Lending tools
Debt-to-Income (DTI) Calculator
Check your front-end and back-end DTI against the common 28/36 guideline and see how much payment room you still have.
How to use this DTI calculator
Enter your gross annual income, your expected monthly housing payment, and your other monthly debt payments. The calculator converts income to a monthly figure, then shows front-end DTI (housing only) and back-end DTI (housing plus other debts). It also estimates how much room remains under the 28% and 36% guidelines.
If housing DTI is high, compare a lower-priced home with the affordability calculator or refine the payment with the mortgage PITI calculator. If non-housing debts are the problem, paying down car loans or revolving balances can improve back-end DTI faster than changing the home price alone.
For deeper context, read debt-to-income ratio explained and how much house you can afford.
This is an estimate only and not financial advice. Lenders may use different DTI caps, count debts differently, or include other factors like credit score and reserves.
What your DTI numbers mean
Front-end DTI focuses on housing affordability. Back-end DTI shows overall payment stress after other installment and revolving debts. Lenders care about both because a borrower can look fine on housing alone while being stretched by car and student loans.
“Room left” figures show how much additional monthly payment would still fit under the selected guideline. They are planning tools—not promises of loan approval. Credit score, employment history, reserves, and property type can all change what a lender will accept.
DTI calculator FAQ
What is a good debt-to-income ratio?
Many conventional lending guidelines prefer housing costs near or below 28% of gross monthly income and total debts near or below 36%. Some loan programs allow higher ratios, but lower DTI usually means more approval flexibility.
What counts as housing payment in front-end DTI?
Typically rent or the full housing payment: principal, interest, property taxes, homeowners insurance, and sometimes HOA or mortgage insurance. Use the same figure you would put in a lender worksheet.
What counts in back-end DTI?
Back-end DTI usually includes housing plus recurring monthly debts such as auto loans, student loans, personal loans, and minimum credit card payments. Utilities and groceries are usually excluded.
Is DTI the same as affordability?
Related, but not identical. DTI measures payment burden versus income. Affordability tools also convert a payment budget into an estimated home price using rate, term, taxes, and insurance.
Can I still get a loan with higher DTI?
Possibly. Some FHA and other programs accept higher ratios with compensating factors. This calculator is an educational guideline check, not an approval decision.