Debt-to-Income Ratio Calculator
Calculate your front-end and back-end DTI ratios and see where you land against conventional, FHA, and jumbo lender thresholds. The fastest way to gauge whether a mortgage is likely to be approved before you apply.
How to Use
- Enter your gross monthly income (before taxes and deductions).
- Enter your total monthly housing payment — principal, interest, taxes, and insurance (PITI), plus HOA dues if any.
- Enter your other recurring monthly debt: car loans, student loans, minimum credit-card payments, and similar.
- Read the front-end ratio (housing ÷ income) and back-end ratio (all debt ÷ income).
- Compare both ratios to the lender thresholds shown to see which loan programs you likely qualify for.
Show Work
Lender thresholds
About the Debt-to-Income Ratio Calculator
Need a hand with personal-finance and money decisions? The Debt-to-Income Ratio Calculator does the work for you — free, and right here in your browser. Calculate your front-end and back-end DTI ratios and see where you land against conventional, FHA, and jumbo lender thresholds. The fastest way to gauge whether a mortgage is likely to be approved before you apply.
How it works
Type your numbers into the boxes. The answer shows up right away — you do not have to press a button. If you change a number, the answer changes too. So you can try different numbers and watch what happens, or check an answer you worked out yourself. Just make sure each box has the right kind of number in it.
Want the deeper story? The Knowledge Base explains the ideas behind the tools in more detail.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between front-end and back-end DTI?
Front-end DTI counts only your housing payment (PITI plus HOA) against gross income. Back-end DTI adds every other recurring debt — car loans, student loans, minimum credit-card payments — on top of housing. Lenders care most about the back-end ratio, but some programs cap both.
What DTI do lenders want to see?
Conventional loans typically target a back-end ratio of 36% or less (front-end around 28%), though automated underwriting may stretch to 45–50% with strong credit and reserves. FHA is more lenient, often allowing roughly 31% front-end and 43% back-end, sometimes higher with compensating factors. Jumbo loans usually want 45% or lower.
Does DTI use gross or net income?
Lenders use gross monthly income — your pay before taxes, retirement contributions, and other deductions. That is why your DTI can look comfortable on paper while your take-home budget feels tight, since the ratio ignores taxes. Build your real spending plan around net pay, not the DTI figure.
What counts as debt in the back-end ratio?
Recurring obligations that show on your credit report or are legally required: mortgage or rent, auto loans, student loans, minimum credit-card payments, personal loans, and court-ordered payments like child support or alimony. Utilities, groceries, insurance premiums, and other day-to-day expenses are generally not counted.
How can I lower my DTI before applying?
Pay down or pay off small installment loans and high credit-card balances to remove their monthly payments from the ratio, avoid taking on new debt, and consider a larger down payment to shrink the housing payment. Increasing documentable income (a raise, a side income with a track record) also helps. Even a few percentage points can move you into a better loan program.
How do I use the Debt-to-Income Ratio Calculator?
Just type your numbers. The answer shows up right away — there is no button to press. Change anything and it updates by itself.
Is it free? Does it work without internet?
Yes to both. It is free with no sign-up, and once the page has loaded it keeps working even with no internet.
Where does my data go?
Nowhere — every calculation runs on your own device. Nothing you enter is uploaded, logged, or stored.
Common Use Cases
Pre-qualifying for a mortgage
Check whether your ratios clear conventional or FHA thresholds before paying for a formal pre-approval.
Deciding how much house to buy
Test different PITI figures to find the housing payment that keeps your back-end DTI in a comfortable range.
Planning a debt paydown
See how clearing a car loan or credit-card balance drops your back-end ratio and improves approval odds.
Comparing loan programs
Match your numbers against conventional, FHA, and jumbo limits to see which path fits without a stretch.
Refinance readiness check
Confirm your DTI still qualifies before applying to refinance, since underwriters re-run the ratio each time.
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