The debt service coverage ratio (DSCR), also known as the debt coverage ratio (DCR), is a financial ratio that measures an entity's ability to generate sufficient cash to cover its debt obligations, including interest, principal, and lease payments. It is calculated by dividing the net operating income (NOI) by the total debt service. A higher DSCR indicates stronger cash flow relative to debt commitments, while a ratio below 1 suggests insufficient funds to meet payments. Lenders, such as banks, often set a minimum DSCR in loan covenants, where falling below this threshold may constitute a default.

In corporate finance, the DSCR reflects cash flow available for annual debt payments, including sinking fund contributions. In personal finance, it aids loan officers in evaluating an individual’s debt repayment capacity. In commercial real estate, it determines whether a property’s cash flow can sustain its debt, with typical minimums around 1.25.

The DSCR serves distinct purposes across contexts. In corporate settings, it measures a company’s ability to service debt obligations from operating income, while in personal finance, it evaluates an individual's borrowing capacity. In real estate lending, DSCR is a critical indicator of a property’s income potential and loan eligibility. Traditionally, banks required a DSCR of around 1.20 or higher for investment properties, though some modern non-QM and investor-focused lenders may permit lower ratios under specific programs. A DSCR above 1.0 indicates that the property generates enough income to cover its debt service, while a ratio below 1.0 signals a potential shortfall. In project finance, a Debt Service Reserve Account (DSRA) may be used to offset temporary DSCR deficiencies.

In general, it is calculated by:

where:

To calculate an entity's debt coverage ratio, you first need to determine the entity's net operating income (NOI). NOI is the difference between gross revenue and operating expenses. NOI is meant to reflect the true income of an entity or an operation without or before financing. Thus, financing costs (e.g., interests from loans), personal income tax of owners/investors, capital expenditure, and depreciation are not included in operating expenses.

Debt service are costs and payments related to financing. Interests and lease payments are true costs resulting from taking loans or borrowing assets. Paying down the principal of a loan does not change the net equity/liquidation value of an entity; however, it reduces the cash an entity processes (in exchange of decreasing loan liability or increasing equity in an asset). Thus, by accounting for principal payments, DSCR reflects the cash flow situation of an entity.

For example, if a property has a debt coverage ratio of less than one, the income that property generates is not enough to cover the mortgage payments and the property's operating expenses. A property with a debt coverage ratio of .8 only generates enough income to pay for 80 percent of the yearly debt payments. However, if a property has a debt coverage ratio of more than 1, the property does generate enough income to cover annual debt payments. For example, a property with a debt coverage ratio of 1.5 generates enough income to pay all of the annual debt expenses, all of the operating expenses and actually generates fifty percent more income than is required to pay these bills.