How Much Can I Borrow?

Find out what loan amount fits your budget based on your income, expenses, and target monthly payment.

Your Financial Snapshot

Monthly Income (After Tax)

Your take-home pay, not gross income

Monthly Expenses

Total expenses:$2,200·Disposable:$1,800

Desired Monthly Payment

$270

$50$2,000

Auto-set to 15% of your disposable income — a responsible starting point. Adjust freely.

Estimated Interest Rate (APR)

12.99%

4.99%35.99%

Excellent credit: 5–10% | Good: 10–15% | Fair: 15–25% | Poor: 25–36%

Preferred Loan Term

What You Can Afford

You could borrow up to

$8,014

Monthly Payment

$270

Total Interest

$1,706

Total Cost

$9,720

Debt-to-IncomeEstimated using gross income (take-home ÷ 0.72). Includes car payment, credit cards, student loans, and new loan payment.

13.9%

Healthy — most lenders will be comfortable with this

Your Monthly Budget

Monthly Income (After Tax)

$4,000

Existing Expenses ($2,200 · 55%)

New Loan Payment ($270 · 7%)

Remaining Disposable ($1,530 · 38%)

Affordability Comparison

How much you could borrow at different credit tiers — same monthly payment

Term	Good Credit8.99%	Fair Credit15.99%	Poor Credit27.99%
24 months	$5,911	$5,515	$4,920
36 months	$8,492	$7,681	$6,528
60 months	$13,010	$11,105	$8,673

See what you actually qualify for

Compare real offers from multiple lenders — it takes 2 minutes.

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How Much Personal Loan Can I Afford?

The amount you can borrow depends on three main factors: your income, your existing debt obligations, and the interest rate you qualify for. Lenders use your debt-to-income (DTI) ratio — the percentage of your gross monthly income that goes toward debt payments — as a key measure of affordability.

Most lenders prefer a DTI ratio below 36%, though some will approve loans up to 43% or even 50% for borrowers with strong credit. The lower your DTI, the more likely you are to get approved — and at a better rate.

This calculator works backwards from your budget to show what you can comfortably afford. It's a starting point — your actual approval amount may differ based on your full financial picture.

How to Get a Personal Loan in 2026 →

How to Increase How Much You Can Borrow

The most effective way to borrow more is to improve your credit score. A higher score means a lower interest rate, which means the same monthly payment stretches further. At 8% APR, a $300/month payment gets you about $14,800 over 60 months. At 25% APR, that same payment only gets you about $10,500.

Extending your loan term also increases what you can borrow at the same monthly payment — but you'll pay more in total interest. It's a tradeoff worth understanding before you commit.

Finally, paying down existing debts improves your DTI ratio, which can push you from 'moderate' into 'healthy' territory. If you're carrying multiple high-interest debts, consolidation could be a powerful first step.

How to Improve Your Credit Score 100 Points → · Try the Debt Consolidation Calculator →

What Lenders Look At Beyond the Numbers

While your credit score and DTI ratio are the headline metrics, lenders also consider softer factors. Employment stability matters — borrowers with 2+ years at the same job or in the same field tend to get better offers. Self-employed applicants may need to provide additional documentation like tax returns.

Income verification is standard. Most lenders will ask for recent pay stubs, W-2 forms, or bank statements. The more documentation you can provide, the smoother (and faster) the approval process.

Other factors include your credit history length, any recent hard inquiries, and whether you have existing relationships with the lender. Some banks offer rate discounts to existing customers.

Browse all personal loan guides →