Debt-to-Income (DTI) Ratio Calculator
This debt-to-income (DTI) calculator shows what percentage of your gross monthly income goes toward debt payments — a number lenders use heavily when deciding how much you can borrow for a mortgage or loan. Enter your income and debt payments to see your ratio and how it compares to common lending thresholds.
Your income before tax and deductions.
Minimum payments on all debts: mortgage or rent, car loans, student loans, credit cards, personal loans.
Debt-to-income ratio
29.09%
Your total monthly debt payments as a percentage of your gross monthly income.
How to use this debt-to-income (dti) calculator
- 1Gross monthly income: your income before tax — the same figure lenders use.
- 2Total monthly debt payments: add up every minimum payment — mortgage or rent, auto loans, student loans, credit cards, personal loans. Don't include everyday expenses like groceries or utilities; DTI is about debt specifically.
Understanding your results
Your DTI ratio is the single number most mortgage lenders check first. Under 36% is generally considered healthy, 36-43% is workable but tighter, and above 43% starts to shut doors with many conventional lenders — though limits vary by loan type and lender. Income after debt payments shows what's left for everything else: housing costs (if not already included), savings, and daily spending.
The formula
DTI = (Total monthly debt payments ÷ Gross monthly income) × 100The calculation is a straight percentage — no compounding, no time dependency. Lenders typically split this into a 'front-end' ratio (housing costs only) and a 'back-end' ratio (all debt, including housing) — this calculator computes the back-end ratio, the one most often used as the headline qualifying number.
A worked example
A $5,500 gross monthly income with $1,600 in total monthly debt payments (mortgage, car loan, one credit card) gives a DTI of about 29% — comfortably inside the 'healthy' range most lenders look for, leaving $3,900 a month for everything else.
Notes for the UK, US and India
DTI thresholds vary by loan type: many conventional mortgages cap around 43-45%, FHA loans in the US can go higher with compensating factors, and personal-loan or auto-loan lenders often set their own, sometimes stricter, limits. A low DTI also matters beyond loan approval — it's a genuine signal of how much breathing room you actually have each month.
Frequently asked questions
Does DTI include my rent or mortgage payment?+
Yes — housing costs (rent, or mortgage principal, interest, taxes and insurance) count as a debt payment in the standard 'back-end' DTI calculation this calculator uses.
What's a 'good' DTI ratio?+
Below 36% is generally seen as healthy by most lenders. 36-43% is still workable for many loan types but leaves less room to qualify for the best rates. Above 43% starts to limit options with conventional lenders, though this varies by loan program.
Does a high DTI hurt my credit score?+
No — DTI isn't a factor in your credit score itself, but it directly affects whether lenders will approve you for new credit and at what rate, independent of your score.