--- title: "Mortgage Affordability Calculator UK 2026 — How Much Can I Borrow? | First Rung Now" description: "Free UK mortgage affordability calculator (2026). Instantly see how much a lender will lend based on income, debts and deposit — then get a free vetted UK ..." lang: en-GB json-ld: | [ { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Organization", "name": "First Rung Now", "url": "https://firstrungnow.com", "description": "Independent UK mortgage education and broker matching service.", "address": { "@type": "PostalAddress", "addressCountry": "GB" } }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "WebSite", "name": "First Rung Now", "url": "https://firstrungnow.com" }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "FAQPage", "mainEntity": [ { "@type": "Question", "name": "How many times my salary can I borrow in the UK?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Most UK lenders offer 4× to 4.5× joint income; a smaller pool offers 5×–5.5× for higher earners, professionals or borrowers with clean credit and a strong deposit." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Do credit commitments reduce mortgage affordability?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Yes. Every £100/month of committed credit (loans, car finance, credit card minimums, buy-now-pay-later) can reduce your borrowing by ~£4,500–£6,000 depending on lender stress rates." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Do UK lenders count childcare costs against affordability?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Yes — most lenders deduct declared childcare (nursery, wraparound) from your net income before applying the multiple. Tax-Free Childcare and 30 free hours can soften this." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Can I use bonus, overtime or commission on a UK mortgage?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Yes. Lenders typically take 50% of a 2-year average of variable income; a few take 100% of guaranteed bonus. Self-employed dividends are treated separately." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "How much deposit do I need to buy in the UK?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "5% is the practical floor for a 95% LTV mortgage. 10% widens the pool significantly, and 15–25% unlocks the sharpest headline rates." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Does a Help to Buy ISA or Lifetime ISA affect affordability?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Not the affordability calculation itself, but the 25% government bonus boosts your deposit — which improves LTV and unlocks lower rates." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Will a soft affordability check hurt my credit score?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "No. A soft search (which brokers and lenders' online tools use for a decision in principle) leaves no visible footprint on your credit file." } } ] } ] --- [Skip to content](#main) [![First Rung Now](/assets/logo-mark-BqLOgqvj.png) First Rung Now UK Mortgage Guides ](/) - Mortgages - Remortgages - Buy To Let - Bad Credit - Calculators - Guides - [Find a Broker](/find-a-mortgage-broker) - [About](/about) [Speak to a Vetted Broker](/find-a-mortgage-broker) 1. [Home](/) 2. [Calculators](/calculators) 3. Affordability Affordability Calculators # Mortgage affordability calculators for the UK How much a UK lender will actually offer depends on income multiples (typically 4×–5×), credit commitments, deposit and profile. Start with the affordability calculator below. ## Mortgage affordability calculator Enter your figures, then add your name and phone to reveal the result. Free, no credit check. Your annual income (£) Partner annual income (£) Monthly credit commitments (£) Deposit available (£) Get your result & a free broker sense-check Add your name and phone (required) — we'll show your figures and optionally match you with a vetted FCA-regulated broker. No spam, no credit checks. Your name \* Phone number \* Email (optional) I'd like to be matched with a vetted broker for a free, no-obligation chat. Untick if you only want the calculation. Show my result By submitting you agree to our [Privacy Policy](/privacy-policy). ## More affordability calculators ### How much can I borrow calculator Same core logic as affordability, framed around the maximum loan a lender will offer. [Ask a broker to run this](/find-a-mortgage-broker) ### Maximum mortgage calculator Stretch-lender view — up to 5.5× income for high earners or professional borrowers. [Ask a broker to run this](/find-a-mortgage-broker) ### First-time buyer affordability calculator Adjusted for 95% LTV, LISA bonus and first-time buyer SDLT relief. [Ask a broker to run this](/find-a-mortgage-broker) ### Joint mortgage affordability calculator Two-applicant income assessment, including joint borrower sole proprietor. [Ask a broker to run this](/find-a-mortgage-broker) ### Self-employed mortgage affordability calculator Uses SA302/tax-calc income averaging, not payslips. [Ask a broker to run this](/find-a-mortgage-broker) Every scenario above depends on lender-specific criteria (income multiples, ICR, stress rates, credit profile). A vetted FCA-regulated broker will run the exact numbers for your situation in one working day. ## Frequently asked questions ### How many times my salary can I borrow in the UK? Most UK lenders offer 4× to 4.5× joint income; a smaller pool offers 5×–5.5× for higher earners, professionals or borrowers with clean credit and a strong deposit. ### Do credit commitments reduce mortgage affordability? Yes. Every £100/month of committed credit (loans, car finance, credit card minimums, buy-now-pay-later) can reduce your borrowing by ~£4,500–£6,000 depending on lender stress rates. ### Do UK lenders count childcare costs against affordability? Yes — most lenders deduct declared childcare (nursery, wraparound) from your net income before applying the multiple. Tax-Free Childcare and 30 free hours can soften this. ### Can I use bonus, overtime or commission on a UK mortgage? Yes. Lenders typically take 50% of a 2-year average of variable income; a few take 100% of guaranteed bonus. Self-employed dividends are treated separately. ### How much deposit do I need to buy in the UK? 5% is the practical floor for a 95% LTV mortgage. 10% widens the pool significantly, and 15–25% unlocks the sharpest headline rates. ### Does a Help to Buy ISA or Lifetime ISA affect affordability? Not the affordability calculation itself, but the 25% government bonus boosts your deposit — which improves LTV and unlocks lower rates. ### Will a soft affordability check hurt my credit score? No. A soft search (which brokers and lenders' online tools use for a decision in principle) leaves no visible footprint on your credit file. Why we ask for your details Calculators are educational. A free broker sense-check turns them into something actionable — specific to your credit profile, income type and lender criteria. ### Speak with a vetted broker Free introduction to an FCA-regulated adviser experienced in your scenario. [Match me with a broker](/find-a-mortgage-broker) ### All calculator categories - [Affordability](/calculators/affordability) - [Repayments](/calculators/repayments) - [Borrowing & LTV](/calculators/borrowing) - [Remortgage](/calculators/remortgage) - [First-Time Buyer](/calculators/first-time-buyer) - [Buy-to-Let](/calculators/buy-to-let) - [Equity](/calculators/equity) - [Costs & Stamp Duty](/calculators/costs) - [Overpayments](/calculators/overpayments) - [Comparison](/calculators/comparison) - [Specialist mortgages](/calculators/specialist) - [Refinance & Switching](/calculators/refinance) - [Income](/calculators/income) - [Investment](/calculators/investment) First Rung Now Independent UK mortgage education and broker matching. 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