Debt-to-Income Ratio Calculator
Enter your income and monthly obligations to calculate your front-end and back-end DTI ratios. Color-coded results instantly show whether your debt load meets typical lender guidelines.
How it works
Front-end DTI = housing payment / gross monthly income. Back-end DTI = (housing + all other monthly debts) / gross monthly income. Results under 36% are rated healthy, 36–43% are borderline, and over 43% are high. These thresholds match conventional mortgage underwriting guidelines used by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between front-end and back-end DTI?
Front-end DTI (also called the housing ratio) is your monthly housing payment divided by gross monthly income. Back-end DTI includes all monthly debt payments — housing, auto, student loans, credit card minimums, and any other installment obligations — divided by income. Lenders evaluate both.
What DTI do I need to qualify for a mortgage?
Conventional loans typically require a back-end DTI of 36–43%. FHA loans can accept up to 50% with compensating factors (large down payment, strong credit). VA loans have no official cap but lenders generally apply a 41% guideline. The lower your DTI, the better your rate and approval odds.
What counts as monthly debt?
Lenders count: housing payment (PITI), minimum credit card payments, auto loan payments, student loan payments, personal loan payments, and any other required monthly installment or revolving debt payment. They do not count utilities, groceries, insurance premiums, or 401(k) contributions.
How can I lower my DTI quickly?
Two levers: increase income or reduce debt payments. Paying off a small credit card balance eliminates its minimum payment immediately. Requesting a credit limit increase (without more spending) reduces utilization but not minimum payment. Refinancing high-rate debt at a lower rate reduces monthly payments. Generating additional income — freelance work, rental income — raises the denominator.