Debt-to-income calculator
Check your DTI ratio against the guidelines lenders actually use before you apply.
This is comfortably within what most conventional lenders want to see (36% or under). You're in a strong position to qualify.
How this is calculated
Back-end DTI = (all monthly debts + proposed housing payment) ÷ gross monthly income. Front-end DTI looks at housing alone. Lenders use both: front-end to judge whether the housing payment itself is reasonable, and back-end to judge your overall debt load. Conventional loans typically want back-end DTI at or under 36%, FHA loans allow up to 43% with compensating factors, and some programs stretch to 50% for strong borrowers.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good debt-to-income ratio?
36% or under (back-end) is considered strong by most conventional lenders. Up to 43% is workable for many loan programs, including FHA. Above 50% makes qualifying difficult without a large down payment or other compensating factors.
What counts as debt in a DTI calculation?
Recurring monthly obligations: car loans, student loans, minimum credit card payments, personal loans, child support or alimony, and your proposed housing payment. It does not include everyday expenses like groceries, utilities, or insurance premiums.
How is DTI different from credit score?
DTI measures how much of your income is already committed to debt payments. Credit score measures your payment history and credit behavior. Lenders check both — a great score with high DTI, or a strong DTI with a weak score, can each cause approval issues.
How can I lower my DTI before applying for a mortgage?
Pay down or pay off existing debts (especially high-minimum-payment ones like auto loans), avoid taking on new debt before applying, or increase income. Paying off a single large monthly obligation, like a car payment, often moves DTI more than several smaller payments.