Borrowing Power Calculator
Estimate roughly how much you could borrow for a home loan in Australia based on your income, debts and dependants. Indicative only, your broker confirms with real lender policy.
Lenders apply a serviceability buffer (testing you at a higher rate), assess your living expenses, and treat credit card limits as if fully drawn. Your real capacity can be higher or lower, a broker runs your numbers across multiple lenders.
- ✓No undisclosed debts or BNPL accounts
- ✓Credit card limits kept low (lenders count the limit, not the balance)
💡 Ways to save & next steps
- Lower or close credit cards before applying, lenders count the full limit as debt even if the balance is zero.
- Pay down or consolidate small personal loans and BNPL to lift your assessed surplus.
- A longer loan term lowers assessed repayments and can increase borrowing power (at more total interest).
How we estimate this
Your borrowing power is driven by income, minus living expenses and existing commitments, run through each lender’s serviceability test. Lenders assess you at a buffer above the actual rate (commonly +3%), so capacity is lower than a simple income multiple suggests.
Pricing reviewed: October 2026.
Doing more than just borrowing power?
Build a combined estimate across every part of your project in one place.
Understanding borrowing powers in Australia
Your borrowing power is driven by income, minus living expenses and existing commitments, run through each lender’s serviceability test. Lenders assess you at a buffer above the actual rate (commonly +3%), so capacity is lower than a simple income multiple suggests.
Credit card limits hurt borrowing power even if the balance is zero, lenders treat the full limit as a potential debt. Reducing or closing cards is one of the fastest ways to lift your capacity.
Frequently asked questions
How much can I borrow?
As a rough guide, lenders may lend around 4–6 times gross household income, but the real figure depends on expenses, debts and the serviceability buffer. This calculator gives an indicative range.
Do credit cards affect borrowing power?
Yes, lenders count your total card limit as a liability even if you pay it off each month. Lowering limits can increase how much you can borrow.
Are you a mortgage broker?
Everyone on this page is working out what borrowing power costs because they are ready to hire. Put your business right beneath the calculator, in your state, so you are who they find. From $1,000/mo.