What is the debt-to-income ratio for a personal loan?

Asked by: Ora Nienow  |  Last update: September 18, 2025
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It can help determine your approval for a personal loan. When it comes to personal loans, lenders often look for borrowers with a DTI no higher than 40%. However, sometimes exceptions are made for borrowers with a higher DTI but generally good credit.

What is the maximum debt-to-income ratio a lender will allow?

Your particular ratio in addition to your overall monthly income and debt, and credit rating are weighed when you apply for a new credit account. Standards and guidelines vary, most lenders like to see a DTI below 35─36% but some mortgage lenders allow up to 43─45% DTI, with some FHA-insured loans allowing a 50% DTI.

What is the average person's debt-to-income ratio?

Average American debt payments in 2024: 11.5% of income

The most recent debt payment-to-income ratio, from the second quarter of 2024, is 11.5%. That means the average American spends nearly 12% of their monthly income on debt payments.

Is a 7% debt-to-income ratio good?

Debt-to-income ratio is your monthly debt obligations compared to your gross monthly income (before taxes), expressed as a percentage. A good debt-to-income ratio is less than or equal to 36%. Any debt-to-income ratio above 43% is considered to be too much debt.

What is the debt-to-income ratio for personal finance?

Debt-to-income ratio = your monthly debt payments divided by your gross monthly income.

How to Calculate Your Debt to Income Ratios (DTI) First Time Home Buyer Know this!

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What is an acceptable debt-to-income ratio for a personal loan?

When it comes to personal loans, lenders often look for borrowers with a DTI no higher than 40%. However, sometimes exceptions are made for borrowers with a higher DTI but generally good credit.

What is a realistic debt-to-income ratio?

35% or less: Looking Good - Relative to your income, your debt is at a manageable level. You most likely have money left over for saving or spending after you've paid your bills. Lenders generally view a lower DTI as favorable.

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.

How much debt is normal?

The average debt an American owes is $104,215 across mortgage loans, home equity lines of credit, auto loans, credit card debt, student loan debt, and other debts like personal loans. Data from Experian breaks down the average debt a consumer holds based on type, age, credit score, and state.

What is a good monthly income for a credit card?

If your monthly income is $2,500, your DTI ratio would be 64 percent, which might be too high to qualify for some credit cards. With an income of roughly $3,700 and the same debt, however, you'd have a DTI ratio of 43 percent and would have better chances of qualifying for a credit card.

At what age are most people debt free?

The Standard Route is what credit companies and lenders recommend. If this is the graduate's choice, he or she will be debt free around the age of 58. It will take a total of 36 years to complete. It's a whole lot of time but it's the standard for a lot of people.

Is rent considered in debt-to-income ratio?

If you're currently leasing an apartment, your monthly rent is typically included in your debt-to-income ratio. Your housing payment is considered a necessary expense, even if you rent.

How many people have $50,000 in credit card debt?

Running up $50,000 in credit card debt is not impossible. About two million Americans do it every year. Paying off that bill?

What debts are excluded from DTI?

Lenders generally exclude certain debts when calculating a mortgage's debt-to-income (DTI). These debts may include: Debts that you'll pay off within ten months of the mortgage closing date. Debts not reported on credit reports, such as utility bills and medical bills.

What is a good credit score?

There are some differences around how the various data elements on a credit report factor into the score calculations. Although credit scoring models vary, generally, credit scores from 660 to 724 are considered good; 725 to 759 are considered very good; and 760 and up are considered excellent.

What is the 28/36 rule?

According to the 28/36 rule, you should spend no more than 28% of your gross monthly income on housing and no more than 36% on all debts. Housing costs can include: Your monthly mortgage payment. Homeowners Insurance. Private mortgage insurance.

What is the average credit score?

The average FICO credit score in the US is 717, according to the latest FICO data. The average VantageScore is 701 as of January 2024.

What's a bad debt to income ratio?

36% to 49% means your DTI ratio is adequate, but you have room for improvement. Lenders might ask for other eligibility requirements. 50% or higher DTI ratio means you have limited money to save or spend. As a result, you won't likely have money to handle an unforeseen event and will have limited borrowing options.

What's the average American credit card debt?

At the close of 2019, the average household had a credit card debt of $7,499. During the first quarter of 2021, it dropped to $6,209. In 2022, credit card debt rose again to $7,951 and has increased linearly. In 2023, it reached $8,599 — $75 shy of the 2024 average.

Do credit cards count in the 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.

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.

What is the perfect debt-to-income ratio?

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.”

How much credit card debt is acceptable?

It's your credit card debt ratio. Generally, you never want your minimum credit card payments to exceed 10 percent of your net income. Net income is the income you take home after taxes and other deductions. You use the net income for this ratio because that's the income you must spend on bills and other expenses.

What is the maximum DTI for a conventional loan?

Generally, it is most conventional loan programs from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, portfolio loans, and jumbo loans. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac both require mortgage borrowers to have no more than 45-50% DTI for an individual loan application.

How many loans are too many?

There's no formal restriction on how many personal loans you can have at once. However, some lenders might limit how many concurrent personal loans you can have with them.