Table of contents
Table of contents
Loans

*Quote takes 1 minute, no credit pull

Insurance

*1 quote from 40+ carriers

Listings

*New listings daily

Table of contents
Table of contents

DSCR Formula for Rental Property Investors

Last updated: October 14, 2025

Quickly and accurately calculating Debt Service Coverage Ratio (DSCR) is critical when growing and optimizing your rental property portfolio.

By calculating DSCR, you can determine the loan amount a rental property will be eligible for, and the associated free cash flow it is projected to generate. A high DSCR signals financial strength, while a low DSCR raises concerns about the viability of a mortgaged rental property. It's a straightforward yet powerful tool that helps guide critical real estate investing decisions.

In this guide, we will share the two most commonly used DSCR formulas and provide you with analysis, examples and tools to help you invest successfully.

Method 1: Gross Rent ÷ PITIA or ITIA