Finance

3x Rent Rule Calculator

Most landlords require income to be 3× the monthly rent. Find out what you qualify for.

Rules:
3× Rule: Gross Income ≥ 3 × Monthly Rent
30% Rule: Rent ≤ 30% of Gross Income
Max Rent (3×) = Income / 3
Max Rent (30%) = Income × 0.30

Understanding the 3x Rent Rule

Most landlords and property managers require that your gross monthly income is at least 3 times the monthly rent. This is their primary qualification criteria because it suggests you can comfortably afford the rent while covering other expenses.

30% Rule vs 3x Rule

The 30% rule (spend no more than 30% of gross income on housing) gives slightly more room than the 3x rule (33.3%). Both are guidelines — in expensive cities, many people spend 40-50% of income on rent.