What is included in debt-to-income ratio calculator?

Asked by: Hudson Deckow I  |  Last update: June 5, 2025
Score: 4.7/5 (13 votes)

Your DTI ratio compares how much you owe with how much you earn in a given month. It typically includes monthly debt payments such as rent, mortgage, credit cards, car payments, and other debt. Include any pre-tax and non-taxable income that you want considered in the results.

What should be included in debt-to-income ratio?

Here's how to calculate your DTI:
  • Monthly housing costs, including a mortgage, insurance, homeowners' association fees and property taxes.
  • Rent payments.
  • Home equity loans or lines of credit.
  • Student loans.
  • Credit card debt balances.
  • Pay now pay later loans.
  • Auto loans.
  • Personal loans or lines of credit.

What components are considered to calculate debt-to-income ratio?

The debt-to-income ratio (DTI) measures a borrower's debt repayment capacity as per their gross monthly income. In simple terms, DTI is the gross of all monthly debt payments divided by the gross monthly income, calculated as a percentage.

What type of income is not included when calculating debt-to-income ratio?

The monthly debt payments included in your back-end DTI calculation typically include your proposed monthly mortgage payment, credit card debt, student loans, car loans, and alimony or child support. Don't include non-debt expenses like utilities, insurance or food.

Does debt-to-income ratio include living expenses?

Front-End DTI vs.

Conversely, the back-end debt-to-income ratio represents the percentage of your gross monthly income that goes to all debt payments. In other words, the back-end DTI includes your total housing expenses plus all other monthly debt payments, such as: Installment loans, such as auto or personal loans.

How To Calculate Debt To Income Ratio (DTI) For First Time Home Buyers

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What payments should not be included in debt-to-income ratio?

The following payments should not be included:
  • Monthly utilities, like water, garbage, electricity or gas bills.
  • Car Insurance expenses.
  • Cable bills.
  • Cell phone bills.
  • Health Insurance costs.
  • Groceries/food or entertainment expenses.

Do bills count towards debt-to-income ratio?

Monthly Payments Not Included in the Debt-to-Income Formula

Many of your monthly bills aren't included in your debt-to-income ratio because they're not debts. These typically include common household expenses such as: Utilities (garbage, electricity, cell phone/landline, gas, water)

Is car insurance considered in debt-to-income ratio?

It does not include health insurance, auto insurance, gas, utilities, cell phone, cable, groceries, or other non-recurring life expenses. The debts evaluated are: Any/all car, credit card, student, mortgage and/or other installment loan payments.

Are property taxes included in the debt-to-income ratio?

First is the front-end DTI ratio, which measures how much of your gross monthly income will be used on your monthly mortgage payment, including property taxes, mortgage insurance and homeowners insurance.

Are medical bills included in the debt-to-income ratio?

Your debt-to-income ratio does not factor in your monthly rent payments, any medical debt that you might owe, your cable bill, your cell phone bill, utilities, car insurance or health insurance.

Do you include rent in debt-to-income ratio?

1) Add up the amount you pay each month for debt and recurring financial obligations (such as credit cards, car loans and leases, and student loans). Don't include your rental payment, or other monthly expenses that aren't debts (such as phone and electric bills).

How to lower debt-to-income ratio quickly?

How to lower your DTI ratio
  1. Increase the amount you pay each month toward your existing debt. You can do this by paying more than the minimum monthly payments for your credit card accounts, for example. ...
  2. Avoid increasing your overall debt. ...
  3. Postpone large purchases. ...
  4. Track your DTI ratio.

What is a good credit score but a high debt-to-income ratio?

FHA loans for higher DTI

FHA loans are known for being more lenient with credit and DTI requirements. With a good credit score (580 or higher), you might qualify for an FHA loan with a DTI ratio of up to 50%. This makes FHA loans a popular choice for borrowers with good credit but high debt-to-income ratios.

What is a healthy household debt-to-income ratio?

Your debt-to-income (DTI) ratio is how much money you earn versus what you spend. It's calculated by dividing your monthly debts by your gross monthly income. Generally, it's a good idea to keep your DTI ratio below 43%, though 35% or less is considered “good.”

Is a mortgage considered debt?

Mortgages are seen as “good debt” by creditors. Since the mortgage debt is secured by the value of your house, lenders see your ability to maintain mortgage payments as a sign of responsible credit use. They also see home ownership, even partial ownership, as a sign of financial stability.

What is the formula for DTI?

A debt-to-income, or DTI, ratio is calculated by dividing your monthly debt payments by your monthly gross income.

What is excluded from debt-to-income ratio?

Expenses To Exclude From Your DTI Calculations

Certain expenses should be left out of your minimum monthly payment calculation, including the following: Utility costs. Health insurance premiums. Transportation costs.

Is home insurance included in debt-to-income ratio?

Front-end ratio

Front-end DTI is your future monthly mortgage payment — including property taxes, home insurance and mortgage insurance — divided by your monthly gross income.

What falls under debt-to-income ratio?

Your debt-to-income ratio (DTI) compares how much you owe each month to how much you earn. Specifically, it's the percentage of your gross monthly income (before taxes) that goes towards payments for rent, mortgage, credit cards, or other debt.

Do you include groceries in the debt-to-income ratio?

Your DTI, or debt-to-income ratio, is based on two numbers: Your total recurring monthly debt payments, including student loans, minimum credit card payments, auto loans, child support, alimony, etc. This does not include any non-debt related payments such as rent, groceries, entertainment, utilities, etc.

What is a good debt-to-income ratio to buy a house?

According to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., lenders typically want the front-end ratio to be no more than 25% to 28% of your monthly gross income. The back-end ratio includes housing expenses plus long-term debt. Lenders prefer to see this number at 33% to 36% of your monthly gross income.

Do auto loans check debt-to-income ratio?

Debt-to-income ratio, or DTI, measures your total monthly debt against your total monthly income. Along with your credit score, lenders use your DTI to judge whether they will offer you a loan and if so, at what rate. Debt-to-income ratio for car loans is represented by a percentage.

Is 3,000 debt a lot?

More than a third of 18 to 24-year-olds have debts of almost £3,000, new figures suggest. The same number say their debts feel like a "heavy burden" according to research for the Money Advice Trust by YouGov. Richard from Scunthorpe tells Newsbeat "it's so easy to get into, so hard to get out of".

Does a car loan count as debt when buying a house?

If you're getting a mortgage, your DTI ratio calculation will use the actual monthly payment amount for certain types of debt, such as: Mortgage payment. Auto loans.

Which on-time payment will actually improve your credit score?

Consistently paying off your credit card on time every month is one step toward improving your credit scores. However, credit scores are calculated at different times, so if your score is calculated on a day you have a high balance, this could affect your score even if you pay off the balance in full the next day.