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MortgageMetrics

How much can I borrow?

Get a realistic borrowing range based on your income, regular commitments and deposit. Use it as a guide, not a promise.

Free, no sign-up Last reviewed 3 October 2026

Your details

Are you buying alone or with someone?

Before tax, including guaranteed bonuses.

Loans, car finance, credit card payments, childcare and maintenance.

Advanced: income multiples and rate

How lenders work out what you can borrow

Lenders start with an income multiple, usually 4 to 4.5 times your gross annual income. They then run a full affordability check on your actual spending. Regular commitments reduce what you can borrow, so this calculator takes them off your income before applying the multiple.

Lenders also stress test your application to check you could still afford the payments if interest rates rose. Your deposit affects the rates you are offered too. Bigger deposits (a lower loan-to-value) usually unlock cheaper deals.

Ways to improve your borrowing

  • Clear or reduce credit card and loan balances before you apply.
  • Check your credit file with the main agencies and fix any errors.
  • Register on the electoral roll at your current address.
  • Save a bigger deposit. A Lifetime ISA adds a 25% government bonus.

Get advice from an FCA-authorised mortgage broker

A whole-of-market broker can check what lenders would actually offer you and help with the application. We don't recommend specific lenders or products.

Find a broker

Frequently asked questions

How many times my salary can I borrow?

Most lenders lend around 4 to 4.5 times your gross annual income. Some go to 5 or 5.5 times for higher earners or certain professions, and less if you have big monthly commitments.

Do lenders count bonuses and overtime?

Often only partly. Many lenders count 50% to 100% of regular, guaranteed extras. Self-employed applicants usually need two or more years of accounts or tax calculations.

What else affects how much I can borrow?

Your credit history, the size of your deposit, the number of dependants, childcare costs, student loan repayments and the lender's stress test at higher interest rates all play a part.

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Helpful guides

Buying · England, Wales, Northern Ireland

Buying a home: a step-by-step guide

From saving a deposit to collecting the keys, a plain-English walkthrough of every stage of buying a home in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

8 min read

Buying · UK-wide

Government home-buying schemes

Shared Ownership, First Homes, Lifetime ISA, Right to Buy and the mortgage guarantee scheme: how UK home-buying schemes work and who can use them.

8 min read