WorthCalc

Debt-to-Income (DTI) Ratio Calculator

Example values are editable illustrations, not market averages or recommendations.

Basic inputs

Advanced inputs
Advanced inputs

Results

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Front-end DTI—

Back-end DTI—

Included other debt—

Income after listed payments—

Gap to illustration—

Assumptions used

    Methodology and Limitations

    Last updated: 2026-07-31

    Estimate disclaimer: Educational scenario estimate only; verify current contracts, rates, taxes and official rules before acting.

    Enter your gross monthly income and your recurring debt payments to get both the front-end ratio (housing only) and back-end ratio (all debts) that U.S. lenders check before approving a mortgage, auto loan, or refinance.

    Before you enter numbers

    Pull your latest pay stub for gross income and your most recent statements for every debt’s minimum payment — not the full balance. Underwriters generally count credit cards, auto loans, student loans, personal loans, and support obligations, and generally exclude utilities, subscriptions, and non-housing insurance.

    Formula

    front-end DTI = housing payment ÷ gross monthly income back-end DTI = all recurring debt payments ÷ gross monthly income

    The calculator keeps full precision internally and only rounds the number you see, so the “what changes if I pay off this loan” comparison stays accurate to the cent.

    Worked example

    $8,000 gross monthly income, a $2,000 housing payment, and $400 in other minimums produce a 25% front-end ratio and a 30% back-end ratio. Clearing a $150 auto payment entirely drops back-end DTI to roughly 28.1% — try the “load example” button, then remove one line to see the effect on your own numbers.

    How this compares to lender benchmarks

    FHA underwriting commonly targets 31% front-end / 43% back-end, with documented exceptions running higher. Conventional automated underwriting commonly tolerates back-end DTI up to about 45%, and VA loans have no statutory cap but typically use 41% as a guideline. None of these are guarantees — see the companion article for the current sourcing and the compensating factors that let real applications exceed them.

    Limits and privacy

    This tool provides a general educational estimate, not individualized financial, tax, legal, or lending advice, and it does not predict whether a specific application will be approved. It does not display “approved,” “guaranteed,” or similar claims — any threshold shown is labeled as a dated public benchmark, not a promise.

    The calculation runs in your browser. Do not put account numbers, names, or other identifying information into a shareable link.

    Read How to Calculate DTI (And Why 43% Isn’t a Hard Cutoff Anymore) for the full FHA/VA/conventional comparison, the 2021 rule change that replaced the hard 43% cap, and three ways to lower your ratio before you apply.

    Frequently asked questions

    Should income be gross or net?

    Gross. Nearly every published DTI benchmark — FHA, VA, conventional — is built on gross monthly income, so that is the number to compare against.

    Does rent I pay count as a debt?

    Not in a lender’s DTI calculation once you’re the buyer — it’s replaced by the proposed new housing payment. For personal budgeting, some people track it as an expense instead.

    Does a credit card balance count, or the minimum payment?

    The minimum payment. Entering the full balance is one of the most common calculation errors and can overstate your ratio significantly.

    Can I exclude a debt someone else pays?

    Sometimes, with 12 months of documented payment history from the other party — ask your lender whether your specific program allows it.

    Is a DTI under 43% enough to get approved?

    No. Credit history, assets, appraisal, and program rules also matter; DTI is one input among several.

    Sources

    This tool runs entirely in your browser. Your input never leaves your device.