Enter your gross monthly income and your recurring debt payments to see your back-end and front-end DTI ratios instantly — the same numbers a lender checks before approving you.
Your debt-to-income ratio is the single number lenders lean on hardest. It answers one question: of the money you earn each month before taxes, how much is already promised to debt payments? The less that is committed, the more comfortably you can take on something new.
There are two versions, and this tool shows both:
Both are simple percentages: total monthly debt divided by gross monthly income, times 100. Because we use gross income — your pay before taxes and deductions — the result lines up with how a lender scores you, not your take-home budget.
To lower your DTI, pay down a balance to erase its monthly minimum, or raise documented income. Even clearing one small card can move the number more than people expect.
What is a debt-to-income (DTI) ratio?
It is the share of your gross monthly income that goes to debt payments. The back-end ratio counts every recurring debt; the front-end ratio counts only housing.
What DTI do lenders want to see?
Many look for a back-end ratio at or below 36% and a front-end ratio at or below 28%. Some programs stretch to 43% or beyond with strong credit, but above roughly 43% many lenders decline.
Should I use gross or net income for DTI?
Gross — your pay before taxes and deductions. That matches how a lender calculates it. Using take-home pay would overstate your DTI.