.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-box {
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-input-group {
margin-bottom: 15px;
display: flex;
justify-content: space-between;
align-items: center;
flex-wrap: wrap;
}
.dti-input-group label {
font-weight: 600;
flex: 1;
min-width: 200px;
margin-bottom: 5px;
}
.dti-input-wrapper {
position: relative;
flex: 1;
min-width: 200px;
}
.dti-input-wrapper input {
width: 100%;
padding: 10px 10px 10px 25px; /* space for currency symbol */
border: 1px solid #ccc;
border-radius: 4px;
font-size: 16px;
box-sizing: border-box;
}
.currency-symbol {
position: absolute;
left: 10px;
top: 50%;
transform: translateY(-50%);
color: #666;
}
.dti-btn {
background-color: #2c3e50;
color: white;
border: none;
padding: 12px 25px;
font-size: 18px;
border-radius: 4px;
cursor: pointer;
width: 100%;
margin-top: 10px;
transition: background-color 0.3s;
}
.dti-btn:hover {
background-color: #34495e;
}
.dti-results {
margin-top: 25px;
padding: 20px;
background-color: #ffffff;
border: 1px solid #ddd;
border-radius: 4px;
display: none;
}
.dti-score-large {
font-size: 36px;
font-weight: bold;
color: #2c3e50;
text-align: center;
margin: 10px 0;
}
.dti-status-text {
text-align: center;
font-weight: bold;
font-size: 18px;
margin-bottom: 10px;
}
.status-good { color: #27ae60; }
.status-warning { color: #f39c12; }
.status-bad { color: #c0392b; }
.dti-article h2 {
color: #2c3e50;
border-bottom: 2px solid #eee;
padding-bottom: 10px;
margin-top: 30px;
}
.dti-article h3 {
color: #34495e;
margin-top: 25px;
}
.dti-article ul {
list-style-type: disc;
margin-left: 20px;
}
.dti-article li {
margin-bottom: 8px;
}
function calculateDTI() {
// Get inputs and handle empty/invalid values by defaulting to 0
var income = parseFloat(document.getElementById('grossIncome').value);
var rent = parseFloat(document.getElementById('rentPayment').value);
if (isNaN(rent)) rent = 0;
var car = parseFloat(document.getElementById('carLoans').value);
if (isNaN(car)) car = 0;
var student = parseFloat(document.getElementById('studentLoans').value);
if (isNaN(student)) student = 0;
var cards = parseFloat(document.getElementById('creditCards').value);
if (isNaN(cards)) cards = 0;
var other = parseFloat(document.getElementById('otherDebt').value);
if (isNaN(other)) other = 0;
// Input Validation for Income
if (isNaN(income) || income <= 0) {
alert("Please enter a valid Gross Monthly Income amount greater than zero.");
return;
}
// Calculations
var totalDebt = rent + car + student + cards + other;
var dtiRatio = (totalDebt / income) * 100;
// DOM Elements for Result
var resultBox = document.getElementById('dtiResult');
var displayDebt = document.getElementById('displayTotalDebt');
var displayPercent = document.getElementById('displayPercentage');
var displayMsg = document.getElementById('dtiMessage');
var displayDesc = document.getElementById('dtiDescription');
// Update UI
resultBox.style.display = 'block';
displayDebt.innerHTML = '$' + totalDebt.toLocaleString('en-US', {minimumFractionDigits: 2, maximumFractionDigits: 2});
displayPercent.innerHTML = dtiRatio.toFixed(2) + '%';
// Status Logic
displayMsg.className = 'dti-status-text'; // reset classes
if (dtiRatio 35 && dtiRatio 43 && dtiRatio <= 49) {
displayMsg.innerHTML = "High Risk";
displayMsg.classList.add('status-warning'); // Dark orange effectively
displayMsg.style.color = '#e67e22';
displayDesc.innerHTML = "You may face difficulties qualifying for a qualified mortgage.";
} else {
displayMsg.innerHTML = "Critical";
displayMsg.classList.add('status-bad');
displayDesc.innerHTML = "Your debt-to-income ratio is very high. Lenders may view this as risky.";
}
// Scroll to results if needed (optional UX)
resultBox.scrollIntoView({behavior: 'smooth', block: 'nearest'});
}
Calculate Your Debt-to-Income (DTI) Ratio
Understanding your Debt-to-Income (DTI) ratio is one of the most critical steps when preparing to buy a home, refinance a mortgage, or apply for a significant personal loan. Lenders use this percentage to evaluate your ability to repay borrowed money by comparing your gross monthly income against your recurring monthly debts.
Use our specific DTI Calculator below to assess your financial health instantly. Simply input your pre-tax monthly income and your current debt obligations to see where you stand.
DTI Calculator
$
Enter your recurring monthly debt payments below:
$
$
$
$
$
Total Monthly Debt:
$0.00
Your Debt-to-Income Ratio is:
0.00%
What is a Good Debt-to-Income Ratio?
Your DTI ratio helps lenders determine the risk associated with lending you money. A lower ratio indicates a good balance between debt and income. Conversely, a higher ratio can signal that you may have too much debt for the amount of income you earn.
General DTI Thresholds:
- 35% or Less: Considered excellent. Most lenders view you as a responsible borrower with manageable debt levels. You likely have money left over for saving or investing.
- 36% to 43%: This range is generally acceptable for obtaining a mortgage, though you may not qualify for the best interest rates. The 43% mark is often the highest ratio a borrower can have and still get a Qualified Mortgage.
- 44% to 49%: You are in a high-risk category. You may struggle to find a lender, and if you do, you will likely face higher interest rates.
- 50% or Higher: With half your gross income going to debt, borrowing options are extremely limited. It is highly recommended to reduce debt before applying for new loans.
Front-End vs. Back-End Ratio
It is important to distinguish between the two types of ratios lenders look at:
- Front-End Ratio: This only calculates the percentage of your income that goes toward housing costs (mortgage principal, interest, taxes, and insurance). Lenders prefer this to be under 28%.
- Back-End Ratio: This is what our calculator above computes. It includes housing costs plus all other recurring monthly debts (credit cards, student loans, car payments). Lenders prefer this to be under 36% (the 28/36 rule), though up to 43% is common.
How to Lower Your DTI
If your calculation shows a high percentage, consider these strategies before applying for a loan:
- Increase Monthly Payments: Pay more than the minimum on your credit cards to reduce the principal faster.
- Avoid New Debt: Do not open new credit lines or finance large purchases before a mortgage application.
- Increase Income: While harder to achieve instantly, a side hustle or salary negotiation raises the denominator in the equation, lowering the ratio.