VA Residual Income Chart (Official Tables + Calculator)
Residual income is the VA underwriting guideline used on VA loans to estimate the monthly “money left over” after taxes, shelter expenses, and recurring debts/obligations. If you’re newer to the program, start with VA loan requirements and VA income requirements.
At a glance: what matters most
Key takeaways before you run the calculator.
VA residual income is the monthly money left after estimated taxes, monthly shelter expenses, and recurring debts/obligations. Lenders compare your number to the guideline table for your region and household size.
- Two tables: one for ≤ $79,999 and one for ≥ $80,000.
- Family size add-on: for household sizes over 5, add $75 (≤$79,999) or $80 (≥$80,000) per additional member up to a family of 7.
- DTI vs residual: VA treats DTI as a guideline and it’s secondary to residual income. If you want the full concept, see what DTI ratio means.
- Program context: if you’re unsure what lenders verify, review VA loan requirements and income requirements.
- 5% reduction: VA allows a limited 5% reduction in certain cases (toggle in the calculator).
This page republishes VA-published guideline tables and adds a calculator/worksheet for convenience. Lenders may calculate worksheet line items differently. Use this as a reference — not a lending decision.
Table: Residual incomes by region (loan amounts of $80,000 and above)
For household sizes over 5, apply the VA add-on rule up to a family of 7.
| Household size | Northeast | Midwest | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $450 | $441 | $441 | $491 |
| 2 | $755 | $738 | $738 | $823 |
| 3 | $909 | $889 | $889 | $990 |
| 4 | $1,025 | $1,003 | $1,003 | $1,117 |
| 5 | $1,062 | $1,039 | $1,039 | $1,158 |
Add $80 for each additional member above 5, up to a family of seven.
Household size 5 is $1,158. Size 6 is $1,238. Size 7 is $1,318.
Table: Residual incomes by region (loan amounts of $79,999 and below)
For household sizes over 5, apply the VA add-on rule up to a family of 7.
| Household size | Northeast | Midwest | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $390 | $382 | $382 | $425 |
| 2 | $654 | $641 | $641 | $713 |
| 3 | $788 | $772 | $772 | $859 |
| 4 | $888 | $868 | $868 | $967 |
| 5 | $921 | $902 | $902 | $1,004 |
Add $75 for each additional member above 5, up to a family of seven.
VA provides an example where the eighth person is not considered in the residual income calculation.
Guideline lookup calculator
Looks up the official guideline amount by loan amount, household size, and region (auto-detected from state).
Residual income worksheet (estimate your actual RI)
Estimate: gross monthly income − taxes − monthly shelter expense − other debts. This is an estimator; lenders may calculate items differently.
VA residual income: full guide (calculation, expenses, underwriting, tips)
Use this with the calculator above to quickly check your guideline and buffer.
What is VA residual income, and how is it calculated?
Residual income is your monthly cash left after housing costs, taxes, and recurring debts. Lenders start with verified gross income, subtract estimated taxes, the proposed monthly shelter expense, and other recurring obligations. The remainder is residual income.
Residual income guidelines by region & family size
The VA splits the United States into four regions: Northeast, Midwest, South, and West. Use the official tables above:
VA’s add-on rules apply up to a family of seven. VA provides an example where an eighth person is not considered in the residual income calculation. Use the calculator above to apply the official rule correctly.
Residual income vs. debt-to-income ratio (DTI)
DTI is a percentage; residual is actual dollars left over. VA guidance treats DTI as a guide and notes it is secondary to residual income. If you need the concept explained plainly, see what DTI ratio means.
Income matters too
Residual income is “leftover money,” so income and documentation matter. If you’re comparing different income types (salary, disability, allowances), use VA loan income requirements as your baseline reference.
Downloads (CSV) + cite this dataset
Download CSVs to reuse the table values in spreadsheets, research, or tools.
VA Loan Network. “VA Residual Income Chart (Official VA Tables + Calculator).” https://valoannetwork.com/va-residual-income-chart/
FAQ
Short, direct answers for fast understanding.
What is VA residual income?
Which residual income table do I use?
What’s the add-on rule for household size over 5?
Where can I review the basics of VA loans?
Sources
Primary sources used to compile the table values and region key.
This page republishes VA-published guideline tables and adds a calculator/worksheet for convenience. Lenders may apply worksheet inputs differently. Use this as a reference, not a lending decision.
