.dti-calculator-container {
font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Geneva, Verdana, sans-serif;
max-width: 800px;
margin: 0 auto;
color: #333;
line-height: 1.6;
}
.dti-calc-wrapper {
background-color: #f8f9fa;
border: 1px solid #e9ecef;
border-radius: 8px;
padding: 30px;
margin-bottom: 40px;
box-shadow: 0 4px 6px rgba(0,0,0,0.05);
}
.dti-calc-header {
text-align: center;
margin-bottom: 25px;
}
.dti-calc-header h3 {
margin: 0;
color: #2c3e50;
font-size: 24px;
}
.dti-form-grid {
display: grid;
grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr;
gap: 20px;
}
@media (max-width: 600px) {
.dti-form-grid {
grid-template-columns: 1fr;
}
}
.dti-input-group {
margin-bottom: 15px;
}
.dti-input-group label {
display: block;
margin-bottom: 8px;
font-weight: 600;
font-size: 14px;
color: #495057;
}
.dti-input-group input {
width: 100%;
padding: 10px;
border: 1px solid #ced4da;
border-radius: 4px;
font-size: 16px;
box-sizing: border-box; /* Important for padding */
}
.dti-input-group input:focus {
border-color: #007bff;
outline: none;
box-shadow: 0 0 0 3px rgba(0,123,255,0.25);
}
.dti-btn-container {
text-align: center;
margin-top: 20px;
grid-column: span 2;
}
@media (max-width: 600px) {
.dti-btn-container {
grid-column: span 1;
}
}
.dti-btn {
background-color: #007bff;
color: white;
border: none;
padding: 12px 30px;
font-size: 18px;
font-weight: bold;
border-radius: 4px;
cursor: pointer;
transition: background-color 0.2s;
}
.dti-btn:hover {
background-color: #0056b3;
}
.dti-results {
margin-top: 30px;
border-top: 2px solid #dee2e6;
padding-top: 20px;
display: none; /* Hidden by default */
}
.dti-result-box {
text-align: center;
padding: 20px;
border-radius: 6px;
margin-bottom: 15px;
}
.dti-result-value {
font-size: 42px;
font-weight: 800;
margin: 10px 0;
}
.dti-status-good { background-color: #d4edda; color: #155724; border: 1px solid #c3e6cb; }
.dti-status-warn { background-color: #fff3cd; color: #856404; border: 1px solid #ffeeba; }
.dti-status-bad { background-color: #f8d7da; color: #721c24; border: 1px solid #f5c6cb; }
.dti-breakdown {
display: flex;
justify-content: space-between;
font-size: 15px;
color: #666;
border-top: 1px solid #eee;
padding-top: 15px;
}
.article-content h2 { color: #2c3e50; margin-top: 40px; border-bottom: 2px solid #eee; padding-bottom: 10px; }
.article-content h3 { color: #34495e; margin-top: 25px; }
.article-content p { margin-bottom: 15px; }
.article-content ul { margin-bottom: 20px; }
.article-content li { margin-bottom: 8px; }
function calculateDTI() {
// Get inputs using var
var income = parseFloat(document.getElementById('monthlyIncome').value);
var housing = parseFloat(document.getElementById('rentMortgage').value);
var car = parseFloat(document.getElementById('carLoans').value);
var student = parseFloat(document.getElementById('studentLoans').value);
var cards = parseFloat(document.getElementById('creditCards').value);
var other = parseFloat(document.getElementById('otherDebt').value);
// Handle NaNs (treat empty fields as 0)
if (isNaN(income)) income = 0;
if (isNaN(housing)) housing = 0;
if (isNaN(car)) car = 0;
if (isNaN(student)) student = 0;
if (isNaN(cards)) cards = 0;
if (isNaN(other)) other = 0;
// Validation
if (income <= 0) {
alert("Please enter a valid Gross Monthly Income greater than zero.");
return;
}
// Calculations
var totalDebt = housing + car + student + cards + other;
var dtiRatio = (totalDebt / income) * 100;
// Display formatting
var dtiFormatted = dtiRatio.toFixed(2) + "%";
var debtFormatted = "$" + totalDebt.toLocaleString('en-US', {minimumFractionDigits: 2, maximumFractionDigits: 2});
var incomeFormatted = "$" + income.toLocaleString('en-US', {minimumFractionDigits: 2, maximumFractionDigits: 2});
// Update DOM
document.getElementById('dtiPercentage').innerHTML = dtiFormatted;
document.getElementById('totalDebtDisplay').innerHTML = debtFormatted;
document.getElementById('totalIncomeDisplay').innerHTML = incomeFormatted;
// Determine status and color
