Your debt-to-income ratio is one of the first numbers a lender checks before approving a mortgage or loan. Enter your gross monthly income and your monthly debt payments to see your front-end and back-end DTI and how you compare to the limit most lenders use.
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Debt-to-income ratio is your total monthly debt payments divided by your gross monthly income, written 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 other recurring debt. If you earn $6,000 a month and your debts total $2,400, your back-end DTI is 40%. Lenders rely on the back-end figure because it reflects every fixed obligation competing with a new loan payment. Many lenders prefer a back-end DTI at or below 36%, though some programs allow higher with strong credit, reserves, or a large down payment.
DTI uses gross income, meaning your pay before taxes and deductions. Add up income from all reliable sources before anything is withheld so your ratio matches how lenders calculate it.
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 utilities, groceries, and subscriptions, which are not debt.
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 here.
Front-end DTI counts only housing costs divided by gross income. Back-end DTI adds all other monthly debt payments. Lenders usually weigh the back-end ratio most heavily.
Pay down the balances with the highest minimum payments, avoid taking on new debt, and document any extra income. Reducing a high-minimum debt usually moves your ratio the fastest.
Disclaimer: This tool provides an estimate for general informational purposes only and is 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. Confirm your real ratio and eligibility with a licensed lender.
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