Free · HUD's formula

Section 8 rent calculator: what would you pay?

Enter your household's income and, if you have one in mind, a rent and your housing agency's payment standard. You'll see an estimate of your share and the agency's share, using HUD's formula.

A 1936 WPA poster reading Better Housing, with a new apartment block beside old tenements — WPA poster, 1936

Calculator

Estimate your share of the rent

Uses HUD's formula. Nothing you type here is saved or sent anywhere.

Household income per year, before taxes

Children under 18, full-time students, or adults with a disability (not the head or spouse)

The head of household, spouse or co-head is 62 or older, or has a disability

Child care costs per year (so an adult can work or study)

Optional: rent plus utilities you pay, per month

Optional: your agency's payment standard for your unit size

Enter your yearly income to see an estimate.

An estimate only. Your housing agency works out the real amount from verified income and may use a lower minimum rent, different utility allowances, or older deduction amounts.

Get an alert when the numbers change

These figures change every year. We'll tell you in plain English when they do, and when rules change. No spam.

First name

Mobile number (optional, for text alerts)

Text me benefit alerts. By leaving the box checked, I agree to the Terms and Privacy Policy. I also consent to Perry Marketing LLC placing automated, prerecorded, or AI-generated marketing emails, calls, and texts (including SMS and MMS) to the number provided above. Contact frequency varies and may occur outside of 8 AM to 9 PM. Consent to receive marketing communications is not a condition of purchase. Reply STOP to cancel or HELP for help. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.

By signing up, you agree to receive emails from KPCB Edge about government benefits, deadlines, program changes and related offers. You can unsubscribe at any time using the link in any email. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. Privacy Policy · Terms of Service

Want to go further? Our free Academy walks you through the application step by step. Open the Academy

How it works

How the numbers are worked out

Your share is called the total tenant payment. It is the highest of 30% of your monthly adjusted income, 10% of your monthly gross income, any welfare rent for housing in some states, and your housing agency's minimum rent (up to $50 for vouchers).

Adjusted income is your income after deductions. For 2026 the calculator uses $500 for each dependent and $550 for an elderly or disabled family, plus child care that lets someone work or study and, for elderly or disabled families, medical costs above 10% of income.

If you add a rent and a payment standard, it also shows the agency's payment: the lower of the payment standard or the rent, minus your share. When you first move in, your share can't be more than 40% of your adjusted income.

Free lesson: how the voucher pays your rent Section 8 housing guide

This is an estimate, not a decision. KPCB Edge is an independent publisher, not a government agency, and only the agency that runs the program can decide whether you qualify.

Good to know

Questions about this tool

Is this the amount I will really pay?

No. It is an estimate. Your housing agency works out the real figure when it verifies your income, and its minimum rent, deductions and payment standard may differ from the ones used here.

What is a payment standard?

It is the most your housing agency will pay toward rent and utilities for a voucher of your size. Each agency sets its own, usually between 90% and 110% of HUD's Fair Market Rent for the area.

Can I rent a home that costs more than the payment standard?

Yes, but you pay the difference. When you first move into a unit above the payment standard, your share can't be more than 40% of your adjusted monthly income, and the agency will not approve a unit that would push you over it.

What if I have no income?

Your share may be your agency's minimum rent, which can be up to $50 a month. If you can't pay it because of a hardship, such as losing a job, ask the agency for a hardship exemption.

Does the voucher pay my security deposit?

No. The landlord may collect a deposit, and the voucher does not pay it. Ask your housing agency whether it knows of local help.

More free tools

Keep going

Benefit finderAnswer a few questions and see which of twelve programs may be worth applying for.Section 8 income limit lookupHUD's income limits for your county and household size, and where your income falls.SNAP benefit calculatorEstimate your monthly SNAP benefit for October 2026 to September 2027.SNAP 3-month time limit checkerSee whether the time limit that changed in 2025 applies to you.

See all free tools

Sources