Sample result
$967.74
In Oct 12, 2026 · $1,500 rent · actual days
Calculator
Prorated rent calculator
Rent for a partial month, moving in or out, worked out three ways.
Calculator · renters and landlords
Rent-to-income calculator
Renting? See the most rent your income supports. Screening? Check an applicant’s income against the rent.
Max rent
$1,800
Meets 3×
Rent up to $1,800 a month keeps housing at 30% of your $6,000 gross monthly income.
- Gross monthly income
- $6,000
- Max rent per year
- $21,600
- Left each month
- $4,200
- 3× rule allows
- $2,000
Gross income, before taxes. Rules of thumb, not a promise of approval.
The math
How it’s calculated
Your numbers, step by step. Each amount is rounded to the cent once, at the end.
- Monthly income $6,000 a month, before taxes
- Max rent $6,000 × 30% = $1,800 a month
- 3× check $6,000 ÷ 3 = $2,000: the most rent a landlord’s 3× income rule allows
Four shares
Rent at each share of income
30% is the common yardstick; your budget decides what actually fits.
| Share | Rent a month | A year | Left a month |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25% | $1,500 | $18,000 | $4,500 |
| 30% | $1,800 | $21,600 | $4,200 |
| 35% | $2,100 | $25,200 | $3,900 |
| 40% | $2,400 | $28,800 | $3,600 |
Three rules
Income each rule asks for
The same rent under the three common multiples, and where this applicant lands.
| Rule | Needed a month | A year | Applicant |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5× | $4,500 | $54,000 | Meets |
| 3× | $5,400 | $64,800 | Meets |
| 3.5× | $6,300 | $75,600 | Short |
FAQ
Questions people ask
Where does the 30% rule come from?
From US housing policy. In 1969 the Brooke Amendment capped public-housing rent at 25% of a tenant’s income; the cap rose to 30% in 1981, and 30% of gross income became the everyday yardstick for affordable rent.
HUD still counts a household as cost-burdened when it spends more than 30% of income on housing. It is a guideline, not a law, and in high-rent cities many renters pay more.
What is the 3× rent rule?
Many landlords ask for gross monthly income of at least three times the monthly rent. That is the same as a rent-to-income ratio of about 33%.
At $1,800 rent, that means at least $5,400 a month, or $64,800 a year. Some landlords use 2.5× or 3.5× instead, and in New York City the same idea is often stated as a yearly income of 40 times the monthly rent.
Should I use gross or net income?
Landlords and the 30% rule both use gross income: pay before taxes and deductions, the top line of a pay stub or an offer letter.
Your own budget runs on take-home pay, so a rent that passes on gross income can still feel tight. For a stricter test, enter your net income on the renter side instead.
Can roommates or a couple combine income?
Usually, yes. Most landlords add up the income of everyone who will sign the lease and compare the total to the rent. Some ask each roommate to qualify for a share of the rent instead, and some ask for a guarantor when no one qualifies alone.
Enter the combined gross income to see where the household stands. Guarantors are often held to a higher multiple than tenants.
What if my income is irregular?
Use a yearly figure: switch income to Per year and enter last year’s gross income, or an average of the last two years if it swings. Landlords usually ask freelancers and gig workers for tax returns, 1099s or bank statements instead of pay stubs.
Savings can help too. Some landlords accept proof of several months’ rent in the bank, or a guarantor, in place of steady income.