Debt-to-Income Ratio Calculator
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Results
Back-end DTI 37.1% and front-end DTI 26.7% on $6,000 gross monthly income.
- Housing
- $1,600.00
- Car loans
- $350.00
- Student loans
- $200.00
- Credit card minimums
- $75.00
| Back-end limit | Where it comes from | Most debt payments allowed | Your room |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36% | Fannie Mae manual underwriting max | $2,160.00 | Over by $65.00 |
| 43% | Former QM cap (replaced in 2022) | $2,580.00 | $355.00 |
| 45% | Fannie Mae manual, with credit and reserves | $2,700.00 | $475.00 |
| 50% | Fannie Mae DU max | $3,000.00 | $775.00 |
Your back-end ratio is above 36%. To get under it, cut monthly debt payments by $65.00 or earn $181 more a month.
Lenders set their own rules for which income and debts count, and limits vary by loan program. Use this as an estimate and ask your lender for the ratio they calculate.
How to use the debt-to-income ratio calculator
- Enter gross monthly income (before tax) for you and any co-borrower, plus other regular income a lender would count.
- Enter your housing payment: rent, or the full mortgage payment including property tax, insurance, PMI and HOA dues. For a new loan, use the proposed payment.
- Add the monthly payments on car loans, student loans, credit cards (the minimum due) and other debts such as personal loans or child support.
- Keep the 28% and 36% guidelines or enter the limits your lender uses.
Debt-to-income ratio formula
Back-end DTI = (housing payment + all other monthly debt payments) ÷ gross monthly income × 100
The front-end (housing) ratio looks only at the home payment. The back-end (total) ratio adds every recurring debt payment and is the one most lenders focus on. Both use gross income, before tax and deductions. Everyday bills such as groceries, utilities, phone and insurance premiums that are not part of the housing payment are not debts, so they are left out.
Worked example
You earn $6,000 a month before tax. Your rent is $1,600, and you pay $350 on a car loan, $200 on student loans and a $75.00 card minimum. The front-end ratio is $1,600 ÷ $6,000 = 26.7%. Total debt payments are $2,225, so the back-end ratio is $2,225 ÷ $6,000 = 37.1%.
That is $65.00 a month above a 36% back-end limit. Paying off the $75.00 card minimum would bring you under it, or so would gross income of about $6,181 a month.
DTI limits lenders use
There is no single legal maximum for every loan. Limits depend on the loan program, how it is underwritten and the rest of your file. Some published figures:
- Fannie Mae (conventional loans): for manually underwritten loans, the maximum total DTI is 36% of stable monthly income, which can go up to 45% if the borrower meets the credit score and reserve requirements in Fannie Mae's eligibility matrix. For loans run through its Desktop Underwriter system, the maximum is 50%. Source: Fannie Mae Selling Guide B3-6-02, Debt-to-Income Ratios (topic dated April 2, 2025; checked October 2026).
- The 43% qualified-mortgage cap was removed. The CFPB's General QM rule used to require a DTI of no more than 43%. A December 2020 final rule replaced that limit with price-based thresholds (how the loan's APR compares with the average prime offer rate), with mandatory compliance from October 1, 2022. Lenders must still consider and verify your income and debts. Sources: CFPB General QM final rule and CFPB compliance date notice.
- FHA and other government loans have their own ratio rules (for FHA, in HUD Handbook 4000.1) that depend on how the loan is underwritten. Ask your lender which apply to you.
- 28/36: a commonly used rule of thumb that keeps housing at or below 28% of gross income and all debts at or below 36%. It is a guideline for a comfortable budget, not a lender requirement.
Most monthly debt payments by income
Total payments (housing plus other debts) that fit each back-end ratio, or housing alone for the 28% front-end guideline.
| Gross monthly income | 28% | 36% | 43% | 45% | 50% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $3,000 | $840 | $1,080 | $1,290 | $1,350 | $1,500 |
| $4,000 | $1,120 | $1,440 | $1,720 | $1,800 | $2,000 |
| $5,000 | $1,400 | $1,800 | $2,150 | $2,250 | $2,500 |
| $6,000 | $1,680 | $2,160 | $2,580 | $2,700 | $3,000 |
| $8,000 | $2,240 | $2,880 | $3,440 | $3,600 | $4,000 |
| $10,000 | $2,800 | $3,600 | $4,300 | $4,500 | $5,000 |
| $12,500 | $3,500 | $4,500 | $5,375 | $5,625 | $6,250 |
Ways to lower your DTI
- Pay off small balances. Clearing a card or a loan near its end removes the whole payment from the ratio.
- Avoid new debt before applying. A new car loan just before a mortgage application can push you over a limit.
- Consolidate carefully. A longer loan can lower the monthly payment and the ratio, but often costs more interest overall. Compare with the debt consolidation calculator.
- Count all income you can document. A co-borrower or regular, documented side income raises the denominator.
To turn your ratios into a price range, use the house affordability calculator. Renting? The rent calculator applies the same idea to a rent budget.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate my debt-to-income ratio?
Add up your monthly debt payments, including housing, divide by your gross monthly income and multiply by 100. With $6,000 of income, $1,600 rent and $625 of other payments, the back-end ratio is $2,225 ÷ $6,000 = 37.1% and the front-end (housing) ratio is 26.7%.
What is a good debt-to-income ratio?
Lower is better. A commonly used guideline is 28% for housing and 36% for all debts. Lender maximums can be higher: Fannie Mae allows up to 50% total DTI for loans run through its Desktop Underwriter system, and up to 36% (45% with strong credit and reserves) for manually underwritten loans.
Is there still a 43% DTI limit for mortgages?
Not for General qualified mortgages. The CFPB replaced the 43% DTI cap with price-based thresholds; compliance became mandatory on October 1, 2022. Lenders must still consider your income and debts, and many loan programs set their own limits.
Which debts count in DTI?
Recurring payments on debts: housing (rent or the full mortgage payment), car loans, student loans, credit card minimum payments, personal loans, and court-ordered payments such as child support. Utilities, groceries, phone bills and most insurance premiums are not counted.
Does DTI use gross or net income?
Gross income, before tax and deductions. At $6,000 a month gross, a 36% back-end limit allows $2,160 a month of total debt payments.