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Renters

Rent Qualification Calculator

Will the landlord approve your application? Find out if your income qualifies you for your target apartment using the standard 30% and 40x rules.

How to use this calculator

  1. Enter your gross monthly income (before taxes).
  2. Add your monthly debt payments (car, credit cards, loans).
  3. Enter the target monthly rent for the apartment.
  4. Select your state and credit score range.

What your results mean

Most US landlords use the '40x Rule' (annual income must be 40x the monthly rent) or the '30% Rule' (rent must be ≤ 30% of gross monthly income). We show you if you pass these tests and calculate your Rent-to-Income ratio.

5 ways to get approved if your income is low

  • Offer to pay 2 or 3 months of rent upfront in cash to reduce the landlord's risk.
  • Get a guarantor or co-signer who makes 80x the monthly rent and has excellent credit.
  • Provide evidence of substantial savings or investment accounts (bank statements).
  • Get a stellar letter of recommendation from your previous landlord showing you always paid on time.
  • Look for 'mom and pop' landlords instead of large corporate property management companies; they are often more flexible.

Frequently asked questions