Enter the rent and the applicant's income to see the multiple. Or flip it around: pick the multiple you require and see the income an applicant needs.
What do you want to work out?
Enter a rent amount to see the result.
This is an estimate for planning only. It is not legal, financial, tax, or underwriting advice. Your lease terms and state or local law control what you can actually charge or require.
Use this income requirement on an Ayillo rental application
Set the multiple once and every applicant sees it before they apply.
The income multiple is simply gross monthly income divided by monthly rent. An applicant earning $6,000 a month applying for a $2,000 apartment is at 3x rent.
Many independent landlords use 2.5x to 3x gross monthly income as a starting point. Higher-cost markets often sit lower in practice, and voucher, benefit, or subsidised tenancies are frequently calculated on the tenant-paid portion instead of the full rent. Pick a number you can apply consistently to every applicant and write it down before you start advertising.
Apply the same rule to everyone
Whatever multiple you choose, the important part is consistency. A written requirement that every applicant sees up front is easier to defend, faster to screen against, and far less likely to create a fair-housing problem than a number you adjust case by case.
Some jurisdictions restrict or prohibit income-multiple rules, especially where source-of-income protections apply to housing vouchers. Check your state and city rules before you publish a requirement.
What income actually counts
Gross income is not just salary. Depending on the applicant it can include:
- Wages and salary shown on pay stubs or a W-2
- Self-employment or 1099 income supported by tax returns or bank statements
- Recurring benefits, pension, or disability income
- Child support or alimony under a written order
- Documented household income from a co-applicant
If an applicant does not have traditional pay stubs, the Proof of Income Toolkit walks through the alternatives.
Frequently asked questions
Is 3x rent a legal requirement?
No. It is a common landlord convention, not a law. Some cities and states limit how income requirements may be applied, particularly for applicants using housing vouchers.
Should I use gross or net income?
Most landlords use gross (pre-tax) monthly income because it is what pay stubs and tax documents show most consistently. Whichever you pick, use the same basis for every applicant.
How do I count two applicants?
Add the gross monthly income of everyone who will be financially responsible under the lease, then divide by the rent.