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?

Meet with one of our counsellors for free

Don’t ignore a debt problem that’s ruining your life. Let’s work together to help you regain control of your finances.

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What is the debt ratio? (2024)

FAQs

What is the 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.

What is a good debt ratio ratio? ›

From a pure risk perspective, debt ratios of 0.4 or lower are considered better, while a debt ratio of 0.6 or higher makes it more difficult to borrow money. While a low debt ratio suggests greater creditworthiness, there is also risk associated with a company carrying too little debt.

What is the debt equity ratio answer? ›

What Is the Debt-to-Equity (D/E) Ratio? The debt-to-equity (D/E) ratio is used to evaluate a company's financial leverage and is calculated by dividing a company's total liabilities by its shareholder equity.

Which is the 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.

How do you calculate the debt ratio? ›

How to calculate your debt-to-income ratio
  1. Add up your monthly bills which may include: Monthly rent or house payment. ...
  2. Divide the total by your gross monthly income, which is your income before taxes.
  3. The result is your DTI, which will be in the form of a percentage. The lower the DTI, the less risky you are to lenders.

How much debt is acceptable? ›

Debt-to-income ratio is your monthly debt obligations compared to your gross monthly income (before taxes), expressed as a percentage. A good debt-to-income ratio is less than or equal to 36%. Any debt-to-income ratio above 43% is considered to be too much debt.

What is the ideal debt-to-income 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 ideal debt-equity ratio? ›

The ideal debt to equity ratio is 2:1. This means that at no given point of time should the debt be more than twice the equity because it becomes riskier to pay back and hence there is a fear of bankruptcy.

What is the ideal current ratio? ›

What is the ideal current ratio? An ideal current ratio should be between 1.2 to 2, which indicates that the business has 2 times more current assets than liabilities to covers its debts. A current ratio below 1 means that the company doesn't have enough liquid assets to cover its short-term liabilities.

Is 0.5 a good debt-to-equity ratio? ›

The lower value of the debt-to-equity ratio is considered favourable, as it indicates a reduced risk. So, if the ratio of debt to equity is 0.5, that means that the company has half its liabilities because it has equity.

What is a good debt? ›

Good debt is generally considered any debt that may help you increase your net worth or generate future income.

What is a bad debt ratio? ›

The bad debt 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.

What does a debt ratio of 0.5 mean? ›

A debt ratio of 0.5 means that a company has half of its assets financed by debt. A debt ratio of 1 means that a company's total debt is equal to its total assets.

How can I calculate my debt ratio? ›

How do I calculate my debt-to-income ratio? To calculate your DTI, you add up all your monthly debt payments and divide them by your gross monthly income. Your gross monthly income is generally the amount of money you have earned before your taxes and other deductions are taken out.

What is an example of a debt ratio? ›

You are planning to take a holiday with your family. Let's say you have 600,000$ in total assets and 150,000$ in liabilities. To calculate the debt ratio, divide the liability (150,000$ ) by the total assets (600,000$ ). This results in a debt ratio of 0.25 or 25 percent.

What is a healthy debt ratio? ›

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.

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.”

Is 0.7 a high debt ratio? ›

High debt ratio: If the result is a big number (like 0.7 or 70%), it means the company owes a lot compared to what it owns. This could be risky.

Is a debt ratio of 75% good? ›

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. However, what constitutes a “good debt ratio” can vary depending on industry norms, business objectives, and economic conditions.

Is a debt ratio of 2 good? ›

Although it varies from industry to industry, a debt-to-equity ratio of around 2 or 2.5 is generally considered good. This ratio tells us that for every dollar invested in the company, about 66 cents come from debt, while the other 33 cents come from the company's equity.

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