-income ratio divides your monthly debt obligations by your gross monthly income. The back-end ratio counts every debt, including housing; the front-end ratio counts housing only. Lenders use both to judge how much of your income is already committed before approving new credit.
Back-end DTI % = ((Housing + Other debts) / Gross monthly income) × 100Front-end DTI % = (Housing / Gross monthly income) × 100- Housing
- Rent or mortgage, taxes, insurance, HOA
- Other debts
- Car, student, and card minimum payments
- Gross monthly income
- Income before taxes and deductions
The results also show the total dollars of debt that would keep you at a 36% and a 43% back-end ratio, two thresholds lenders commonly reference when reviewing an application.
$8,000 income with $1,800 housing and $700 other debts
Suppose your gross monthly income is $8,000, your housing payment is $1,800, and your other monthly debt payments total $700. Total monthly debt is $2,500, so the back-end ratio is 31.25% and the front-end (housing) ratio is 22.5%.
At a 36% back-end ratio you could carry up to $2,880 in total monthly debt, and at 43% up to $3,440. This example sits below the 36% guideline that many lenders look for.
What this calculator assumes
- Income is gross (before taxes and deductions), matching how lenders typically calculate DTI.
- Housing includes rent or mortgage principal and interest plus property tax, insurance, and any HOA dues.
- Other debts are recurring minimum payments, not one-off or variable expenses such as groceries or utilities.
- The 36% and 43% thresholds are common lender guidelines, not guarantees of approval.
- Money values are rounded to the nearest cent for display.
Debt-to-income FAQ
What’s the difference between front-end and back-end DTI?
The front-end ratio measures only your housing payment against your gross monthly income. The back-end ratio measures all of your monthly debt, including housing, against that same income. Lenders usually weigh the back-end ratio most heavily.
What is considered a good DTI ratio?
Many lenders look for a back-end ratio at or below 36%, and some qualified mortgages allow up to 43% or higher with compensating factors. A lower ratio generally leaves more room in your budget and can improve loan terms.
Sources and review notes
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau — What is a debt-to-income ratio?
- Financial Consumer Agency of Canada — Understanding your debt
Methodology last checked Jul 14, 2026. Ratio calculations are covered by deterministic unit tests. No financial professional review is claimed yet.