3x rent calculator
Check the numbers behind a three-times-rent requirement. Start with monthly rent, or work backward from your gross income.
Start with rent or income
Gross monthly income at 3x
$5,400.00
$1,800.00 monthly rent × 3
Rent is one-third of gross income at this ratio. Gross income is before deductions.
Maximum rent is rounded down to the nearest cent to avoid exceeding the ratio.
A chosen screening ratio. Requirements vary; confirm the income definition and qualifying rules with the housing provider.
A ratio, with the units made clear
For this tool, “3x rent” means gross monthly income divided by monthly rent equals three. Gross income is the amount before deductions in this calculation. The ratio is a selected assumption—not a universal requirement, approval decision or statement of how much you should spend.
If you know annual gross income, divide it by 12 before comparing it with monthly rent. Comparing annual income directly with one month's rent mixes time periods and gives a misleading ratio.
Calculate in either direction
Gross monthly income = monthly rent × 3
Gross annual income = monthly rent × 3 × 12
Maximum monthly rent = gross annual income ÷ 36
When calculating a maximum rent, this tool rounds the displayed rent down to the nearest cent. This avoids rounding a value slightly above the exact 3x threshold. Other income figures are displayed to the nearest cent.
Two useful examples
Starting with an apartment
Hypothetical rent of $1,800 per month corresponds to $5,400 gross monthly income or $64,800 gross annual income at exactly 3x.
Starting with income
Hypothetical gross annual income of $60,000 is $5,000 per month. Dividing by three gives $1,666.666…; the displayed maximum is $1,666.66 per month.
Once you have a rent figure, check a possible future rent change or estimate your first partial month. Keep deposits, moving expenses and other one-time costs in a separate budget.
Questions, answered
Is 3x rent based on monthly or annual income?
Compare the same time periods. Monthly gross income at 3x equals monthly rent multiplied by 3. Annual gross income at that ratio equals monthly rent multiplied by 36. The calculator can start with either income period.
Does 3x rent use gross or take-home pay?
This calculator explicitly uses gross income, before deductions. It does not assume a housing provider uses the same definition. Confirm the definition and accepted documentation with that provider.
Does meeting 3x rent mean I can afford the apartment?
It only means the entered numbers meet that arithmetic ratio. It does not account for taxes, debt payments, utilities, childcare, irregular income, savings goals or other expenses. It is not an approval or a personal affordability recommendation.
Can I add two people’s incomes?
You can enter a combined figure to calculate a ratio, but the result does not establish whether a housing provider will combine those incomes or accept particular income sources.
Sources & calculation notes
As of October 25, 2026. Numerical examples are hypothetical calculations using our published formulas and conventions, not quotes or legal limits.
- USAGov: Tenant rights — Starting point for finding state tenant-rights and complaint resources. This calculator does not determine legal obligations.
- U.S. Naval Observatory: Calendars — Background on the Gregorian calendar. Our date arithmetic uses Gregorian month lengths and leap years.