.dti-calc-container {
background: #ffffff;
border: 1px solid #e0e0e0;
border-radius: 8px;
padding: 30px;
box-shadow: 0 4px 6px rgba(0,0,0,0.05);
margin-bottom: 40px;
}
.dti-header {
text-align: center;
margin-bottom: 25px;
color: #2c3e50;
}
.dti-grid {
display: grid;
grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr;
gap: 20px;
}
@media (max-width: 600px) {
.dti-grid {
grid-template-columns: 1fr;
}
}
.input-group {
margin-bottom: 15px;
}
.input-group label {
display: block;
margin-bottom: 5px;
font-weight: 600;
color: #4a5568;
font-size: 0.95em;
}
.input-group input {
width: 100%;
padding: 10px;
border: 1px solid #cbd5e0;
border-radius: 4px;
font-size: 16px;
box-sizing: border-box;
transition: border-color 0.2s;
}
.input-group input:focus {
border-color: #3182ce;
outline: none;
}
.section-title {
grid-column: 1 / -1;
font-size: 1.1em;
color: #2b6cb0;
border-bottom: 2px solid #ebf8ff;
padding-bottom: 5px;
margin-top: 10px;
margin-bottom: 10px;
}
button.calc-btn {
background-color: #3182ce;
color: white;
border: none;
padding: 15px 30px;
font-size: 18px;
font-weight: bold;
border-radius: 4px;
cursor: pointer;
width: 100%;
margin-top: 20px;
transition: background-color 0.2s;
}
button.calc-btn:hover {
background-color: #2c5282;
}
#dti-result {
margin-top: 30px;
padding: 20px;
background-color: #f7fafc;
border-radius: 6px;
border-left: 5px solid #cbd5e0;
display: none;
}
.result-row {
display: flex;
justify-content: space-between;
margin-bottom: 10px;
align-items: center;
}
.result-label {
font-weight: 600;
color: #4a5568;
}
.result-value {
font-size: 1.2em;
font-weight: bold;
color: #2d3748;
}
.status-badge {
padding: 5px 10px;
border-radius: 15px;
color: white;
font-size: 0.85em;
font-weight: bold;
}
/* Article Styles */
.seo-content {
line-height: 1.7;
color: #2d3748;
}
.seo-content h2 {
color: #2c3e50;
margin-top: 30px;
border-bottom: 2px solid #3182ce;
display: inline-block;
padding-bottom: 5px;
}
.seo-content h3 {
color: #2b6cb0;
margin-top: 25px;
}
.seo-content ul {
background: #f8f9fa;
padding: 20px 40px;
border-radius: 8px;
}
.seo-content table {
width: 100%;
border-collapse: collapse;
margin: 20px 0;
}
.seo-content th, .seo-content td {
border: 1px solid #e2e8f0;
padding: 12px;
text-align: left;
}
.seo-content th {
background-color: #edf2f7;
font-weight: 600;
}
function calculateDTI() {
// 1. Retrieve Input Values
var grossIncome = parseFloat(document.getElementById("grossMonthlyIncome").value) || 0;
var housing = parseFloat(document.getElementById("rentMortgage").value) || 0;
var carLoans = parseFloat(document.getElementById("carLoans").value) || 0;
var studentLoans = parseFloat(document.getElementById("studentLoans").value) || 0;
var creditCards = parseFloat(document.getElementById("creditCards").value) || 0;
var otherDebts = parseFloat(document.getElementById("otherDebts").value) || 0;
// 2. Validate Data
if (grossIncome <= 0) {
alert("Please enter a valid Gross Monthly Income greater than zero.");
return;
}
// 3. Perform Calculations
var totalMonthlyDebt = housing + carLoans + studentLoans + creditCards + otherDebts;
// Calculate Front-End Ratio (Housing / Income)
var frontEndRatio = (housing / grossIncome) * 100;
// Calculate Back-End Ratio (Total Debt / Income)
var backEndRatio = (totalMonthlyDebt / grossIncome) * 100;
// 4. Update UI with Results
var resultContainer = document.getElementById("dti-result");
resultContainer.style.display = "block";
// Format numbers to currency and percentage
document.getElementById("dispIncome").innerHTML = "$" + grossIncome.toLocaleString(undefined, {minimumFractionDigits: 2, maximumFractionDigits: 2});
document.getElementById("dispDebt").innerHTML = "$" + totalMonthlyDebt.toLocaleString(undefined, {minimumFractionDigits: 2, maximumFractionDigits: 2});
document.getElementById("dispFrontRatio").innerHTML = frontEndRatio.toFixed(2) + "%";
document.getElementById("dispBackRatio").innerHTML = backEndRatio.toFixed(2) + "%";
// 5. Determine Status and Styling
var dtiBadge = document.getElementById("dtiBadge");
