Debt-to-Income (DTI) Ratio Calculator
Enter your total monthly debt payments and gross monthly income to calculate your debt-to-income (DTI) ratio.
Last updated: September 5, 2026
Frequently asked questions
How is debt-to-income (DTI) ratio calculated?
Divide your total monthly debt payments (loans, credit cards, etc.) by your gross (pre-tax) monthly income, then multiply by 100. $1,800 in monthly debt on $6,000 gross monthly income gives a DTI of 30%.
What counts as 'debt' in a DTI calculation?
Recurring debt obligations like mortgage or rent, car loans, student loans, minimum credit card payments, and other loan payments - it does not include everyday living expenses like groceries, utilities, or insurance, which aren't counted as "debt" for DTI purposes.
What's a good DTI ratio?
Many conventional mortgage lenders look favorably on a DTI of 36% or below, with some programs allowing up to 43-50% depending on other factors - but exact thresholds vary significantly by loan type and lender, so this is a general reference, not a guarantee of approval.
Does rent count as debt in the DTI calculation if I don't own a home yet?
For a mortgage application, yes - rent (or your prospective mortgage payment) is typically included as part of housing costs in the DTI calculation, since lenders want to see your total recurring housing-plus-debt burden relative to income, not just non-housing debts.
Front-end DTI versus back-end DTI - what's the difference?
Front-end DTI includes only housing costs (mortgage, taxes, insurance) divided by gross income. Back-end DTI includes housing costs plus all other recurring debt payments divided by gross income - this calculator computes the back-end version, using whatever total monthly debt figure you enter.
If my gross monthly income is $5,000 and I want a DTI under 36%, what's my max total debt payment?
36% of $5,000 is $1,800 - so keeping all recurring monthly debt payments (including housing) at or below $1,800 would keep your DTI at or under that commonly cited threshold.