Enter the monthly rent into the calculator to determine the required income. This calculator uses the common standard that your annual income should be at least 2.5 times the annual cost of your rent.

2.5 Times Rent Formula

The following formula is used to calculate the required income based on the monthly rent:

Required Income = Rent * 2.5 * 12

Variables:

  • Rent is the monthly rent payment ($)
  • Required Income is the minimum annual income needed to afford the rent, based on the 2.5 times rent rule ($)

To calculate the required income, multiply the monthly rent by 2.5 to get the monthly income requirement, then multiply by 12 to annualize the figure.

What is the 2.5 Times Rent Rule?

The 2.5 times rent rule is a guideline used by landlords and property managers to determine if a potential tenant has enough income to afford the monthly rent payment. According to this rule, a tenant’s annual income should be at least 2.5 times the annual cost of the rent. This is a common standard in the rental industry to help ensure that tenants are not overburdened by their housing costs.

How to Calculate Required Income?

The following steps outline how to calculate the required income based on the monthly rent:


  1. First, determine the monthly rent payment (Rent).
  2. Next, use the formula: Required Income = Rent * 2.5 * 12.
  3. Finally, calculate the Required Income.
  4. After inserting the rent amount and calculating the result, check your answer with the calculator above.

Example Problem : 

Use the following variables as an example problem to test your knowledge.

Monthly Rent (Rent) = $1,200

Using the formula, the required annual income would be:

Required Income = $1,200 * 2.5 * 12 = $36,000