Debt-to-Income Ratio Calculator (France)
Written by Thierno Sadou Diallo, formula verified per our methodology • Last checked on 9/5/2026
The debt-to-income ratio is calculated as (monthly loan payments ÷ net monthly income) × 100. For €500 in monthly payments and €2,500 in net monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio is 20%, below the 35% threshold recommended by the HCSF.
Explanation
The debt-to-income ratio measures the share of a household's income spent each month repaying its loans (mortgage, consumer credit, auto loans...), including borrower's insurance. It's one of the first criteria a bank examines before granting a new loan, especially a mortgage. In France, the Haut Conseil de Stabilité Financière (HCSF, the French financial stability authority) has made a maximum debt-to-income ratio of 35% of net income binding since January 1, 2022 — banks nonetheless have some leeway to make exceptions for about 20% of their files, reserved primarily for buyers of their main residence. A high debt-to-income ratio doesn't automatically block an application (the 'residual living income', the amount actually left over once expenses are paid, also matters), but a ratio significantly above 35% makes obtaining a new loan noticeably harder. To directly estimate the amount you could borrow given your repayment capacity, see our borrowing capacity calculator; for the monthly payment on an already-known loan amount, our mortgage calculator.
Example: €500 in monthly payments for €2,500 in income
Inputs
Loan payments: €500/month. Net monthly income: €2,500/month.
Calculation
Debt-to-income ratio = (500 ÷ 2,500) × 100 = 20.
Result
This household's debt-to-income ratio is 20%, well below the 35% threshold.
Frequently asked questions
Why isn't the 35% threshold absolute?
Banks have a legal exception allowance for about 20% of their loan files, used primarily for buyers of their main residence (particularly first-time buyers). They also take into account 'residual living income' (what's actually left to live on once all expenses are paid): a high-income household can sometimes exceed 35% while keeping a comfortable residual income, something this calculator doesn't measure.
Should borrower's insurance be included in the loan payments?
Yes: the definition used by the HCSF (the 'effort rate') includes borrower's insurance in the calculation, not just principal and interest repayment. For a debt-to-income ratio comparable to the regulatory threshold, add your insurance's monthly cost to your loan payments.
Does this calculator give a guaranteed loan decision?
No. This calculator gives an informative estimate of the most commonly examined ratio, but each bank also applies its own internal criteria (job stability, down payment, banking history...). Only a lending institution can confirm actual borrowing capacity.