October 14, 2026
WBS Calculator Berlin: Check the Income Limits for WBS 100 to 220
A WBS calculator checks whether your countable annual income falls below one of the income limits for the Wohnberechtigungsschein, Germany's housing eligibility certificate. Berlin has five levels: WBS 100, 140, 160, 180 and 220. The number tells you what percentage of the federal limit in § 9 WoFG your income may reach. Waitly collects WBS apartments in Berlin and emails you new listings through its newsletter.
Last updated: 13 October 2026.
In short
What counts is not your gross salary but your adjusted annual income. From gross income you deduct work-related expenses, then up to 30 percent for tax, health insurance and pension contributions, and finally allowances, for example for single parents or young married couples. If the result for a one-person household is below 16,800 euros, you qualify for a WBS 140. You can do the maths yourself with these rules, but the housing office makes the binding decision.
How do Berlin's WBS levels work?
Each Berlin WBS level is a markup on the federal limit. Under § 9(2) WoFG, the federal limit is 12,000 euros for one person and 18,000 euros for two, plus 4,100 euros for each additional person and 500 euros per child. Berlin uses a regulation to allow higher limits.
Which level you need depends on the apartment. Almost all of Berlin's social housing requires a WBS 100 or WBS 140. Newer units funded with income-based subsidies are open to households up to the WBS 160 limit, some new builds up to WBS 180 and a small share up to WBS 220. If you want the basics of what the certificate is for, read our guide to the WBS in Germany.
A lower level also opens the apartments of the higher levels. If your income is below the WBS 140 limit, it is automatically below the WBS 180 limit too. It does not work the other way round.
Berlin's income limits for 2026 at a glance
The Senate Department publishes the following annual limits on its page about the Berlin WBS. Fixed amounts are added for each additional person and each child.
WBS 100: 12,000 euros (1 person), 18,000 euros (2 people), plus 4,100 euros per additional person and 500 euros per child
WBS 140: 16,800 euros, 25,200 euros, plus 5,740 euros per additional person and 700 euros per child
WBS 160: 19,200 euros, 28,800 euros, plus 6,560 euros per additional person and 800 euros per child
WBS 180: 21,600 euros, 32,400 euros, plus 7,380 euros per additional person and 900 euros per child
WBS 220: 26,400 euros, 39,600 euros, plus 9,020 euros per additional person and 1,100 euros per child
For a family of two adults and one child, that works out at 22,600 euros (WBS 100), 31,640 euros (WBS 140), 36,160 euros (WBS 160), 40,680 euros (WBS 180) and 49,720 euros (WBS 220). With two children, the limits are 27,200, 38,080, 43,520, 48,960 and 59,840 euros.
These limits apply to Berlin only. Hamburg has its own figures, which we cover in our article on WBS apartments in Hamburg.
Which income counts for the WBS?
The starting point is the gross income you expect in the twelve months after you apply. Alternatively, the housing office can use your income from the previous twelve months. Wage replacement benefits such as sick pay count, statutory child benefit (Kindergeld) does not. The calculation covers everyone who will move in with you.
Three deductions then come off, in a fixed order:
Work-related expenses: employees deduct the employee lump sum, which § 9a EStG sets at 1,230 euros. The simplified explanation on berlin.de still says 1,200 euros. Higher documented expenses replace the lump sum.
Flat-rate deductions: 10 percent each for income tax, mandatory health insurance contributions and mandatory pension contributions, so 30 percent at most. Each deduction only applies if you actually pay that contribution.
Allowances under § 24 WoFG: 4,000 euros for young married couples in the first five calendar years after the wedding if both are under 40; 600 euros per child under 12 for working single parents; up to 600 euros for a child aged 16 to 24 with their own income; 4,500 or 2,100 euros for severe disability with care needs; plus statutory maintenance payments.
Worked example: how much can I earn for a WBS 140?
A single employee earns 24,000 euros gross a year. After deducting the 1,230 euro lump sum, 22,770 euros remain. Another 30 percent comes off, 6,831 euros, because she pays tax, health insurance and pension contributions. Her countable income is 15,939 euros.
That is above the WBS 100 limit (12,000 euros) but below the WBS 140 limit (16,800 euros), so she gets a WBS 140. As a rough rule for one person with all deductions, a gross annual salary of up to about 25,200 euros is enough for a WBS 140.
An unmarried couple with a four-year-old child earns 46,000 euros gross in total, and both are employed. After deducting 1,230 euros twice, 43,540 euros remain, and after the 30 percent deduction 30,478 euros. The WBS 140 limit for this household is 31,640 euros, so they also qualify for a WBS 140.
Leave yourself a margin when you run the numbers. A pay rise that is already agreed counts at the housing office, because the test is based on expected income.
How big can a WBS apartment be?
Besides the income level, the WBS also sets the apartment size. As a rule, each person is entitled to one room. A couple with three children can therefore rent an apartment with up to five rooms. Single people may also rent a one-and-a-half or two-room apartment of up to 50 square metres.
Larger families can find tips on where four- and five-room WBS apartments come up in our guide to renting large WBS apartments. Exceptions for an extra room exist, for example for a disability or if you need a separate room to work from home.
Where can I find the official WBS calculator for Berlin?
The official WBS calculator sits on the Senate Department's WBS eligibility check page, available in German. According to that page, the calculation is currently being reworked and is unavailable (as of 13 October 2026). In the meantime, the Senate refers users to the free WBS checks run by the state-owned housing companies Gewobag and degewo, which are linked there.
Every calculator gives only a non-binding estimate and does not replace the application. If you work through the limits and deductions in this article yourself, you will reach the same result.
Only the housing office in your district checks your income bindingly, using your income declaration and a certificate from your employer. Our Berlin WBS application guide shows how to apply online and which documents you need. There is no fee, and the WBS is usually valid for one year.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which WBS is the best?
The lowest-numbered WBS you qualify for gives you the most apartments to choose from. With a WBS 100 or WBS 140 you can apply for almost all social housing, while a WBS 220 only covers the small share of new builds funded for middle incomes.
Does my partner's income count?
Yes, if your partner moves in with you. The WBS is calculated for the whole household, and every adult must sign an income declaration. Unmarried couples submit a partnership declaration. A joint application for a flatshare is not possible.
What if I am just over the limit?
Then you get the next level up, as long as you stay below 220 percent of the federal limit. Check first that you have used every deduction: higher work expenses, maintenance payments or the young married couple allowance often make the difference of a whole level.
Is there a WBS calculator for Neukölln or other districts?
No, the limits are the same across Berlin, and a WBS issued in Berlin is valid for the whole city. The only difference is supply. Our article on WBS apartments in Neukölln shows what that district looks like.
Find the right apartment with your WBS
A WBS entitles you to apply, but it does not give you a right to any particular apartment. Once you know your level, it pays to react quickly to new listings. The Waitly newsletter for Berlin tells you when suitable apartments become available. Signing up improves your chances, but it does not guarantee you a home.
