Calculate your debt-to-income ratio with this free DTI calculator to see how lenders may evaluate your mortgage application. Enter your gross monthly income and monthly debts to get your front-end and back-end DTI instantly.
Your Numbers
Monthly Debt Payments
Your DTI Ratios
Front-End DTI
Housing payment only
24.0%
Back-End DTI
All debt payments
34.7%
General guidance only
Many conventional programs look for back-end DTI under 43-45%. FHA may stretch to 50-57% with strong credit. This is not a guarantee of approval. Lenders weigh credit score, down payment, and other factors alongside DTI.
Lenders calculate two separate DTI ratios, and both matter when you apply for a mortgage. They measure slightly different things, and whichever one is closer to the limit tends to drive the conversation.
Front-end DTI is your monthly housing cost divided by your gross income. It only counts the new loan payment, property taxes, homeowners insurance, and any HOA dues. Most lenders prefer this number below 28%, though some programs allow up to 31% or 36% depending on the loan type.
Back-end DTI is your total monthly debt load divided by gross income. It stacks your housing payment on top of everything else you're paying: car loans, student loans, credit card minimums, personal loans, child support, and any other recurring obligations that show up on your credit report. This is the number most lenders focus on. Conventional programs generally cap it around 43-45%, FHA can go higher with compensating factors.
Lowering your back-end DTI before applying is one of the most effective things you can do. Paying off a car loan or reducing credit card balances can shift the number meaningfully, and it may open up loan programs or rates that weren't available before.
< 28%
Front-end: Ideal
28-36%
Front-end: Acceptable
< 36%
Back-end: Strong
36-43%
Back-end: Acceptable