Debt-to-Income Ratio Calculator

DTI = total monthly debt payments ÷ gross monthly income. Include mortgage or rent (for housing-only "front-end" DTI), plus auto loans, student loans, credit card minimums, child support, and any other recurring debt. If you pay $2,000 in debts on $7,000 gross income, your DTI is 28.6%.

Conventional loans typically cap total DTI at 43%–45%; FHA loans allow up to 50%–57% with compensating factors (high credit score, large reserves). The "ideal" DTI is 36% or below - the threshold for the best rates and easiest approval. Front-end (housing-only) DTI is typically capped at 28%–31%.

Pay down or pay off debts (especially small balances that disappear entirely), increase income (raise, side hustle), or delay major loans. Even paying off a $300/month car loan can move DTI by 4 percentage points on a $7,500 monthly income - sometimes enough to qualify for a larger mortgage.

Yes - auto lenders, personal loan providers, and even some landlords check DTI. Credit cards rely more on credit utilization and credit score than DTI directly. Lower DTI broadly means easier credit approval and better rates across all loan types.