What is debt-to-income ratio?
Your debt-to-income (DTI) ratio compares how much you pay toward debts each month to your gross monthly income. Mortgage lenders and other creditors use it to assess how much additional debt you can reasonably handle.
The formula
DTI = (Total Monthly Debt Payments / Gross Monthly Income) × 100. Many mortgage lenders prefer a DTI of 36% or below, with 43% often cited as a common upper limit for qualification, though standards vary by loan type and lender.
This calculator is for general educational and planning purposes and is not a loan approval or credit decision.
Last reviewed August 2026