How Many Pay Stubs Do You Need for a Mortgage?

Understanding how many pay stubs you need for a mortgage shouldn’t feel like decoding a tax return. Yet every day, buyers search the same questions: How many pay stubs for mortgage? How many pay stubs is 30 days? Do you need pay stubs to buy a house? How many pay stubs do I need for a mortgage pre-approval?

These questions all point to the same anxiety: you know you make money — you just need the lender to agree.

Here’s the 2025 reality: for most borrowers, lenders want your two most recent pay stubs covering at least 30 days of earnings. That’s it. Not two years of pay stubs. Not a binder full of every check you’ve earned. Just the latest 30 days.

But like most things in mortgage underwriting, the real answer is a little more nuanced.

This guide breaks down exactly how many pay stubs you need for a mortgage, why lenders care, what “30 days of pay stubs” actually means, and how different situations — hourly work, bonuses, commissions, job changes, self‑employment, and relocating borrowers — affect documentation.

Why Lenders Want Pay Stubs: The Real Reason Behind the Paperwork

When lenders ask for pay stubs, it’s because they want to verify 3 things:

Your income is real. Not theoretical, not projected — real.

Your income is consistent. Underwriters need to validate that you earn roughly the same amount each period.

Your employment is stable. They don’t need you to stay at your job forever, but they need to know you’re actively employed.

That’s why lenders almost always ask for your two most recent pay stubs, which typically equal 30 days of income whether you’re paid weekly, biweekly, or monthly.

How Many Pay Stubs Do You Need for a Mortgage?

Here’s the simple rule:

Most mortgage lenders need your last 30 days of pay stubs — usually two to three stubs depending on your pay frequency.

If you’re paid weekly → you’ll need 4 pay stubs.

If you’re paid biweekly → you’ll need 2 pay stubs.

If you’re paid semi‑monthly (1st & 15th) → you’ll need 2 pay stubs.

If you’re paid monthly → you’ll need 1 pay stub, but many lenders still ask for 2 just to complete the file.

Most lenders phrase this as:

“Please upload your two most recent pay stubs covering at least 30 days of income.”

What Does “30 Days of Pay Stubs” Actually Mean?

This is one of the most misunderstood mortgage phrases.

“30 days of pay stubs” does not mean you must have worked for the same employer for 30 days, or that you must submit 30 individual pay stubs.

It simply means:

Your most recent pay periods must represent at least one full month of actual earnings.

If you’re paid biweekly, two pay stubs equal 28 days — that’s close enough. If you’re paid weekly, lenders expect four stubs.

If you just started a job and have only one or two pay stubs? Don’t panic. There’s a workaround, which we’ll cover further down.

How Many Pay Stubs Do You Need for Mortgage Pre‑Approval?

Mortgage pre‑approval and full approval have the same income documentation rule:

You need your two most recent pay stubs showing year‑to‑date income.

The lender doesn’t need a year’s worth of pay stubs. They just need the latest 30 days to calculate your qualifying income and verify you’re currently employed.

During underwriting, they may ask for updated pay stubs if they expire, but pre‑approval uses the same documentation.

How Many Months of Pay Stubs for a Mortgage?

Another popular search: how many months of paystubs for mortgage?

The truth:

Lenders do not need months of pay stubs. They need 30 days.

However, they will need to see:

• 2 years of employment history (even if it includes job changes)

• 2 years of W‑2s

• 2 months of bank statements

Pay stubs ≠ history. They’re simply your most current income snapshot. The documents above prove that you have history in the career and that history is what lenders use to prove it will continue

Do You Need Pay Stubs to Buy a House?

Short answer: Yes. ~95% of buyers do.

Longer answer: You need pay stubs unless you qualify for a non‑traditional mortgage type where pay stubs aren’t required at all.

This includes:

Bank statement loans (for self‑employed borrowers). These programs use 12–24 months of business or personal bank statements to calculate your true income. Instead of proving what you make on paper after deductions, the lender analyzes your deposits to determine qualifying income. For entrepreneurs, consultants, and anyone with heavy write‑offs, this is often the cleanest path to approval.

Asset depletion mortgages (qualify using stock/crypto/retirement assets instead of income). Rather than verifying employment, lenders convert your liquid assets into a monthly qualifying income figure. If you have strong net worth — brokerage accounts, retirement funds, or sizable savings — you can qualify even with low or inconsistent W‑2 income.

Crypto‑backed mortgages (qualify using crypto as assets or collateral). Instead of selling your crypto and triggering taxes, lenders can treat your digital assets similar to investment accounts for qualification. Some programs even allow asset‑based income calculations using your wallet balance, which is ideal for Bitcoin‑heavy or Ethereum‑heavy buyers.

DSCR loans (qualify based on rental property cash flow — no pay stubs required). These loans look only at the property’s rental income relative to its mortgage payment. If the rent covers the payment, you qualify — no W‑2s, no tax returns, no pay stubs. Perfect for investors scaling portfolios.

For most W‑2 buyers shopping for a home in Texas, California, Florida, New Jersey, New York, or anywhere else — you’ll need pay stubs unless you’re using a Non‑QM program. shopping for a home in Texas, California, Florida, New Jersey, New York, or anywhere else — you’ll need pay stubs unless you’re using a Non‑QM program.

How Many Pay Stubs Do You Need to Get a House?

If you’re getting a traditional mortgage:

You need at least 30 days of pay stubs — typically 2–4, depending on pay frequency.

If you’re getting a Non‑QM loan:

You may need zero pay stubs depending on the program.

