A debt-to-income ratio calculator for mortgages, car loans and India’s FOIR
This debt-to-income ratio calculator works out your front-end (housing) and back-end (all debts) DTI the way US mortgage lenders do, and checks it against the guidelines you will hear about: the 28/36 rule of thumb, Fannie Mae’s 36%, 45% and 50% limits, and the old 43% qualified-mortgage cap. It also shows the housing payment and loan amount your limits leave room for.
Switch to India to work out FOIR — fixed obligations to income ratio — on your net take-home pay, which is how Indian banks and NBFCs size a home, car or personal loan. Everything runs in your browser. The limits shown are guidelines, not a loan decision or financial advice.
How to use the Debt-to-Income Ratio Calculator
- Pick US (gross income, $) or India (net income, ₹).
- Enter your income and any co-borrower’s, per month or per year.
- Enter the housing payment — principal and interest (or rent), property tax, insurance, mortgage insurance and HOA dues — or, in India, the EMI of the loan you are applying for.
- Enter every other monthly debt payment: car loan, student loans, credit card minimums, personal loans, child support.
- Read the ratio and the guideline table; open “Limits and loan terms” to set your own limits, rate and term for the affordability figures.
Debt-to-Income Ratio Calculator features
Front-end and back-end DTI
Both ratios, with the housing items listed separately as lenders do.
Guideline table
Your ratio against 28/36, Fannie Mae 36% / 45% / 50% and the former 43% QM limit, each with its source.
What can I afford
The highest housing payment, principal and interest and loan amount that fit your limits.
India FOIR mode
EMIs ÷ net income against your lender’s FOIR, and the new EMI and loan it allows.
Private
No sign-up and nothing sent — your income and debts stay on your device.
How to calculate debt-to-income ratio
The CFPB defines DTI as all your monthly debt payments divided by your gross monthly income. Its own example: a $1,500 mortgage, a $100 car loan and $400 of other debts = $2,000 a month; on $6,000 of gross income that is 2,000 ÷ 6,000 = 33%. That is the default in this calculator.
Lenders also look at the front-end ratio — housing costs alone (principal, interest, property tax, insurance, mortgage insurance, HOA dues) ÷ gross income. In the example $1,500 ÷ $6,000 = 25%. Everyday bills such as groceries, utilities and phone plans are not debts and are left out; credit cards count at their minimum payment.
| Guideline | Limit | Source / status |
|---|---|---|
| 28/36 rule | 28% housing, 36% total | Rule of thumb used by many lenders and planners |
| Fannie Mae, manual underwriting | 36%, up to 45% | Selling Guide B3-6-02 (2 Apr 2025); 45% needs the credit score and reserves in the Eligibility Matrix |
| Fannie Mae, Desktop Underwriter | 50% | Selling Guide B3-6-02 |
| General qualified mortgage | 43% (historical) | Removed by the CFPB’s December 2020 General QM final rule and replaced by price-based limits |
DTI for a car loan, and FOIR in India
For a car loan, enter the new car payment in the car loan box together with your rent or mortgage: auto lenders look at the same back-end ratio, though each sets its own limit. Compare the payment with the car loan calculator.
Indian lenders use FOIR: all EMIs (including the new one) plus fixed obligations, divided by net monthly income. There is no single regulatory FOIR — each bank or NBFC sets its own limit by income band and product, so this tool lets you enter your lender’s figure (50% is only an editable example). Check the EMI with the EMI calculator or the home loan calculator.
Ways to lower your DTI
- Pay down revolving balances — a lower card balance lowers the minimum payment; see the credit utilization calculator.
- Add a co-borrower’s income, or choose a smaller loan or a longer term (a lower payment, but more interest).
- Avoid new credit before applying: a new car payment can push you over a limit.
- Make sure all regular income is counted — lenders need documents for bonuses, overtime and self-employment income.
Debt-to-Income Ratio Calculator FAQ
What is a good debt-to-income ratio?
Below 36% is widely seen as comfortable, with 28% or less on housing. Fannie Mae allows up to 45% for manually underwritten loans with strong credit and reserves and up to 50% through Desktop Underwriter. Other loan programs and lenders set their own limits.
How do I use the debt to income ratio calculator for a mortgage?
Enter the full new housing payment — principal, interest, property tax, insurance, mortgage insurance and HOA dues — plus your other debts. The front-end ratio is housing only; the back-end ratio is everything.
Is DTI based on gross or net income?
In the US, on gross income before tax. Indian lenders’ FOIR usually uses net take-home pay. The calculator switches with the Rules menu.
Is 43% still the maximum DTI for a qualified mortgage?
Not since the CFPB’s December 2020 General QM rule, which replaced the 43% limit with price-based tests. Many lenders still quote 43% as a benchmark.
Does rent count in debt-to-income ratio?
For a mortgage application your current rent is replaced by the new housing payment. If you keep renting and apply for another loan, some lenders count rent; enter it in the housing box to see both ratios.
What is FOIR in a loan?
Fixed obligations to income ratio: your monthly EMIs and fixed obligations divided by net monthly income. A lender with a 50% FOIR limit lets EMIs take up to half your take-home pay.