Debt-to-Income Calculator
The labels describe common teaching ranges. They are not a lender's approval or denial.
Published by the Mortgage Guide editorial team. Rate assumptions and content updated October 2026. This page is educational. It is not a loan offer, approval, or personalized financial advice.
How this calculator works
- Front-end DTI is the housing payment divided by gross monthly income.
- Back-end DTI adds car, credit card, student, and other debts to the housing payment, then divides by income.
- A back-end result at or under 36% is described as within a common guideline.
- Above 36% is described in words. Color is not the decision.
Gross income is not take-home pay
DTI uses income before taxes. A payment that looks fine against take-home pay can produce a higher ratio than you expected once the gross figure is used.
Lenders also decide which debts count and how student loans are documented. This page uses the monthly amounts you type.
Sources
Common questions
Is 43% a hard limit?
No. Older qualified-mortgage rules discussed 43%, and many teaching examples still mention 36% and 43%. Lenders set current limits by loan type. This result is not an approval.
Should I include rent?
Include the housing payment you want to test, such as a proposed mortgage. Do not also include the rent that payment would replace.
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Longer guides on these topics are linked from the guides library.