Debt-to-Income Ratio Calculator: Estimate Your DTI

Use the calculator below to estimate your debt-to-income ratio (DTI) and see how your numbers compare with common mortgage program benchmarks. Your DTI is simply all monthly debt payments divided by gross monthly income. Lenders use this metric to gauge repayment capacity.

Debt-to-Income (DTI) Calculator

Gross monthly income ($)

Use gross (pre-tax) monthly income per standard DTI definition.

Monthly housing payment ($)

Renters: enter rent. Homeowners: enter P&I + taxes + insurance + HOA (PITI+HOA).

Other monthly debt payments

Include recurring obligations that lenders count (installments, lease payments, credit card minimums, alimony/child support, tax installment agreements, etc.).

Compare programs

Program caps vary and AUS findings may allow higher/lower.

Custom total DTI target (%)

DTI = total monthly debt ÷ gross monthly income. We show front-end (housing only) and back-end (housing + all debts).

Front-end DTI (housing)—

Back-end DTI (total)—

Max housing at selected cap—

DTI basics: definitions that lenders use

Front-end DTI (housing ratio): Your monthly housing payment (rent or PITI + HOA) ÷ your gross monthly income.
Back-end DTI (total debt ratio): Your housing payment plus all other recurring debts (installment loans, credit card minimums, alimony/child support, etc.) ÷ gross monthly income.
Formula: DTI = (Monthly Debt Payments ÷ Gross Monthly Income) × 100.

Why some caps look different in 2025

For Conventional “General QM” loans, the CFPB removed the old 43% DTI cap and replaced it with price-based thresholds. That doesn’t mean DTI stopped mattering — investors still set program-level caps and AUS findings drive eligibility.

Common program benchmarks (reference only)

Actual approvals depend on complete files and automated underwriting (AUS). But these widely used guidelines help you interpret your results:

Conventional (Fannie Mae): Back-end DTI generally up to 50% with Desktop Underwriter (DU); manual underwrites commonly capped at 45%.
FHA: Front-end ≈ 31% and back-end ≈ 43% are long-standing guidelines; higher ratios may be allowed with strong compensating factors/AUS approvals.
USDA: Total DTI typically ≤ 41% (housing ratio guidance applies; check current HB-1-3555).
VA: Focuses on residual income more than a fixed DTI cap, though 41% is a common reference point alongside residual tests.

What debts count in DTI?

Lenders include recurring obligations that will continue for 10+ months (varies by program). From Fannie Mae’s Selling Guide: installment debt (auto, student loans), lease payments, credit card minimums, HELOCs, alimony/child support, tax installment agreements, and more.

Category	Examples included in back-end DTI
Installment & lease	Auto loans/leases, personal loans, furniture loans, buy-now-pay-later (if scheduled), student loans
Revolving	Credit card minimum payments (even if you usually pay in full)
Housing	P&I, property taxes, homeowners insurance, mortgage insurance, HOA/condo dues
Court-ordered	Alimony, child support, garnishments (if continuing)
Other	Tax installment agreements, co-signed loans if you’re obligated, deferred debts per program rules

How to read your results

Front-end DTI helps assess affordability of the home payment alone (rent or PITI+HOA). Conventional lending often targets the housing share near the upper-20s to low-30s; FHA’s guideline uses ~31%.
Back-end DTI is the major underwriting metric: housing plus all other debts. Fannie Mae’s DU may allow up to 50% on strong files; many government programs land around low-40s.
“Max housing at selected cap” shows what monthly housing cost fits if you aim for a specific total DTI (e.g., 43% FHA-style or 50% Conventional DU): Max Housing ≈ (Cap × Income) − Other Debts.

Example (illustrative): Income $8,000/mo, housing $2,400, other debts $850 → front-end DTI = 30.0%, back-end DTI = 40.6%. At a 43% total cap, max housing ≈ $8,000×0.43 − $850 = $2,590 (about $190 headroom). At a 50% cap, max housing ≈ $3,150.

Improve your DTI (evidence-based ideas)

Reduce recurring debt payments: Pay down revolving balances (lowers required minimums) and consider consolidating high-interest installment debts if it meaningfully improves cash flow and total cost.
Avoid taking on new debts before applying: New loans/leases raise your back-end ratio and can weaken approval odds.
Increase verifiable income where possible: Overtime/bonus history, side income with documented history, or adding a co-borrower can change the math — subject to program rules.
Right-size your housing payment: Use the calculator’s “Max housing at selected cap” to target a monthly payment that fits Conventional/FHA/USDA benchmarks for your situation.

Methodology

DTI math: DTI = total monthly debt ÷ gross monthly income; front-end uses housing only, back-end uses housing + all counted debts.
What’s included: Debt categories follow agency guidance (e.g., Fannie Mae B3-6-05).
Program comparisons: Fannie Mae DU ≤50% (manual ≤45%); FHA ≈31/43; USDA ≈41 total; VA emphasizes residual income. These are reference points, not promises of approval.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is there still a universal 43% DTI cap?

No. The CFPB’s 2021 General QM rule removed the old 43% DTI limit in favor of price-based thresholds. However, investors and agencies still set program caps, so DTI remains critical.

Do all lenders count the same debts?

They’re broadly similar but not identical. The Fannie Mae Selling Guide details what to include (installments, leases, revolving minimums, alimony/child support, tax agreements, etc.). Government programs have their own nuances. Always confirm with your lender.

What about USDA and VA?

USDA typically uses a 41% total DTI benchmark (with housing ratio guidance); VA emphasizes residual income more than a fixed DTI cap, though 41% is a common reference alongside residual tables in the VA Lenders Handbook.

Sources