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DTICheckDTI calculator

United States · Educational tool

Debt to income ratio calculator

Enter gross monthly income, housing costs, and other debts. DTICheck returns front-end DTI, back-end DTI, and a color-coded read against conventional 28/36 and FHA 31/43 guideline bands.

DTICheck is an educational estimate. It is not lender underwriting, a pre-approval, or credit advice. Conventional 28/36 and FHA 31/43 are widely published guideline bands; actual overlays and automated findings differ. Read the full disclaimer.

Form 28/36 · 31/43

DTI worksheet

1. Gross monthly income

Use pay before taxes. Combine borrower and co-borrower income if you will apply together.

2. Housing costs

Proposed PITI plus HOA and mortgage insurance. This is the front-end (housing) ratio.

Add housing line items
3. Other monthly debts

Recurring minimums that will still be due after closing. Added to housing for back-end DTI.

Add other-debt line items

Results

Enter income to see front-end and back-end DTI.

Color bands compare your ratios to conventional 28/36and FHA 31/43.

What the two ratios mean

Lenders usually quote two numbers. Front-end DTI is housing only. Back-end DTI is housing plus the rest of your recurring monthly debts. Both use gross monthly income, not take-home pay.

  • Front-end / housing ratio = housing costs ÷ gross monthly income.
  • Back-end / total DTI = (housing + other debts) ÷ gross monthly income.

Read what is DTI·Good DTI for a mortgage·How to lower DTI

Typical published DTI guideline bands
ProgramFront-endBack-end
Conventional (traditional)28%36%
FHA (published)31%43%
Stretch / AUS (informational)—up to ~50%

Bands are planning guides, not a promise that a loan will be approved or denied.

Common questions

All FAQ
What is a debt-to-income ratio?

Debt-to-income (DTI) is the share of your gross monthly income that already goes to recurring debt. Lenders use it as a quick read on whether a new housing payment still leaves room to repay other obligations.

What is the difference between front-end and back-end DTI?

Front-end DTI (the housing ratio) is housing costs divided by gross monthly income. Back-end DTI (the total or backend ratio) adds other monthly debts — auto loans, student loans, credit card minimums, and similar obligations — on top of housing.

What is a good DTI for a mortgage?

A conventional file is often discussed against a 28% front-end and 36% back-end guideline. FHA's published ratios are typically 31% and 43%. Many approvals land higher when credit, reserves, or automated underwriting support the file. DTICheck shows those bands; it does not underwrite a loan.

What counts as housing costs in front-end DTI?

Use the proposed monthly housing payment: principal and interest, property taxes, homeowners insurance, mortgage insurance if any, and HOA or condo dues. Rent you will stop paying after closing is not added on top of the new payment.