var dtiMessage = document.getElementById("dtiMessage");
var resultBox = document.querySelector(".result-row div"); // Wrapper for backend ratio
if (backEndRatio <= 35) {
dtiBadge.innerHTML = "Excellent";
dtiBadge.style.backgroundColor = "#48bb78"; // Green
dtiMessage.innerHTML = "Great job! Your DTI is in the excellent range. Lenders view you as a low-risk borrower.";
} else if (backEndRatio <= 43) {
dtiBadge.innerHTML = "Good / OK";
dtiBadge.style.backgroundColor = "#ed8936"; // Orange
dtiMessage.innerHTML = "Your DTI is manageable. You likely qualify for most loans, but watch your spending.";
} else if (backEndRatio <= 50) {
dtiBadge.innerHTML = "High Risk";
dtiBadge.style.backgroundColor = "#e53e3e"; // Red
dtiMessage.innerHTML = "Your DTI is high. You may have difficulty qualifying for a mortgage. Focus on paying down debt.";
} else {
dtiBadge.innerHTML = "Critical";
dtiBadge.style.backgroundColor = "#822727"; // Dark Red
dtiMessage.innerHTML = "Your debt load is very high relative to your income. Financial counseling is recommended.";
}
}
Debt-to-Income (DTI) Ratio Calculator
Step 1: Monthly Income
Step 2: Monthly Debt Payments
Your Results
Total Monthly Income:
$0.00
Total Monthly Debts:
$0.00
Front-End Ratio (Housing):
0%
Back-End Ratio (Total DTI):
0%
–
What is Debt-to-Income (DTI) Ratio?
Your Debt-to-Income (DTI) ratio is a crucial financial metric used by lenders to assess your ability to manage monthly payments and repay debts. It represents the percentage of your gross monthly income that goes toward paying debts.
Whether you are applying for a mortgage, a car loan, or a personal line of credit, lenders use this ratio to determine your borrowing risk. A lower DTI suggests you have a good balance between debt and income, while a higher DTI can signal potential financial trouble.
Understanding Front-End vs. Back-End Ratios
This calculator provides two specific metrics:
- Front-End Ratio: This is the percentage of your income that goes solely toward housing costs (rent, mortgage principal, interest, taxes, insurance, and HOA fees). Lenders typically prefer this to be below 28%.
- Back-End Ratio: This is the total percentage of your income that goes toward all recurring debt payments, including housing, credit cards, student loans, and car loans. Most mortgage lenders prefer this to be under 36%, though some programs allow up to 43% or even 50%.
What is a Good DTI Ratio?
Interpreting your results is key to financial planning. Use the table below to understand where your finances stand:
| DTI Ratio | Status | Lender Perception |
|---|---|---|
| 0% – 35% | Good | You are viewed as a low-risk borrower. You likely have money left over for saving and investing. |
| 36% – 43% | Manageable | You may still qualify for loans, but lenders might require stricter terms. |
| 44% – 50% | High Risk | You may struggle to get approved for a mortgage. Focus on paying down debt. |
| > 50% | Critical | You are likely spending more than you can afford. Consider debt consolidation or counseling. |
How to Calculate Your DTI Manually
The math behind the DTI calculator is straightforward. You can verify the numbers using this formula:
DTI = (Total Monthly Debt Payments ÷ Gross Monthly Income) × 100
For example, if your gross monthly income is $5,000 and your total monthly debts (rent, car, credit cards) equal $2,000:
($2,000 ÷ $5,000) = 0.40 × 100 = 40% DTI.
Tips to Lower Your DTI Ratio
If your calculation shows a high percentage, don't panic. Here are actionable steps to improve your standing:
- Increase your payments: Pay more than the minimum on credit cards to lower your monthly obligations faster.
- Avoid new debt: Do not open new credit lines or finance large purchases before applying for a mortgage.
- Refinance high-interest loans: Lowering your interest rate can reduce your monthly payment amount.
- Increase your income: Side hustles, overtime, or a higher-paying job will increase the denominator in the equation, lowering the ratio.