Interactive tool · HUD HCV rules

How much will your voucher pay?

Enter your household income, the rent, and your area's payment standard to estimate how a Housing Choice Voucher splits the cost, what you pay and what the voucher covers.

~30%
Typical tenant share
40%
Move-in cap
24 CFR 982
HUD rule

Estimate the Section 8 rent split using HUD's 30%-of-adjusted-income rule and the payment standard, with the 40% move-in cap flagged.

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You pay

—

per month

Voucher pays

—

per month

Voucher covers

—

of total rent

How the estimate works

The voucher program asks most households to pay about 30% of adjusted monthly income toward rent and utilities, the Total Tenant Payment. The Public Housing Authority pays the gap between that share and the lesser of your contract rent or the area payment standard. When the rent sits above the payment standard, the difference falls back on you, which is why staying at or below the standard keeps your share near 30%.

This estimator uses gross income as a stand-in for adjusted income, so a real PHA determination — which deducts for dependents, elderly or disabled status, childcare, and certain medical costs — will usually land slightly lower. See the payment standards guide for the full math.

Frequently asked questions

How does Section 8 split the rent?
A voucher household generally pays about 30% of its adjusted monthly income toward rent and utilities, this is the Total Tenant Payment. The Public Housing Authority pays the difference between that amount and the lesser of your contract rent or the payment standard. If your rent is above the payment standard, you pay the overage on top of your 30% share.
Is this an exact figure?
No, it is a rule-of-thumb estimate. The real calculation uses adjusted income (after HUD deductions for dependents, elderly/disabled status, childcare, and medical costs), and your PHA may set its payment standard between 90% and 110% of HUD’s Fair Market Rent. Treat this as a planning estimate, not a determination.
What is the 40% rule?
At initial move-in, HUD caps your share of rent and utilities at 40% of your adjusted monthly income. If the unit’s rent would push your share above 40%, the PHA cannot approve the lease until the rent is lowered. The 40% cap applies only at move-in, not at later annual recertifications.