Debt-to-income (DTI) calculator
A debt-to-income (DTI) calculator divides your monthly debt by your gross monthly income to show the ratio lenders use to judge applications. It gives your front-end (housing) and back-end (all debt) ratios, the band you fall in, and how much monthly debt headroom you have before the key 36% and 43% thresholds.
Back-end DTI · Manageable
38.3%
Within the 43% Qualified-Mortgage limit, but lenders prefer 36% or less.
How this estimate is calculated
Front-end DTI is your monthly housing payment divided by gross monthly income; back-end DTI adds all other monthly debt (card minimums, auto, student and personal loans). We express both as percentages and compare your back-end ratio to lender benchmarks — 36% (comfortable), 43% (the Qualified-Mortgage limit) and above. Headroom is the extra monthly debt that would put you at each threshold.
See our full methodology for assumptions, limits and the 2026 data used.
Sources
- Federal Reserve G.19 (Consumer Credit) (as of 2026-02-28)
- Written by
- Colson — Founder & consumer-finance researcher, ColsonSuperApps LLC
- Verified
- Every figure checked against its cited primary source
- Last updated
- June 14, 2026
- Standards
- Editorial policy
These results are educational estimates based on the figures you enter and standard financial math, not financial advice or an offer of credit. Your actual rate, payment and terms depend on your credit, lender and other factors. Verify any number with the lender before you act.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good debt-to-income ratio?
Lenders generally prefer a back-end DTI of 36% or less; 43% is the upper limit for most qualified mortgages. Below 36% gives you the widest borrowing options and best rates.
Does DTI affect my credit score?
Not directly — your credit score doesn’t include income. But high DTI makes lenders less likely to approve you, and the credit utilization that often drives high DTI does affect your score. Lowering both helps.