3x Rent Calculator
Check what a 3x-rent screen requires. Enter monthly rent in dollars and pick the multiplier landlords use (2.5x, 3x, 3.5x, or the 40x annual rule) to see the gross monthly, yearly, and hourly income needed to qualify.
Example: with Monthly rent ($) 1800 · Landlord's rule 3x monthly rent (most common) → Gross monthly income needed: $5,400 gross per month (3x monthly rule).
- Gross yearly income$64,800 gross per year
- Hourly equivalent$31.15 per hour full-time (2,080 h/yr)
Computed by the calculator below using its default values. Change any input to see your own numbers.
The 3x rule: gross monthly income ≥ 3 × rent, i.e., rent stays at or under one-third of gross income. Some landlords use 2.5x, 3.5x, or 40x annual rent.
Why landlords ask for 3x
Requiring gross income of three times the rent is the rental industry's default affordability screen. It's the mirror image of the long-standing guideline that housing should take about 30% of income — HUD labels households above that threshold cost-burdened. If rent is a third of gross pay, the landlord figures taxes, bills, and life still fit in the other two-thirds.
The screen is applied to gross (pre-tax) income, usually at the household level: two roommates earning $2,800 each typically pass a $1,800 unit's 3x test together. Landlords verify with pay stubs, offer letters, or tax returns for self-employed applicants.
If you don't clear the bar
Multipliers vary — some landlords accept 2.5x, others want 3.5x, and many New York City landlords phrase it as annual income of 40 times the monthly rent (about 3.33x). If you're short, common workarounds include a co-signer or guarantor (often required to earn 5x or more themselves), adding a roommate's income, showing substantial savings, or offering extra months prepaid where local law allows it.
How it’s calculated
Required gross monthly income = monthly rent × multiplier (3x by default; 2.5x and 3.5x offered). The 40x option models the NYC-style rule: annual income ≥ 40 × monthly rent, so the monthly requirement is rent × 40 ÷ 12 ≈ 3.33x. Yearly = monthly × 12; the hourly figure assumes full-time work of 2,080 hours (40 h × 52 weeks). Income means pre-tax gross.
Screening is landlord-specific: some count household versus individual income, weigh credit and savings, or set different multipliers — the rule here is a convention, not a law.
Income needed under the 3x rule
| Monthly rent | Gross monthly income | Gross yearly income |
|---|---|---|
| $1,000 | $3,000 | $36,000 |
| $1,500 | $4,500 | $54,000 |
| $1,800 | $5,400 | $64,800 |
| $2,000 | $6,000 | $72,000 |
| $2,500 | $7,500 | $90,000 |
| $3,000 | $9,000 | $108,000 |
Computed as income = 3 × rent; yearly = monthly × 12.
Common mistakes
- Using take-home pay — the screen runs on gross, pre-tax income, so qualifying feels easier than the budget actually is.
- Comparing annual income to monthly rent (or vice versa) without converting; keep both numbers in the same period.
- Assuming every landlord uses exactly 3x — requirements genuinely range from 2.5x to the 40x-annual rule.
- Forgetting household income usually counts: roommates and partners can typically combine to clear the bar.
Frequently asked questions
What is the 3x rent rule?
A screening rule requiring gross monthly income of at least 3 × the rent — equivalently, rent no more than one-third of gross income. Required income = monthly rent × 3.
Is it based on gross or net income?
Gross — income before taxes and deductions. That's the classic surprise: passing the 3x screen on gross pay still leaves rent taking a hefty share of your actual take-home.
How much do I need to earn for $1,800 rent?
Under the 3x rule, $5,400 gross per month or $64,800 per year — about $31.15 an hour at full-time hours. At 2.5x it drops to $4,500 a month; at 3.5x it rises to $6,300.
What if I don't make 3 times the rent?
Ask about a guarantor or co-signer, combine income with a roommate or partner, show savings that cover many months of rent, or look for landlords using 2.5x. Requirements are policies, not laws, and smaller landlords especially have room to judge the whole picture.
What is the 40x rent rule?
The New York City phrasing: annual gross income of at least 40 × the monthly rent. For a $1,500 apartment that's $60,000 a year — effectively a 3.33x monthly multiple, slightly stricter than 3x.