CLEARBORROW · TOOL · PUBLISHED NOVEMBER 12, 2026
Debt-to-income ratio calculator
Your debt-to-income ratio (DTI) is your monthly debt payments divided by your gross monthly income. Enter your payments to see your DTI now and with a new loan. As a guideline — not a rule — the CFPB suggests renters keep non-housing debt payments around 15%–20% of income or less, and homeowners keep all debt at 36% or less.
On this page
Calculate your DTI
DTI = monthly debt payments ÷ gross monthly income, as the CFPB describes it. Do not include utilities, groceries or insurance unless your lender asks for them.
What the numbers mean
| Guideline (CFPB) | Range |
|---|---|
| Renters: card, student, car and other debt payments | 15%–20% of gross income or less |
| Homeowners: mortgage, taxes and insurance only | 28%–35% or less |
| Homeowners: all debts | 36% or less |
| Some lenders | Go up to 43% or higher for all debt |
The CFPB calls these guidelines, not rules (CFPB ↗). The 43% figure was the limit for “General QM” mortgages until the CFPB removed it in its 2020 rule (CFPB ↗).
Our example
Our arithmetic with the calculator’s default numbers: $4,000 gross income; $1,200 rent; $700 of car, card and student payments. DTI is 47.5% with rent, 17.5% without. A new $300 loan payment would raise the all-debt figure to 55%.
How to lower it
- Pay down card balances first — minimum payments fall as balances do.
- Avoid new monthly payments before a big application such as a mortgage.
- Count all regular income you can document, before taxes.
- Consider whether a consolidation loan would lower the total payment without stretching the cost.
Questions
Is DTI based on gross or net income?
Gross — income before taxes and deductions, as the CFPB defines it.
Does rent count in DTI?
For mortgage lenders, housing costs count. The CFPB’s renter guideline looks at other debts separately.
Do personal loan lenders use DTI?
Many do, alongside your credit report and income; each lender sets its own limits.
Sources and limits
- CFPB: Your Money, Your Goals — debt-to-income ratio and guideline ranges ↗
- CFPB: General QM final rule (removed the 43% DTI limit) ↗
Sources checked November 12, 2026. Calculators give estimates, not offers; lenders calculate exact payments, APRs and approval. This is general information, not financial or legal advice. How we use sources.