# What is my DTI ratio?

Computes the debt-to-income ratio (monthly debt payments ÷ gross monthly income) and the housing ratio, or the income or payment that gives a target ratio.

- Page: https://www.acalculator.org/finance/debt-to-income-ratio-calculator
- JSON spec: https://www.acalculator.org/finance/debt-to-income-ratio-calculator.json
- Version: 43b5551eafa8

## Default answer

Example with the default inputs (Housing payment a month $1,800.00, Other debt payments a month $450.00, Gross monthly income $6,500.00): Debt payments of $2,250.00 a month on a gross monthly income of $6,500.00 give a debt-to-income ratio of 34.6%.

## Inputs

| Key | Label | Description |
| --- | --- | --- |
| housing | Housing payment a month | Monthly rent, or the mortgage payment with property tax, home insurance and HOA dues. |
| other | Other debt payments a month | Other monthly debt payments: car loans, student loans, minimum credit card payments, personal loans, child support. |
| income | Gross monthly income | Income for a month before tax and deductions. |
| dti | Debt-to-income ratio | All monthly debt payments as a percent of gross monthly income. |

## Outputs

| Key | Label | Description |
| --- | --- | --- |
| housing | Housing payment a month | Monthly rent, or the mortgage payment with property tax, home insurance and HOA dues. |
| other | Other debt payments a month | Other monthly debt payments: car loans, student loans, minimum credit card payments, personal loans, child support. |
| income | Gross monthly income | Income for a month before tax and deductions. |
| dti | Your debt-to-income ratio | All monthly debt payments as a percent of gross monthly income. |
| front | Housing ratio (front-end) | The housing payment as a percent of gross monthly income. |
| debts | All debt payments a month | The housing payment plus the other debt payments. |
| room36 | Room left at 36% | How much more a month of debt payments keeps the ratio at 36%: 0.36 × income − debt payments. |

## Method

DTI = (housing payment + other monthly debt payments) ÷ gross monthly income × 100; housing ratio = housing payment ÷ gross monthly income × 100.

## Assumptions

- All amounts are per month. Income is gross: before tax and deductions.
- Debt payments are the required monthly payments (minimum credit card payments, not balances). Living costs such as food, utilities and phone bills are not debts.
- The bands are Fannie Mae’s maximum total ratios for a conventional mortgage (36% manually underwritten, up to 45% with credit score and reserve requirements, 50% through Desktop Underwriter). Other lenders and loan types use other limits.

## Worked examples

1. housing = $1,500.00, other = $500.00, income = $6,000.00 gives dti = 33.333333%, front = 25%, debts = $2,000.00, room36 = $160.00. Source: CFPB, What is a debt-to-income ratio?: $2,000 of monthly debt on $6,000 gross monthly income is a DTI of 33%; hand calculation in content.mdx.
2. housing = $2,200.00, other = $1,400.00, income = $8,000.00 gives dti = 45%, front = 27.5%, room36 = -$720.00. Source: hand calculation in content.mdx: 3,600 ÷ 8,000 × 100 = 45%; 0.36 × 8,000 − 3,600 = −720.
3. housing = $1,200.00, other = $600.00, dti = 36% gives income = $5,000.00. Source: hand calculation in content.mdx: income = 1,800 ÷ 0.36 = 5,000.
4. other = $700.00, income = $7,500.00, dti = 43% gives housing = $2,525.00. Source: hand calculation in content.mdx: housing = 0.43 × 7,500 − 700 = 3,225 − 700 = 2,525.
5. housing = $1,500.00, income = $6,000.00, dti = 40% gives other = $900.00. Source: hand calculation in content.mdx: other = 0.40 × 6,000 − 1,500 = 900.

## FAQ

### How do I calculate my debt-to-income ratio?

Add up your monthly debt payments, divide by your gross monthly income, and multiply by 100. The CFPB example: a $1,500 mortgage payment, a $100 car loan and $400 of other debts make $2,000 a month; on a gross income of $6,000 a month the ratio is 2,000 ÷ 6,000 = 33%.

### What counts as debt?

Required monthly payments: the housing payment (rent, or mortgage with property tax, home insurance and HOA dues), car and other installment loans, student loans, minimum credit card payments, lease payments, and alimony or child support. That is the list in Fannie Mae's guide; everyday bills such as groceries, utilities and phone are not on it.

### What is a good debt-to-income ratio?

Lower is better, and limits depend on the lender and loan. For a conventional mortgage, Fannie Mae allows at most 36% when a loan is manually underwritten, up to 45% with a strong credit score and savings reserves, and up to 50% through its automated Desktop Underwriter system.

### What is the difference between front-end and back-end DTI?

The front-end (housing) ratio counts only the housing payment. The back-end ratio counts all debt payments, including housing. This calculator shows both; lenders usually mean the back-end ratio when they say DTI.

### Should I use gross or net income?

Gross: your income before tax and other deductions. The CFPB defines DTI as all monthly debt payments divided by gross monthly income.

### How much income do I need for a target ratio?

Enter your debt payments and the target ratio, and leave income empty. Income = debt payments ÷ (target ÷ 100). With $1,800 of monthly debt payments, a 36% ratio needs $1,800 ÷ 0.36 = $5,000 a month.

## Sources

- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, What is a debt-to-income ratio? (all monthly debt payments divided by gross monthly income; $2,000 of payments on $6,000 of income is 33%). https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/what-is-a-debt-to-income-ratio-en-1791/
- Fannie Mae Selling Guide B3-6-05, Monthly Debt Obligations (published 2026-08-05): housing expense, installment debt, revolving minimum payments, lease payments, alimony and child support. https://selling-guide.fanniemae.com/sel/b3-6-05/monthly-debt-obligations
- Fannie Mae Selling Guide B3-6-02, Debt-to-Income Ratios (published 2025-04-02): maximum total DTI 36% for manually underwritten loans, up to 45% with credit score and reserve requirements, 50% for Desktop Underwriter. https://selling-guide.fanniemae.com/sel/b3-6-02/debt-income-ratios