{
    "name": "Debt-to-Income Ratio Calculator",
    "url": "https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/debt-to-income-ratio-calculator",
    "markdown": "https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/debt-to-income-ratio-calculator.md",
    "category": "Finance",
    "description": "Work out your debt-to-income ratio from gross monthly income and monthly debt payments, with front-end (housing) and back-end (all debt) figures.",
    "summary": "Your debt-to-income ratio (DTI) is your monthly debt payments divided by your gross monthly income. Lenders use it to judge how much more you can afford to borrow.",
    "also_called": [
        "DTI calculator"
    ],
    "applies_to": "Worldwide",
    "last_updated": "2026-10-29",
    "computation": "Results are computed in the visitor’s browser on the HTML page. This API describes the calculator; it does not compute results.",
    "inputs": [
        {
            "name": "income",
            "label": "Gross monthly income (before tax)",
            "type": "number",
            "default": "6000"
        },
        {
            "name": "housing",
            "label": "Rent or mortgage payment",
            "type": "number",
            "default": "1500",
            "optional": true
        },
        {
            "name": "car",
            "label": "Car loan payments",
            "type": "number",
            "default": "400",
            "optional": true
        },
        {
            "name": "student",
            "label": "Student loan payments",
            "type": "number",
            "default": "200",
            "optional": true
        },
        {
            "name": "cards",
            "label": "Credit card minimum payments",
            "type": "number",
            "default": "100",
            "optional": true
        },
        {
            "name": "other",
            "label": "Other debt payments",
            "type": "number",
            "default": "0",
            "optional": true
        },
        {
            "name": "target",
            "label": "DTI to compare against",
            "type": "number",
            "default": "36",
            "unit": "%"
        },
        {
            "name": "currency",
            "label": "Currency",
            "type": "currency",
            "default": "USD"
        }
    ],
    "outputs": [
        {
            "key": "dti",
            "label": "Debt-to-income ratio (back-end)",
            "format": "percent"
        },
        {
            "key": "front_end",
            "label": "Housing ratio (front-end)",
            "format": "percent"
        },
        {
            "key": "total_debt",
            "label": "Total monthly debt payments",
            "format": "currency"
        },
        {
            "key": "headroom",
            "label": "Room left before the comparison DTI",
            "format": "currency"
        }
    ],
    "formula": {
        "text": "Back-end DTI = Total monthly debt payments ÷ Gross monthly income × 100;  Front-end = Housing payment ÷ Gross monthly income × 100",
        "variables": {
            "Debt payments": "required minimum monthly payments, not living costs like food or utilities",
            "Gross income": "income before tax and deductions"
        }
    },
    "worked_example": {
        "inputs": {
            "income": "6000",
            "housing": "1500",
            "car": "400",
            "student": "200",
            "cards": "100",
            "other": "0",
            "target": "36",
            "currency": "USD"
        },
        "steps": [
            "Total debt payments = 1,500 + 400 + 200 + 100 = $2,200.",
            "Back-end DTI = 2,200 ÷ 6,000 = 36.67%; front-end = 1,500 ÷ 6,000 = 25%.",
            "At 36%, payments could total 6,000 × 0.36 = $2,160, so you are $40 over."
        ],
        "result": "With $2,200 of monthly debt payments on $6,000 of income, your DTI is 36.67%, just above a 36% benchmark."
    },
    "interpretation": "A lower DTI means more of your income is free, which makes approval and better rates more likely. Paying off a small loan entirely lowers DTI more than paying down a large one.",
    "assumptions": [
        "Only required monthly debt payments count; living expenses are excluded."
    ],
    "limitations": [
        "Lenders differ on what counts as income and debt (for example, how they treat student loans in deferment); their figure can differ from yours."
    ],
    "rules": null,
    "faqs": [
        {
            "question": "What DTI do lenders want?",
            "answer": "It depends on the lender and the loan program, so ask. Many lenders consider a lower DTI less risky, and some programs set a published maximum."
        },
        {
            "question": "Does rent count?",
            "answer": "Your current rent is part of your housing payment for your own budgeting. When you apply for a mortgage, the lender uses the proposed new housing payment instead."
        }
    ],
    "sources": [],
    "related": [
        {
            "name": "Mortgage Calculator",
            "url": "https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/mortgage-calculator"
        },
        {
            "name": "EMI Calculator",
            "url": "https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/emi-calculator"
        },
        {
            "name": "Budget Calculator",
            "url": "https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/budget-calculator"
        },
        {
            "name": "Personal Loan Calculator",
            "url": "https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/personal-loan-calculator"
        }
    ],
    "disclaimer": "This calculator gives estimates for planning. It is not financial advice, and lenders’ actual terms, fees and rounding may differ.",
    "publisher": "GM¹X CalcVerse"
}