var resultBox = document.getElementById('dtiResultBox');
var message = document.getElementById('dtiMessage');
// Reset classes
resultBox.className = "dti-result-box";
if (dtiRatio 36 && dtiRatio 43 && dtiRatio <= 50) {
resultBox.className += " dti-status-warn";
message.innerHTML = "At Risk: You may face higher interest rates or difficulty qualifying.";
} else {
resultBox.className += " dti-status-bad";
message.innerHTML = "Critical: You should focus on reducing debt before applying for loans.";
}
// Show results
document.getElementById('dtiResults').style.display = "block";
}
Debt-to-Income (DTI) Ratio Calculator
Calculate your DTI to see if you qualify for a mortgage or loan.
Your Debt-to-Income Ratio is:
0%
Total Monthly Debt: $0
Gross Monthly Income: $0
What is a Debt-to-Income (DTI) Ratio?
Your Debt-to-Income (DTI) ratio is one of the most critical metrics lenders use to assess your ability to repay a loan. Unlike your credit score, which measures your history of paying bills, your DTI ratio measures your current capacity to take on new payments. It represents the percentage of your gross monthly income that goes toward paying your monthly debt obligations.
This calculator helps you estimate your DTI accurately by factoring in all major debt categories, including housing, vehicle loans, student debt, and credit card minimums.
How to Interpret Your Results
Understanding where your ratio falls on the lending spectrum is vital for financial planning. Here is a breakdown of standard industry thresholds:
- 36% or Less (Excellent): This is the ideal zone. Most lenders view borrowers in this range as low-risk. You will likely qualify for the best interest rates and terms.
- 36% to 43% (Manageable): This is acceptable for many lenders, including those offering Qualified Mortgages. You may still get approved, though perhaps with stricter requirements.
- 43% to 50% (High Risk): Getting approved becomes difficult in this range. You may be required to have a co-signer or pay a higher interest rate. FHA loans often allow ratios up to 50% (or higher with compensating factors).
- Above 50% (Critical): Borrowing options are severely limited. Financial experts recommend focusing aggressively on debt repayment before applying for new credit.
Front-End vs. Back-End Ratio
When applying for a mortgage, lenders often look at two specific types of DTI ratios:
1. The Front-End Ratio (Housing Ratio)
This calculates only your projected housing expenses (principal, interest, taxes, insurance, and HOA fees) divided by your gross income. Lenders typically prefer this to be under 28%.
2. The Back-End Ratio (Total DTI)
This includes your housing costs plus all other monthly debts (credit cards, student loans, etc.). This is the number calculated by the tool above. Lenders typically prefer this to be under 36%, though 43% is a common hard limit for conventional loans.
What is Included in the Calculation?
To get an accurate result, ensure you are including the correct figures in the calculator inputs:
- Gross Monthly Income: This is your income before taxes and deductions. Include salary, bonuses, alimony received, and reliable investment income.
- Recurring Debt: Include minimum monthly payments on credit cards, car loans, student loans, and child support payments.
- Exclusions: Do not include non-debt monthly expenses like utilities (electricity, water), groceries, gas, or entertainment subscriptions. These are not considered debts by lenders.
How to Lower Your DTI Ratio
If your result is higher than 43%, consider these strategies to lower it before applying for a major loan:
- Increase Income: Taking on a side hustle or asking for a raise increases the denominator in the calculation, lowering the percentage.
- Snowball Debt Payments: Focus on paying off small balances completely to eliminate that monthly minimum payment from the equation.
- Avoid New Debt: Do not open new credit cards or finance large purchases in the months leading up to a mortgage application.