Debt-to-Income (DTI) Calculator

Your DTI ratio is one of the most important numbers in mortgage qualification. Most lenders require a front-end DTI below 28% and a back-end DTI below 43%. Enter your numbers to see if you’ll qualify — and by how much.

Your income

Annual gross income

Co-borrower annual income

Leave 0 if applying alone

Proposed housing payment (front-end)

Proposed mortgage P&I

Monthly property tax

Monthly homeowners insurance

Monthly PMI (if applicable)

Monthly HOA (if applicable)

Existing monthly debt payments (back-end)

Car loan payments

Student loan payments

Credit card minimum payments

Other monthly debt

Loading…

Front-end DTI

—

Limit: 28%

Back-end DTI

—

Limit: 43%

Monthly gross income

—

Combined

Max mortgage to qualify

—

At 28% front-end

Monthly gross income—

Proposed housing (PITI+HOA)—

Front-end DTI—

28% front-end limit (max housing)—

Total monthly debt (housing + other)—

Back-end DTI—

43% back-end limit (max total debt)—

What Is DTI and Why Does It Matter?

📚 DTI (Debt-to-Income ratio) is the percentage of your gross monthly income that goes toward debt payments. Lenders use two DTI calculations: front-end DTI = housing costs only ÷ gross income; back-end DTI = all monthly debts (housing + car + student loans + credit cards) ÷ gross income. Your back-end DTI is the primary qualification threshold — most conventional loans require it to be 43% or below.

DTI Limits by Loan Type

Loan Type	Front-End Max	Back-End Max	Notes
Conventional (Fannie/Freddie)	28%	43-45%	Strong credit may allow up to 50% with compensating factors
FHA Loan	31%	43-57%	More flexible — compensating factors allow higher DTI
VA Loan	No limit	41% guideline	Residual income requirement; DTI can exceed 41%
USDA Loan	29%	41%	Stricter limits; targets moderate-income rural buyers
Jumbo Loan	28%	38-43%	Stricter standards; varies by lender

Frequently Asked Questions

What counts toward my DTI?

Back-end DTI includes: proposed housing payment (P&I + tax + insurance + PMI + HOA), car loan payments, student loan payments, minimum credit card payments, personal loan payments, child support or alimony, and any other installment debt. It does NOT include utility bills, insurance premiums, subscriptions, groceries, or other living expenses.

How can I lower my DTI to qualify?

Three ways: (1) increase income — adding a co-borrower with income is the fastest; (2) pay down debts before applying — eliminating a car payment can dramatically lower your back-end DTI; (3) reduce the loan amount — a larger down payment means smaller P&I payment and lower front-end DTI.