.dti-calculator-container {
font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Geneva, Verdana, sans-serif;
max-width: 800px;
margin: 0 auto;
background: #fff;
padding: 20px;
border: 1px solid #e0e0e0;
border-radius: 8px;
box-shadow: 0 4px 6px rgba(0,0,0,0.05);
}
.calc-header {
text-align: center;
margin-bottom: 30px;
background-color: #2c3e50;
color: white;
padding: 15px;
border-radius: 6px;
}
.calc-row {
display: flex;
flex-wrap: wrap;
margin-bottom: 15px;
justify-content: space-between;
align-items: center;
}
.calc-col {
flex: 0 0 48%;
min-width: 280px;
margin-bottom: 10px;
}
label {
display: block;
margin-bottom: 5px;
font-weight: 600;
color: #333;
font-size: 14px;
}
.input-wrapper {
position: relative;
}
.input-wrapper span {
position: absolute;
left: 10px;
top: 50%;
transform: translateY(-50%);
color: #777;
}
input[type="number"] {
width: 100%;
padding: 10px 10px 10px 25px;
border: 1px solid #ccc;
border-radius: 4px;
font-size: 16px;
box-sizing: border-box;
}
input[type="number"]:focus {
border-color: #3498db;
outline: none;
box-shadow: 0 0 5px rgba(52, 152, 219, 0.3);
}
.section-title {
font-size: 18px;
color: #2c3e50;
border-bottom: 2px solid #eee;
padding-bottom: 5px;
margin-bottom: 20px;
margin-top: 10px;
}
button.calc-btn {
width: 100%;
background-color: #27ae60;
color: white;
border: none;
padding: 15px;
font-size: 18px;
font-weight: bold;
border-radius: 4px;
cursor: pointer;
transition: background-color 0.3s;
margin-top: 20px;
}
button.calc-btn:hover {
background-color: #219150;
}
#dti-result-area {
margin-top: 30px;
display: none;
background-color: #f8f9fa;
border: 1px solid #ddd;
padding: 20px;
border-radius: 6px;
text-align: center;
}
.dti-percentage {
font-size: 48px;
font-weight: bold;
color: #2c3e50;
margin: 10px 0;
}
.dti-status {
font-size: 20px;
font-weight: 600;
padding: 5px 15px;
border-radius: 20px;
display: inline-block;
color: white;
}
.status-good { background-color: #27ae60; }
.status-manageable { background-color: #f39c12; }
.status-high { background-color: #e74c3c; }
.breakdown-row {
display: flex;
justify-content: space-between;
margin-top: 15px;
border-top: 1px solid #ddd;
padding-top: 10px;
font-size: 14px;
}
/* Article Styles */
.seo-content {
margin-top: 50px;
line-height: 1.6;
color: #444;
}
.seo-content h2 {
color: #2c3e50;
font-size: 24px;
margin-top: 30px;
border-bottom: 2px solid #3498db;
display: inline-block;
padding-bottom: 5px;
}
.seo-content h3 {
color: #34495e;
font-size: 20px;
margin-top: 20px;
}
.seo-content ul {
padding-left: 20px;
}
.seo-content li {
margin-bottom: 10px;
}
.info-box {
background-color: #e8f6f3;
border-left: 5px solid #1abc9c;
padding: 15px;
margin: 20px 0;
}
@media (max-width: 600px) {
.calc-col { flex: 0 0 100%; }
}
function calculateDTI() {
// 1. Get Inputs
var incomeInput = document.getElementById('grossIncome').value;
var rentInput = document.getElementById('rentMortgage').value;
var autoInput = document.getElementById('autoLoans').value;
var studentInput = document.getElementById('studentLoans').value;
var ccInput = document.getElementById('creditCards').value;
var otherInput = document.getElementById('otherDebt').value;
// 2. Parse and Validate
var income = parseFloat(incomeInput);
// Check if income is valid
if (isNaN(income) || income <= 0) {
alert("Please enter a valid Gross Monthly Income greater than zero.");
return;
}
// Treat empty debt fields as 0
var rent = isNaN(parseFloat(rentInput)) ? 0 : parseFloat(rentInput);
var auto = isNaN(parseFloat(autoInput)) ? 0 : parseFloat(autoInput);
var student = isNaN(parseFloat(studentInput)) ? 0 : parseFloat(studentInput);
var cc = isNaN(parseFloat(ccInput)) ? 0 : parseFloat(ccInput);
var other = isNaN(parseFloat(otherInput)) ? 0 : parseFloat(otherInput);
// 3. Perform Calculations
var totalDebt = rent + auto + student + cc + other;
var dtiRatio = (totalDebt / income) * 100;
var disposable = income – totalDebt;
// 4. Determine Status and Recommendation
var statusText = "";
var statusClass = "";
var recommendation = "";
if (dtiRatio <= 35) {
statusText = "Excellent";
statusClass = "status-good";
recommendation = "Great Job! Your debt load is very manageable. Most lenders will view you as a favorable candidate for new credit or mortgages.";
} else if (dtiRatio > 35 && dtiRatio <= 43) {
statusText = "Manageable";
statusClass = "status-manageable";
