Debt-to-Income Ratio Calculator

Calculate your DTI ratio and see if you qualify for a mortgage. Compare to FHA and conventional limits.

By Konstantin Iakovlev · Updated April 2026 · Source: CFPB — Consumer Tools

$
Monthly Debts
$
$
$
$

Debt-to-Income Ratio

0.0%

Excellent

Total Monthly Debts

$0.00

Max New Payment (~43% DTI guideline)

$2,150.00

DTI Analysis

Monthly Gross Income$5,000.00
Total Monthly Debts$0.00
DTI Ratio0.0%

Qualification Notes

Your DTI is at or below ~43%, the level most lenders treat as comfortable. You should fit typical lender guidelines.

Your DTI is within the conservative ~36% guideline many lenders prefer for conventional loans.

Note: there is no fixed 43% DTI cap for a Qualified Mortgage. The CFPB’s General QM rule replaced the old 43% limit with a price-based test (loan APR vs. APOR), so DTI is one factor among many. Lenders’ own guidelines typically fall in the ~43–50% range and vary by program.

Use the Debt-to-Income Ratio Calculator above to calculate your results. Enter your values and see instant results — all calculations run in your browser.

Disclaimer: This calculator is for informational purposes only and does not constitute tax, financial, or legal advice. Results are estimates based on the information you provide and current rates. Always consult a qualified tax professional or financial advisor for advice specific to your situation.

How It Works

Lenders lean heavily on your debt-to-income ratio when they judge whether you can handle a mortgage, which makes it one of the numbers worth knowing before you apply. For pre-approval in 2026, your DTI shapes whether you qualify for conventional or FHA financing, and this tool stacks your figure against current FHA and conventional guidelines so you can see where you stand.

The ratio comes from dividing your total monthly debt payments by your gross monthly income. The calculation pulls in every recurring obligation, from credit card minimums and student loan payments to auto loans and any existing mortgage or rent, and weighs them against your income before taxes and deductions. The result is expressed as a percentage that shows how much of your earnings already goes toward debt.

Use gross income for this, not your take-home pay, or the ratio will read artificially high. Count the small recurring payments alongside the big loans, since they add up faster than people expect. The detail most applicants overlook is future property taxes and homeowners insurance, which lenders roll into your projected mortgage payment and therefore into the DTI they calculate.

Example: First-Time Homebuyer in 2026

  1. 1 Let's say Jane earns a gross monthly income of $6,000. Her monthly debts include a $300 car payment, $200 in student loan payments, and $100 in minimum credit card payments. She's looking at a house with an estimated principal, interest, taxes, and insurance (PITI) payment of $2,000 per month.
  2. 2 First, we calculate Jane's total monthly debt payments: $300 (car) + $200 (student loans) + $100 (credit cards) + $2,000 (estimated PITI) = $2,600. Next, we divide her total debt by her gross monthly income: $2,600 / $6,000 = 0.4333.
  3. 3 Jane's Debt-to-Income Ratio is approximately 43.33%.
  4. 4 For 2026, a conventional mortgage typically requires a DTI of 43% or less, though some programs may go up to 50% for highly qualified borrowers. FHA loans are generally more flexible, often allowing DTIs up to 50-57% in certain circumstances. In Jane's case, her DTI of 43.33% would likely fall within the acceptable range for an FHA loan and might just meet the higher end of conventional loan guidelines, depending on other qualifying factors.

Source: CFPB — Consumer Tools · Last updated: April 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a good debt-to-income ratio?
Most mortgage lenders want a DTI of 43% or lower. FHA loans allow up to 50% DTI with compensating factors. For the best rates and approval odds, aim for a DTI under 36% with no more than 28% going to housing.
How do I calculate my debt-to-income ratio?
Add up all monthly debt payments (mortgage, car loans, student loans, minimum credit card payments) and divide by your gross monthly income. For example, $2,000 in payments on $6,000 gross income is a 33% DTI.
Does rent count in debt-to-income ratio?
Current rent is not included in DTI when applying for a mortgage because it will be replaced by the new housing payment. However, if you will keep paying rent on another property, that counts as a debt obligation.

You might also need

Debt Payoff Calculator — Snowball vs Avalanche Comparison

Compare debt snowball and avalanche payoff methods side by side. See which strategy saves more money and clears debt faster. Free, instant results and timeline.

Auto Loan Calculator

Calculate monthly car payments with trade-in and sales tax. Compare loan terms from 36 to 84 months.

Personal Loan Calculator

Calculate monthly personal loan payments, total interest, and effective APR including origination fees.