Personal Finance

Debt to Income Ratio

Use this calculator to determine your debt to income ratio, an important measure in determining your ability to get a loan.

Inputs
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Estimates only. Adjust any value to recalculate instantly.

Results
Your debt-to-income ratio 42.3% Manageable, but lenders prefer under 36%.
Total monthly debt $2,750
Monthly income $6,500
Front-end (housing) ratio 27.7%
Income left after debt $3,750
Income allocation
Income allocation Debt payments: $2.8kRemaining income: $3.8k
  • Debt payments $2.8k
  • Remaining income $3.8k

Lowering DTI — by paying down balances or raising income — improves both your rates and your borrowing power.

How the debt to income ratio calculator works

It divides your total monthly debt payments by your gross monthly income to produce the debt-to-income ratio lenders use to judge how much you can safely borrow, and separates out your housing-only ratio.

Worked example

Worked example: with gross monthly income of $6,500, rent or mortgage of $1,800 and auto loans of $450, the debt-to-income ratio calculator shows your debt-to-income ratio of 42.3%.

Total monthly debt
$2,750
Monthly income
$6,500
Front-end (housing) ratio
27.7%
Income left after debt
$3,750

The formula

DTI = total monthly debt payments ÷ gross monthly income × 100. Front-end ratio uses housing costs alone.

Results are estimates for educational purposes and are not financial advice. Confirm exact figures with your lender, plan administrator or advisor.

Frequently asked

Questions about the debt to income ratio

What is a good debt-to-income ratio?

Lenders generally prefer total DTI at or below 36%, with housing alone under 28%. Qualified mortgages usually cap DTI at 43%.

Which debts count in DTI?

Recurring monthly obligations: housing, auto loans, student loans, credit-card minimums and other loan payments. Utilities and groceries are not included.

How can I lower my DTI?

Pay down balances, avoid new debt, or increase income. Even clearing one small loan can move your ratio into a better lending tier.

Is the Debt to Income Ratio free to use?

Yes. Every calculator on FinCalculators is completely free, with no sign-up, login or paywall. You can run as many scenarios as you like.