Debt-to-income ratio calculator
Enter income, the new housing payment, and monthly debts. See the front-end and back-end ratios, and how they compare with each loan program’s limits.
Gross monthly income
Housing payment
Need the principal and interest? Use the mortgage calculator.
Monthly debts
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Front-end ratio
Housing payment ÷ income
÷
Back-end ratio
Housing plus other debts ÷ income
÷
Every loan type fits its standard limit.
Conventional
Fits
/momax at 50% total
FHA
Fits
/momax at 31/43
VA
Fits
/momax at 41% total
USDA
Fits
/momax at 29/41
Estimates from published limits, not an approval.
Every loan type fits its standard limit.
How the ratios fit each program
DU, LPA, TOTAL, and GUS are the agencies’ automated underwriting systems, and their findings decide.
Guidelines current as of November 8, 2026. These are estimates from published limits, not an approval.
Conventional
Fannie Mae DU
Within 50% total
Max housing payment
$3,000/mo
at 50% total
- Fits50% total · DU maximum
Details and sources
- DU findings decide, up to a 50% total ratio. Cash-out refinances may have a lower maximum.
- No housing ratio.
- Fannie Mae Selling Guide, B3-6-02, Debt-to-Income Ratios (opens in a new tab) · Topic dated April 2, 2025
Fannie Mae manual
Fits with conditions
Max housing payment
$1,950/mo
at 36% total
- Over36% total · Standard
- Fits45% total · With score and reserves
Details and sources
- 45% total · With score and reserves
- The credit score and reserves the Eligibility Matrix requires. Fannie Mae Eligibility Matrix (opens in a new tab)
- No housing ratio.
- Fannie Mae Selling Guide, B3-6-02, Debt-to-Income Ratios (opens in a new tab) · Topic dated April 2, 2025
Freddie Mac LPA
LPA decides
Max housing payment
None published
Details and sources
- The Guide sets no ratio for LPA loans. An Accept means LPA found the ratios acceptable.
- Freddie Mac Seller/Servicer Guide, 5401.2, Monthly debt payment-to-income (DTI) ratio (opens in a new tab) · Effective August 5, 2026
Freddie Mac manual
Fits with conditions
Max housing payment
$1,950/mo
at 28/36
- Over28/36 · Guidelines
- Fits45% total · Above the guidelines
Details and sources
- 45% total · Above the guidelines
- The lender must judge ability to pay. A total ratio over 36% needs its reasons documented in the file. 45% is the hard maximum.
- Over 45% total, Freddie Mac won’t buy the loan.
- Cash-out refinances and 2-4 unit homes stay at 36% except in rare cases.
FHA
FHA TOTAL Accept
TOTAL decides
Max housing payment
None published
Details and sources
- The handbook sets no ratio for an Accept. A Refer must be manually underwritten.
- HUD Handbook 4000.1, Update 18, II.A.4.a.iv, AUS findings (opens in a new tab) · Issued August 12, 2026
FHA manual
Within 31/43
Max housing payment
$2,325/mo
at 31/43
- Fits31/43 · Standard
- Not needed33/45 · Energy-efficient home
- Not needed37/47 · One compensating factor
- Not needed40/40 · No discretionary debt
- Not needed40/50 · Two compensating factors
Details and sources
- Credit scores of 500 to 579, or no credit score, are capped at 31/43, or 33/45 for an energy-efficient home.
- HUD Handbook 4000.1, Update 18, II.A.5.d.viii, Approvable Ratio Requirements (Manual) (opens in a new tab) · Issued August 12, 2026
- HUD Handbook 4000.1, Update 18, II.A.5.d.ix, compensating factors (opens in a new tab) · Issued August 12, 2026
VA
VA
Within 41% total
Max housing payment
$2,325/mo
at 41% total
- Fits41% total · Benchmark
- Not neededNo cap · Above 41%
Details and sources
- Residual income is the main test. The 41% ratio is a guide, not a cap, and it applies to AUS approvals too.
- No housing ratio, and no monthly mortgage insurance.
- VA Pamphlet 26-7, Chapter 4, Topic 10.b, Debt-to-Income Ratio (opens in a new tab) · Updated August 26, 2026
USDA
USDA GUS Accept
GUS decides
Max housing payment
None published
Details and sources
- Includes Accept Full Documentation. No ratio waiver is needed.
- USDA Handbook HB-1-3555, Chapter 11, Section 11.3, ratio waivers (opens in a new tab) · Revised August 5, 2024
USDA Refer or manual
Within 29/41
Max housing payment
$2,175/mo
at 29/41
- Fits29/41 · Standard
- Not needed32/44 · Ratio waiver
Details and sources
- Covers Refer, Refer with Caution, and manual files.
- The 29% housing limit applies when the final GUS submission came on or after November 4, 2025.
- USDA Rural Development lender bulletin, Update to PITI Ratio Guidelines (opens in a new tab) · Published September 16, 2025
- USDA Rural Development lender bulletin, January Jumpstart (opens in a new tab) · Published January 28, 2026
- Code of Federal Regulations, 7 CFR 3555.151(h)(1)(i) (opens in a new tab) · Last amended November 29, 2022
- USDA Handbook HB-1-3555, Chapter 11, Section 11.3, ratio waivers (opens in a new tab) · Revised August 5, 2024
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Front-end and back-end ratios
The front-end ratio is the housing payment divided by gross monthly income. Some guides call it the housing ratio.
The back-end ratio is the housing payment plus all other monthly debts, divided by gross monthly income. Some guides call it the total ratio, or just DTI.
