.dti-calc-container {
background-color: #f9f9f9;
border: 1px solid #e0e0e0;
border-radius: 8px;
padding: 30px;
margin-bottom: 40px;
box-shadow: 0 4px 6px rgba(0,0,0,0.05);
}
.dti-header {
text-align: center;
margin-bottom: 25px;
color: #2c3e50;
}
.dti-input-group {
margin-bottom: 15px;
display: flex;
flex-wrap: wrap;
justify-content: space-between;
align-items: center;
}
.dti-input-group label {
flex: 1 0 200px;
font-weight: 600;
margin-bottom: 5px;
color: #444;
}
.dti-input-wrapper {
position: relative;
flex: 1 0 200px;
}
.dti-currency-symbol {
position: absolute;
left: 10px;
top: 50%;
transform: translateY(-50%);
color: #777;
}
.dti-input-field {
width: 100%;
padding: 10px 10px 10px 25px;
border: 1px solid #ccc;
border-radius: 4px;
box-sizing: border-box;
font-size: 16px;
}
.dti-input-field:focus {
border-color: #3498db;
outline: none;
}
.dti-btn {
display: block;
width: 100%;
padding: 15px;
background-color: #2980b9;
color: #fff;
border: none;
border-radius: 4px;
font-size: 18px;
font-weight: bold;
cursor: pointer;
transition: background 0.3s;
margin-top: 20px;
}
.dti-btn:hover {
background-color: #21618c;
}
.dti-result-box {
margin-top: 30px;
padding: 20px;
background-color: #fff;
border-left: 5px solid #2980b9;
display: none;
}
.dti-result-row {
display: flex;
justify-content: space-between;
margin-bottom: 10px;
font-size: 16px;
}
.dti-main-result {
font-size: 28px;
font-weight: bold;
color: #2980b9;
text-align: center;
margin: 20px 0;
}
.dti-status-indicator {
text-align: center;
font-weight: bold;
padding: 10px;
border-radius: 4px;
color: #fff;
}
.dti-status-green { background-color: #27ae60; }
.dti-status-orange { background-color: #f39c12; }
.dti-status-red { background-color: #c0392b; }
/* Content Styling */
.dti-content h2 { color: #2c3e50; border-bottom: 2px solid #3498db; padding-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 40px; }
.dti-content h3 { color: #34495e; margin-top: 30px; }
.dti-content p { margin-bottom: 15px; }
.dti-content ul { margin-bottom: 20px; padding-left: 20px; }
.dti-content li { margin-bottom: 8px; }
@media (max-width: 600px) {
.dti-input-group { flex-direction: column; align-items: stretch; }
.dti-input-group label { margin-bottom: 5px; }
}
function calculateDTI() {
// Get Input Values
var income = parseFloat(document.getElementById('grossIncome').value);
var rent = parseFloat(document.getElementById('rentPayment').value);
var car = parseFloat(document.getElementById('carPayment').value);
var student = parseFloat(document.getElementById('studentLoans').value);
var credit = parseFloat(document.getElementById('creditCards').value);
var other = parseFloat(document.getElementById('otherDebt').value);
// Sanitize Inputs (Treat NaN as 0)
if (isNaN(income)) income = 0;
if (isNaN(rent)) rent = 0;
if (isNaN(car)) car = 0;
if (isNaN(student)) student = 0;
if (isNaN(credit)) credit = 0;
if (isNaN(other)) other = 0;
// Validation
if (income <= 0) {
alert("Please enter a valid Gross Monthly Income greater than 0.");
return;
}
// Calculation
var totalDebt = rent + car + student + credit + other;
var dtiRatio = (totalDebt / income) * 100;
// Format Results
var formattedIncome = "$" + income.toLocaleString(undefined, {minimumFractionDigits: 2, maximumFractionDigits: 2});
var formattedDebt = "$" + totalDebt.toLocaleString(undefined, {minimumFractionDigits: 2, maximumFractionDigits: 2});
var formattedRatio = dtiRatio.toFixed(2) + "%";
// Update DOM
document.getElementById('displayIncome').innerText = formattedIncome;
document.getElementById('displayDebt').innerText = formattedDebt;
document.getElementById('finalRatio').innerText = formattedRatio;
document.getElementById('dtiResult').style.display = 'block';
// Determine Status
var statusBox = document.getElementById('statusBox');
var analysisText = document.getElementById('analysisText');
statusBox.className = 'dti-status-indicator'; // reset classes
if (dtiRatio 36 && dtiRatio 43 && dtiRatio <= 50) {
statusBox.innerText = "High Risk / Challenging";
statusBox.classList.add('dti-status-orange');
analysisText.innerText = "A DTI between 43% and 50% makes it harder to qualify for a conventional mortgage. Some FHA loans may still be an option, but lenders may require additional compensating factors.";
} else {
statusBox.innerText = "Critical / Very High Risk";
statusBox.classList.add('dti-status-red');
analysisText.innerText = "A DTI over 50% suggests you have more debt than is manageable relative to your income. Most lenders will deny mortgage applications at this level. Consider debt consolidation or increasing income.";
}
}
Calculate Your DTI Ratio
$
Monthly Debt Payments
$
$
$
$
$
Total Monthly Income:
$0.00
Total Monthly Debt:
$0.00
Your DTI Ratio: 0.00%
—
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 financial health. It represents the percentage of your gross monthly income that goes toward paying your monthly debt obligations. Unlike your credit score, which measures your history of paying debts, your DTI measures your capacity to take on new debt.
Lenders use this ratio to determine if you can afford to make monthly mortgage payments on top of your existing bills. A lower ratio indicates that you have a good balance between debt and income, while a higher ratio suggests financial distress.
Front-End vs. Back-End DTI
When applying for a mortgage, you might hear about two types of ratios:
- Front-End Ratio: This only includes your projected housing costs (mortgage principal, interest, taxes, insurance, and HOA fees) divided by your gross income. Lenders typically prefer this to be under 28%.
- Back-End Ratio: This is what the calculator above computes. It includes your housing costs plus all other monthly debts like credit cards, student loans, and car payments. Lenders typically prefer this to be under 36%, though up to 43% is often allowed for Qualified Mortgages.
What is a Good DTI Ratio?
While requirements vary by loan type (FHA, VA, USDA, Conventional), general guidelines are:
- 35% or less: excellent. You manage debt well and have disposable income.
- 36% to 43%: Acceptable. You will likely qualify for a mortgage, though perhaps not the best possible terms.
- 44% to 49%: High. You may only qualify for FHA loans or requires a co-signer.
- 50% or higher: Critical. Most lenders will not approve a mortgage. You should focus on reducing debt.
How to Lower Your DTI Ratio
If your calculation shows a high percentage, consider these strategies before applying for a loan:
- Pay off high-interest debt: Using the "snowball" or "avalanche" method to eliminate small credit card balances can remove those monthly minimum payments from the equation.
- Increase your income: Taking on a side gig, asking for a raise, or including a co-borrower on your application increases the denominator in the calculation, lowering the ratio.
- Avoid new debt: Do not buy a car or open new credit lines in the months leading up to your mortgage application.
- Refinance existing loans: extending the term of a student loan or car loan can lower the monthly payment obligation, improving your DTI immediately (though it may cost more in interest long-term).
Use our Debt-to-Income Ratio Calculator regularly to track your progress as you pay down balances and prepare for homeownership.