Estimate the revenue and cash flow of a short-term rental from your nightly rate, occupancy, and expenses.
This calculator estimates the cash flow of a short-term rental (Airbnb, Vrbo, etc.) from two key revenue drivers — your average nightly rate and occupancy— minus the expenses that make STRs different from long-term rentals: higher management fees, cleaning, utilities, and supplies. Enter your numbers and it returns monthly revenue, RevPAR, and net cash flow.
Short-term rental revenue is roughly your average daily rate times occupancy:
Monthly Revenue ≈ Nightly Rate × ~30 nights × Occupancy %
This tool is input-based: it uses the nightly rate and occupancy youenter, so it’s only as accurate as those assumptions. To ground them in reality, pull the nightly rates and occupancy of comparable active listings in the same neighborhood (or a market-data source), and use conservative numbers — new listings rarely hit top-performer occupancy in year one.
STRs cost more to run than long-term rentals. Budget for: management (specialized STR managers often charge 18–25% of revenue vs. ~8–10% for long-term), cleaning and restocking between stays, owner-paid utilities and internet, furnishings and supplies, platform fees, and higher insurance. RevPAR (revenue per available night = nightly rate × occupancy) is a useful way to compare listings.
STRs can out-earn a long-term lease but with more volatility, more management, and more regulatory risk (many cities restrict short-term rentals — check local rules first). Run the same property as a long-term rental with the Rental Cash Flow Calculator and compare, then size up the whole deal in the Deal Analyzer.
Some lenders underwrite short-term-rental income with DSCR loans. When your numbers work, get matched with investor-friendly lenders who finance short-term rentals.
Get matched with lenders who specialize in investment property financing. No obligation, no credit check.
Get MatchedEstimate revenue as your average nightly rate times the number of nights booked: roughly nightly rate × ~30 nights per month × occupancy rate. Then subtract short-term-rental expenses — management, cleaning, utilities, supplies, platform fees, and the mortgage — to get net cash flow.
It varies widely by market and season; many short-term rentals run somewhere in the 50–70% range over a year, but top listings in strong markets go higher and new listings often start lower. Use conservative, comp-based numbers rather than best-case occupancy.
Short-term rentals can earn more per night but come with higher expenses (management often 18–25%, plus cleaning, utilities, and supplies), more income volatility, and more regulatory risk. Many cities restrict short-term rentals, so check local rules before buying.
Beyond the mortgage, taxes, and insurance: specialized property management, cleaning and restocking between stays, owner-paid utilities and internet, furnishings and supplies, platform/booking fees, and typically higher insurance than a long-term rental.
It's a free, input-based estimate — the output is only as good as the nightly rate and occupancy you enter. For realistic inputs, look at comparable active listings in the same area (or a market-data source) and use conservative assumptions.
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