recommendation = "You are in the okay zone. You likely qualify for most mortgages, but lenders may scrutinize your application closer. Try to pay down some credit card debt before applying for large loans.";
} else if (dtiRatio > 43 && dtiRatio <= 50) {
statusText = "High Concern";
statusClass = "status-high";
recommendation = "Caution needed. Many mortgage lenders set a hard limit at 43%. You may face higher interest rates or rejection. Focus on aggressive debt repayment.";
} else {
statusText = "Critical";
statusClass = "status-high";
recommendation = "Action required. A DTI over 50% indicates significant financial stress. Lenders will consider this high risk. Consider debt consolidation or speaking with a financial advisor.";
}
// 5. Update UI
document.getElementById('dti-percent-display').innerHTML = dtiRatio.toFixed(1) + "%";
var statusEl = document.getElementById('dti-status-display');
statusEl.innerHTML = statusText;
statusEl.className = "dti-status " + statusClass;
document.getElementById('display-income').innerHTML = "$" + income.toLocaleString(undefined, {minimumFractionDigits: 2, maximumFractionDigits: 2});
document.getElementById('display-debt').innerHTML = "$" + totalDebt.toLocaleString(undefined, {minimumFractionDigits: 2, maximumFractionDigits: 2});
document.getElementById('display-disposable').innerHTML = "$" + disposable.toLocaleString(undefined, {minimumFractionDigits: 2, maximumFractionDigits: 2});
document.getElementById('recommendation-text').innerHTML = recommendation;
// Show result box
document.getElementById('dti-result-area').style.display = "block";
// Scroll to result
document.getElementById('dti-result-area').scrollIntoView({behavior: 'smooth'});
}
Debt-to-Income (DTI) Ratio Calculator
Analyze your financial health for loans and mortgages
1. Monthly Income
$
Include wages, salary, tips, bonuses, and other reliable income.
2. Monthly Debt Obligations
$
$
$
$
$
Your DTI Ratio Is:
0%
Calculating…
Total Monthly Income:
$0.00
Total Monthly Debt:
$0.00
Disposable Income (Gross – Debt):
$0.00
Understanding Your Debt-to-Income (DTI) Ratio
Your Debt-to-Income (DTI) ratio is one of the most critical metrics lenders use to assess your creditworthiness. Unlike your credit score, which measures your history of paying debts, your DTI measures your capacity to repay new debt based on your current income.
Formula: DTI = (Total Monthly Debt Payments / Gross Monthly Income) × 100
Why DTI Matters for Mortgages and Loans
When you apply for a mortgage, auto loan, or personal loan, the bank wants to ensure you aren't overextended. Most qualified mortgages adhere to the "43% rule," meaning your total monthly debts (including the new mortgage payment) generally should not exceed 43% of your gross monthly income.
What constitutes a "Good" DTI Ratio?
- 0% – 35% (Excellent): You have a healthy balance between debt and income. You likely have money left over for savings and investments. Lenders see you as low risk.
- 36% – 43% (Manageable): This is the standard range for mortgage approval. While you qualify for loans, you should be careful about taking on new debt.
- 44% – 49% (Concerning): You may struggle to find favorable loan terms. You are spending nearly half your pre-tax income on debt repayment.
- 50%+ (Critical): You are considered high risk. Before applying for new credit, focus exclusively on reducing your current debt load.
Front-End vs. Back-End DTI
Lenders often look at two types of ratios:
- Front-End Ratio: This only considers your housing costs (mortgage, HOA fees, property tax, insurance) divided by your income. Lenders typically prefer this to be under 28%.
- Back-End Ratio: This is what the calculator above computes. It includes housing costs plus all other monthly debt obligations like credit cards, car loans, and student loans. Lenders prefer this to be under 36% (though up to 43% is often allowed).
How to Lower Your DTI Ratio
If your ratio is higher than you'd like, there are two mathematical ways to fix it: increase your income or decrease your debt.
- Snowball Method: Pay off small balances first to eliminate monthly minimum payments quickly.
- Refinance High-Interest Debt: Lowering your interest rate on a car loan or consolidating credit cards can reduce your monthly obligation, instantly improving your DTI.
- Avoid New Debt: Do not open new credit lines before applying for a major loan like a mortgage.