Loan officers write the pair as housing over total. A 31% front-end ratio and a 43% back-end ratio is 31/43.
Take a borrower with $9,000 of gross monthly income, a $2,820 housing payment, and $790 in other monthly debts. The front-end ratio is $2,820 ÷ $9,000, or 31.33%. The back-end ratio is $3,610 ÷ $9,000, or 40.11%.
Not every program uses both. Fannie Mae and VA set only a total ratio. FHA, Freddie Mac, and USDA manual underwriting test the housing ratio too.
What counts as debt
The housing payment is principal and interest, property taxes, homeowners insurance, mortgage insurance, and HOA dues. The guides also count items like flood insurance, special assessments, and payments on a second mortgage on the home. If the file has them, add them to the closest line.
Other debts are the monthly payments on loans and credit cards: a car loan, student loans, and the minimum payment on each card. Add any other monthly obligation the borrower owes. Each guide has its own rules for which debts count and how to figure the payment.
Income is gross: pay before taxes and deductions. Each guide also has its own rules for which income counts.
The AUS and the guides decide
This calculator checks the published ratio limits. It doesn’t underwrite the loan. When a file runs through DU, LPA, TOTAL, or GUS, the findings decide. Freddie Mac, FHA, and USDA publish no ratio limit for an LPA Accept, a TOTAL Accept, or a GUS Accept, so the calculator shows no number for them. Credit, reserves, residual income, and the rest of each guide still apply.
Guidelines are current as of November 8, 2026. Check the source before you rely on a limit.
Sources
- Fannie Mae Selling Guide, B3-6-02, Debt-to-Income Ratios (opens in a new tab) · Topic dated April 2, 2025
- Freddie Mac Seller/Servicer Guide, 5401.2, Monthly debt payment-to-income (DTI) ratio (opens in a new tab) · Effective August 5, 2026
- Freddie Mac Seller/Servicer Guide, 5401.1, Monthly housing expense-to-income ratio (opens in a new tab) · Effective May 6, 2026
- HUD Handbook 4000.1, Update 18, II.A.4.a.iv, AUS findings (opens in a new tab) · Issued August 12, 2026
- HUD Handbook 4000.1, Update 18, II.A.5.d.viii, Approvable Ratio Requirements (Manual) (opens in a new tab) · Issued August 12, 2026
- HUD Handbook 4000.1, Update 18, II.A.5.d.ix, compensating factors (opens in a new tab) · Issued August 12, 2026
- VA Pamphlet 26-7, Chapter 4, Topic 10.b, Debt-to-Income Ratio (opens in a new tab) · Updated August 26, 2026
- USDA Handbook HB-1-3555, Chapter 11, Section 11.3, ratio waivers (opens in a new tab) · Revised August 5, 2024
- USDA Rural Development lender bulletin, Update to PITI Ratio Guidelines (opens in a new tab) · Published September 16, 2025
- USDA Rural Development lender bulletin, January Jumpstart (opens in a new tab) · Published January 28, 2026
- Code of Federal Regulations, 7 CFR 3555.151(h)(1)(i) (opens in a new tab) · Last amended November 29, 2022
- Fannie Mae Eligibility Matrix (opens in a new tab) · Credit score and reserve rules for Fannie Mae manual
Frequently asked questions
How do you calculate a debt-to-income ratio?
Divide the monthly payments by gross monthly income and multiply by 100. The front-end ratio uses only the housing payment. The back-end ratio uses the housing payment plus all other monthly debts. For example, $2,820 in housing and $790 in other debts on $9,000 of income is 31.33% front-end and 40.11% back-end.
What is the maximum DTI for a conventional loan?
Fannie Mae allows a total ratio up to 50% for a loan underwritten through DU. A manually underwritten loan can go to 36%, or up to 45% with the credit score and reserves the Eligibility Matrix requires. Fannie Mae uses no housing ratio. For Freddie Mac, LPA decides, and the Guide sets no ratio for LPA loans. A manual Freddie Mac loan uses 28% housing and 36% total as guidelines, with 45% total as the hard maximum.
What is the maximum DTI for an FHA loan?
With a TOTAL Accept, the handbook sets no ratio, so TOTAL decides. A manually underwritten loan can go to 31/43 with no compensating factors, or 33/45 for an energy-efficient home. With a credit score of 580 or higher, it can go to 37/47 with one compensating factor, 40/40 with no discretionary debt, or 40/50 with two compensating factors. Scores of 500 to 579, or no score, are capped at 31/43, or 33/45 for an energy-efficient home.
Does a VA loan have a DTI limit?
Not a hard one. VA uses 41% total as a benchmark, not a cap, and has no housing ratio. Residual income is the main test. Above 41%, the underwriter’s supervisor must sign a statement justifying the loan. That statement isn’t needed when residual income is at least 120% of the VA table amount, or when tax-free income alone puts the ratio over 41%. The rule applies to AUS approvals too.
What is the DTI limit for a USDA loan?
With a GUS Accept or Accept Full Documentation, GUS decides and no ratio waiver is needed. For a Refer, Refer with Caution, or manual file, the limits are 29% housing and 41% total. A ratio waiver allows up to 32% housing and 44% total. It needs a credit score of 680 or higher for every applicant and at least one compensating factor. The 29% housing limit applies when the final GUS submission came on or after November 4, 2025.
Do the AUS findings override these limits?
For a loan run through DU, LPA, TOTAL, or GUS, the findings decide, along with any hard cap the guide sets, such as Fannie Mae’s 50%. This calculator checks the published ratio limits. It doesn’t underwrite the loan. Credit, reserves, residual income, and the rest of each agency’s guide still apply.