What is the debt ratio? (2024)

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What is the debt ratio? (1)

Having debts is not bad in itself. A mortgage or a car loan, for example, are debts. But the situation becomes more complicated if your debts exceed your ability to repay them. You are then “overleveraged.”

Summary

  • Whether it be “good” or “bad,” a debt is problematic when you are no longer able to pay it back on time.
  • By calculating the ratio between your income and your debts, you get your “debt ratio.” This is something the banks are very interested in.
  • A debt ratio below 30% is excellent. Above 40% is critical. Lenders could deny you a loan.

To avoid ending up in “overleveraged” situation, it’s important that you know and understand your debt ratio. We’ll explain what it is.

The debt ratio explained

The debt ratio is a measure that indicates the ratio of your income to your debts. Some also call it the “indebtedness ratio” or “debt load.”

The debt ratio measures the gross annual income required for monthly payments on all debts.

Every time you want to borrow from your bank, your debt ratio is calculated. The result is a picture of your finances. Specifically, it tells the bank whether you will theoretically be able to repay the loan you are applying for.

How do I calculate my debt ratio?

Calculating your debt ratio is simple: divide your total gross monthly debt payments by your gross monthly income. Which debts? Debts include what people call “good” debt—like your mortgage—and what is considered “bad” debt—like the balance on a credit card you used for a trip. Your total debts should include your car loan payment, your 36-month fridge loan payment, etc.

Here’s an easy-to-use tool to help you calculate your debt ratio.

What is the debt ratio? (2)

Do I need to worry about my debt ratio?

If your debt ratio does not exceed 30%, the banks will find it excellent. Your ratio shows that if you manage your daily expenses well, you should be able to pay off your debts without worry or penalty.

A debt ratio between 30% and 36% is also considered good.

It’s when you’re approaching 40% that you have to be very, very vigilant. With a threshold like that, you’re a greater risk to lenders. You may already be having trouble making your payments each month. As a result, lenders may deny you a car loan, a student loan or a mortgage, for fear that you won’t be able to pay them back.

What do I do if my debt ratio is over 40%?

You should see this as a wake-up call. This is probably a sign that your debts are taking up too much room in your finances. And, contrary to what many people believe, over-indebtedness is not just a “bad patch.” It’s a situation that can quickly become a spiral.

Fortunately, there are ways out of this. The important thing is to act quickly. Why not now?

Debt ratio

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14

What is the debt ratio? (2024)

FAQs

What is a good debt ratio? ›

35% or less: Looking Good - Relative to your income, your debt is at a manageable level. You most likely have money left over for saving or spending after you've paid your bills. Lenders generally view a lower DTI as favorable.

What is the meaning of debt ratio? ›

The debt ratio is defined as the ratio of total debt to total assets, expressed as a decimal or percentage. It can be interpreted as the proportion of a company's assets that are financed by debt.

Is a debt ratio of 75% good? ›

Whether or not a debt ratio is "good" depends on contextual factors, including the company's industrial sector, the prevailing interest rate, and more. Investors usually look for a company to have a debt ratio between 0.3 (30%) and 0.6 (60%).

What are the 4 debt ratios? ›

List of common leverage ratios
  • Debt-to-Assets Ratio = Total Debt / Total Assets.
  • Debt-to-Equity Ratio = Total Debt / Total Equity.
  • Debt-to-Capital Ratio = Total Debt / (Total Debt + Total Equity)
  • Debt-to-EBITDA Ratio = Total Debt / Earnings Before Interest Taxes Depreciation & Amortization (EBITDA)

Is 0.5 a good debt ratio? ›

If the ratio is over 1, a company has more debt than assets. If the ratio is below 1, the company has more assets than debt. Broadly speaking, ratios of 60% (0.6) or more are considered high, while ratios of 40% (0.4) or less are considered low.

Is a debt ratio of 50% good? ›

Your debt-to-income (DTI) ratio is how much money you earn versus what you spend. It's calculated by dividing your monthly debts by your gross monthly income. Generally, it's a good idea to keep your DTI ratio below 43%, though 35% or less is considered “good.”

What is a too high debt ratio? ›

Debt-to-income ratio targets

Generally speaking, a good debt-to-income ratio is anything less than or equal to 36%. Meanwhile, any ratio above 43% is considered too high. The biggest piece of your DTI ratio pie is bound to be your monthly mortgage payment.

How much debt is healthy? ›

Ideally, financial experts like to see a DTI of no more than 15 to 20 percent of your net income. For example, a family with a $250 car payment and $100 of monthly credit card payments, and $2,500 net income per month would have a DTI of 14 percent ($350/$2,500 = 0.14 or 14%).

What is a bad debt ratio? ›

What Is the Bad Debt to Sales Ratio? This ratio measures the amount of money a company has to write off as a bad debt expense compared to its net sales. In other words, it tells you what percentage of sales profit a company loses to unpaid invoices.

How much is too much debt? ›

You might have too much debt if your debt-to-income ratio is more than 36%. Signs of having problematic debt include rising balances despite making regular payments, or being unable to build an emergency fund of at least $500.

How to tell if a company has too much debt? ›

The DSCR measures a company's ability to cover its debt obligations with its operating income. It provides insight into whether the business generates enough cash flow to service its debt. A DSCR below one suggests that the business may struggle to meet its debt payments, indicating that the debt level may be too high.

What is the best credit to debt ratio? ›

In general, lenders like to see a debt-to-credit ratio of 30 percent or lower. If your ratio is higher, it could signal to lenders that you're a riskier borrower who may have trouble paying back a loan. As a result, your credit score may suffer.

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