This is especially helpful for:

• Gig workers

• Commission‑only employees

• Self‑employed borrowers with high write‑offs

• Crypto‑heavy buyers

• High‑net‑worth individuals qualifying through asset depletion

Your pay stubs tell a story, but if the story is messy, there are lending structures designed specifically to work around traditional income documentation. And one important note for commission‑based borrowers: commission income must generally have at least a 12‑month history for a lender to count it, even when using Non‑QM financing. This helps underwriters confirm that the commission structure is stable and likely to continue — especially if your pay varies month to month.

Using Pay Stubs as Proof of Income

When lenders review pay stubs, they’re looking for:

1. Income amount – Is it stable and enough to qualify?

2. Year‑to‑date totals – Do the totals line up with your W‑2s and stated income?

3. Employer information – Name, address, pay period, pay type.

4. Deductions – Benefits, health insurance, retirement, taxes.

5. Red flags – Sharp drops in hours, unexplained overtime, irregular bonuses.

If something looks inconsistent, the lender may request:

• A written explanation

• A Verification of Employment (VOE)

• Updated pay stubs

Lenders aren’t looking for perfection — just consistency.

What If You Started a New Job and Only Have One Pay Stub?

This is extremely common, especially in 2025 as buyers relocate for work, switch industries, or chase remote roles.

If you only have 1 pay stub, a lender can still approve you if you can provide:

• A signed offer letter

• A written VOE confirming start date and salary

• One recent pay stub

If you’re paid monthly, this is normal.

If you’re paid biweekly and only have one stub because you just started, underwriting may require:

• A second stub before closing or

• Confirmation of employment from HR

You do not need 30 individual days of pay history.

What If Your Income Includes Bonuses, Overtime, or Commissions?

This is where many borrowers get tripped up.

If your pay varies, lenders need more than just 30 days of pay stubs.

They typically require:

• 12-24 months of bonus income history

• 12-24 months of commission history

• 12-24 months of overtime history

And yes — they’ll still ask for your most recent pay stubs.

But here’s where things get more layered. When your income changes month to month, underwriters have to determine not just what you earned, but what they can reasonably count on going forward. That means your pay stubs become supporting evidence — not the whole story.

For bonuses, they’re looking to confirm:

• The bonus is paid consistently (annually, quarterly, or monthly)

• It’s likely to continue

• The amount doesn’t swing wildly year to year

• Your employer’s VOE supports the pattern

For overtime, they want to see:

• A stable pattern of available overtime at your job

• A track record showing you routinely work (and get paid for) those extra hours

• No sudden drop-offs that suggest overtime is drying up

For commissions, the review is even more detailed. Lenders know commission income is real, but they also know it can be unpredictable. That’s why most programs — even flexible ones — require:

• At least 12 months of commission history, and often 24

• A clear pattern that the income is stable and likely to continue

• A year-to-date total that matches your pay stubs and previous W-2s

• A commission structure that hasn’t drastically changed

If you had a slow year, switched companies, or moved into a new pay plan, be ready to explain it. Lenders don't penalize you for a change — they just need to understand it.

This is also where a strong VOE can make or break the file. A well-written employment verification can clarify:

• How bonuses are calculated

• Whether commissions are guaranteed, capped, or recurring

• Whether overtime is part of your typical workload

• Whether your employer expects these earnings to continue

When income varies, lenders don’t deny you — they just zoom out. Pay stubs tell the short-term story, but bonus, overtime, and commission history tells the long-term one. With the right explanation and documentation, variable-income borrowers qualify every day.

What If You’re Self‑Employed and Have No Pay Stubs?

If you’re 1099 or own a business, you probably don’t even generate pay stubs.

That’s fine. You’ll qualify using:

• 2 years of tax returns (though not recommended for most self employed borrowers), or

• 12–24 months of bank statements, or

• Asset‑depletion income, or

• Crypto‑based asset qualification

Self‑employment isn’t a barrier to buying a home — it just means you’re using a different structure.

What About “Loan With Pay Stub Only” Programs?

People often search: loan with pay stub or loan with paystubs only.

If you’re referring to personal loans or payday lenders — yes, those exist.

If you mean mortgages — not exactly.

But you can come pretty close using:

• FHA loans (lenient on credit and documentation)

• Conventional loans with strong W‑2 income

• Bank statement mortgages

• Asset‑based mortgages

There is no such thing as a true “pay stub only mortgage,” but for strong W‑2 borrowers, the documentation burden is minimal.

FAQ: Quick Answers to Every Keyword You Care About

How many pay stubs do mortgage lenders need?
Usually your two most recent pay stubs covering 30 days.

How many pay stubs is 30 days?
Weekly: 4 stubs. Biweekly: 2 stubs. Semi‑monthly: 2. Monthly: 1 (sometimes 2).

Do you need pay stubs to buy a house?
Yes, unless you use Non‑QM options like bank statement loans, DSCR loans, asset depletion, or crypto-backed mortgages.

How many months of pay stubs for mortgage?
Just 30 days — not months.

How many paystubs do I need for a mortgage pre‑approval?
Two.

Can I get a loan with pay stubs only?
Not for a mortgage — but close if you’re a strong W‑2 borrower.

Final Thoughts: Don’t Overthink Your Pay Stubs — You’re Closer to Homeownership Than You Think

Most buyers massively overestimate the amount of documentation needed to get a mortgage.

You don’t need years of pay stubs. You don’t need a perfect record of every shift you’ve ever worked. You don’t need a corporate finance department.

You need your two most recent pay stubs covering at least 30 days.

If your situation is more complex — bonuses, self‑employment, crypto, or assets — there are mortgage programs designed specifically for you, many of which require no pay stubs at all.

Homeownership is still within reach. The documentation isn’t the hurdle most people think it is.

Whenever you’re ready, LendFriend can walk you through exactly what you need — and more importantly, what you don’t.

Ready to take the next step? Start here to connect with a LendFriend advisor today.