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Debt-to-Income (DTI) Ratio Calculator (2026)

Free educational estimate · Last reviewed: June 2026

Your debt-to-income ratio is one of the first numbers a mortgage or loan officer looks at. Enter your gross monthly income, your housing cost, and your other monthly debt payments to see your front-end and back-end DTI and where you stand against the limits most lenders use. Everything runs in your browser; nothing is stored or sent anywhere.

↓ Use the calculator below

Debt weighed against income Income Debt Lenders want debt light against your income
Illustration only. Your true ratio depends on the exact figures you enter below.
WarningThis is a simplified educational estimate, not financial or lending advice. Lenders calculate DTI in their own way, count certain debts differently, and use loan-program specific limits that change over time. Treat this number as a planning guide and confirm your real ratio and eligibility with a licensed lender.
Back-end DTI (all debts)
0%
0%
Front-end (housing only)
$0
Debt budget left at 36%
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Estimate updates as you type. Use gross income (before taxes) and minimum required monthly payments, not your full balances.

Plan a payoff to lower your DTI →
A high ratio? See how fast a focused payoff plan can bring it down before you apply.
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How your DTI is calculated

Debt-to-income ratio is simply your total monthly debt payments divided by your gross monthly income, shown as a percentage. The front-end ratio counts only your housing payment, while the back-end ratio adds car loans, credit card minimums, student loans, and any other recurring debt. If you earn $6,000 a month and your debts total $2,400, your back-end DTI is 40 percent. Lenders lean on the back-end number because it reflects every fixed obligation competing with a new loan payment.

Why lenders care about this number

A lower DTI tells a lender you have breathing room in your budget if rates rise or an expense appears. Many lenders prefer a back-end ratio at or below 36 percent, and some programs stretch higher when you bring strong credit, reserves, or a large down payment. If your ratio is above the limit you are targeting, the two levers are paying down balances to cut the top number, or raising documented income to lift the bottom one. Shrinking a high-minimum debt usually moves your ratio the fastest.

Common questions

Which debts should I include?

Include recurring monthly obligations: mortgage or rent, car loans, student loans, credit card minimum payments, personal loans, and court-ordered payments like child support. Leave out things that are not debt, such as utilities, groceries, insurance you pay outside the housing payment, and subscriptions.

Should I use the minimum payment or the full balance?

Use the required monthly minimum payment, not the balance. DTI measures monthly cash flow, so a $10,000 card with a $200 minimum counts as $200 in this calculation.

Is my data saved?

No. The calculation runs entirely in your browser. Nothing you type is stored, transmitted, or shared.

Related guides → Debt Payoff Calculator: build a plan to lower your DTI → Home Affordability Calculator: how much house fits your income → Net Worth Calculator: see the full picture

Method: DTI = total monthly debt payments divided by gross monthly income, expressed as a percentage; front-end uses housing only, back-end uses all debts. The 36 percent reference point is a common lender guideline, not a universal rule. General references include published explainers from Wells Fargo, Bankrate, and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Always verify your eligibility with a licensed lender.