Free calculator
Debt-to-income (DTI) calculator
Enter your gross monthly income and monthly amounts for housing (rent or your full housing payment bundle) plus recurring debts you want in the ratio. We show front-end DTI (housing ÷ income) and back-end DTI ((housing + other debts) ÷ income) as transparent percentages—an illustration, not a lender decision. For principal and interest from loan terms, use the mortgage payment calculator on this site.
When to use this calculator
Quick monthly gross checks before you mirror the same SUM ÷ income pattern in Sheets or Excel—not a substitute for a lender worksheet.
- Separate housing-only DTI (front-end) from all recurring debts (back-end) on the same income figure.
- Compare minimum payment assumptions on cards and loans against a single housing bundle you typed yourself.
- Cross-check a mortgage payment estimate by pasting its monthly total into housing here (plus taxes/insurance/HOA if you include them).
- Open the amortization schedule tool when you need period-by-period principal and interest, not just a ratio.
On this page, front-end DTI is monthly housing cost ÷ gross monthly income. Back-end DTI is (monthly housing + other recurring monthly debts you entered) ÷ gross monthly income. Both are expressed as percentages for easy comparison with common worksheet examples—not as a promise any lender will use the same definitions.
Gross monthly income
We use one gross figure you supply. Self-employed and variable earners often annualize and divide by 12 outside this tool—we do not automate that.
Housing bundle
Front-end uses the same housing number in the numerator. Include components you want treated as housing cash out (rent, or PITI-style parts you choose to add).
Other recurring debts
Back-end adds the sum of the non-housing debt fields you filled. Optional rows exist for extra items—everything is typed by you.
We do not import credit reports, do not model net disposable income, and do not apply FHA, VA, or conforming rules automatically. Thresholds you read elsewhere (28/36-style examples) are educational context only.
For P&I from rate and term, use the mortgage payment calculator; for a full schedule, use amortization schedule—then bring the monthly housing figure you care about back here if helpful.
Google Sheets & Excel
Put gross monthly income in one cell (e.g. A1). Put housing in A2 and each debt in A3:A8. Front-end is A2/A1; back-end is (SUM(A2:A8))/A1 if you store only housing once in A2 and debts in A3:A8, or use two sums: =(A2+SUM(A3:A8))/A1 when A2 is housing and A3:A8 are non-housing debts.
=(A2+SUM(A3:A8))/A1Format as percent. Adjust ranges to match where you place housing vs other debts—the idea is (housing + debts) ÷ gross income.
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Frequently asked questions
What is front-end vs back-end DTI?
Front-end focuses on housing relative to gross monthly income. Back-end adds other recurring debts (auto, cards, student loans, etc.) to the housing figure, still divided by the same gross income. Lenders may label or weight lines differently—this page follows the common textbook split.
Should I use gross or net income?
This calculator is built for gross monthly income to match many mortgage worksheet examples. If you need a net-based household budget view, adjust inputs yourself or use a separate budget model—we do not auto-calculate taxes or deductions.
What is a “good” DTI?
It depends on the lender, loan type, and country. You may see rough conventional examples like 28% front-end and 36% back-end cited in US education—not guarantees. Use this page to see your numbers, not to predict approval.
Is DTI the same as credit utilization?
No. Credit utilization is typically balances vs credit limits on revolving accounts and affects credit scores in models consumers see. DTI compares monthly debt payments to income—related to affordability, not the same formula.
Why credit card “minimums”?
Many underwriting worksheets ask for minimum monthly payments on revolving debt because that is a standardized line item. Paying more improves your real cash flow but may not change how a particular form treats the line—enter what matches your scenario.
Does rent count in DTI?
Yes—if you want a housing ratio while renting, put your monthly rent (and any housing charges you treat like rent) in the housing field. Front-end then reflects that rent against gross income.
How does this relate to the mortgage payment calculator?
The mortgage payment tool estimates principal and interest (and optional extras you type) from loan terms. This page needs cash-flow totals you already know or estimate—paste or re-type a monthly housing figure if you are bridging from a payment estimate.
I’m self-employed—what income should I use?
Lenders often use documented stable income, sometimes averaged—rules vary. This page only divides what you enter as gross monthly income; it does not normalize tax returns or add-back schedules.
How can I lower my DTI?
Mathematically: lower monthly debts in the numerator or higher gross income in the denominator. Real life paths include paying down installment balances, reducing housing cost, or increasing documented income—speak with qualified professionals for your situation.
How do I model this in Google Sheets or Excel?
Keep gross income in one cell and sum monthly obligations in others. Front-end is housing ÷ income; back-end is (housing + sum(non-housing debts)) ÷ income. Format cells as percent and label each row so future-you knows what each line meant.