Airbnb Calculator (Short-Term Rental)

Calculate Airbnb income and expenses. Analyze profitability and compare to traditional long-term renting.

Your average nightly rate

Expected % of nights booked

Charged to guests, paid to cleaner

Average booking duration

Your monthly housing cost

Electric, water, gas, internet

Property + STR insurance

Toiletries, coffee, paper goods

Repairs, lawn, HVAC, reserves

Booked Nights = 30 * (Occupancy % / 100)\nNumber of Stays = Booked Nights / Avg Stay Length\n\nRevenue:\n- Nightly: Booked Nights * Nightly Rate\n- Cleaning: Number of Stays * Cleaning Fee\n- Gross: Nightly + Cleaning\n\nExpenses:\n- Airbnb Fee: Gross * 3%\n- Cleaning Cost: Stays * Cleaning Fee\n- Fixed: Mortgage + Insurance\n- Variable: Utilities + Supplies + Maintenance\n\nNet Income = Revenue - Airbnb Fee - All Expenses
Example:\nNightly Rate: $150\nOccupancy: 60%\nCleaning: $75\nAvg Stay: 3 nights\nMortgage: $1,500\nOther Expenses: $600\n\nBooked: 18 nights (60%)\nStays: 6 bookings\nNightly Revenue: $2,700\nCleaning Revenue: $450\nGross: $3,150\n\nAirbnb Fee: $95\nCleaning Cost: $450\nFixed: $1,500\nVariable: $600\nTotal Expenses: $2,645\n\nNet Income: $505/month\nAnnual: $6,060\n\nvs Traditional Rent: $1,650\nAirbnb Advantage: -$1,145/month

How much can I make from Airbnb?

Varies widely by location, property type, seasonality. Urban: $2,000-$5,000/month. Tourist areas: $3,000-$8,000/month (seasonal peaks higher). Consider: nightly rate * occupancy rate * days. Deduct: Airbnb fees (3% host + 14% guest), cleaning, supplies, vacancy. Many hosts earn 2-3* traditional rent.

What are typical Airbnb occupancy rates?

National average: 48-65% depending on location. Tourist hotspots: 60-80%. Urban areas: 50-70%. Rural: 30-50%. Seasonal variation is huge. Track your market on AirDNA or AllTheRooms. New listings take 3-6 months to stabilize. Superhosts average 10-15% higher occupancy.

What expenses should I include in Airbnb calculations?

Fixed: mortgage/rent, insurance (+20% for STR), property tax, HOA. Variable: cleaning ($50-150/stay), utilities (+50% vs long-term), supplies (toiletries, coffee), maintenance, pest control. Platform: Airbnb fees (3% host). Management: 20-30% if using service. Vacancy reserve: 10-20%.

Is Airbnb more profitable than long-term renting?

Often yes, but higher effort. Airbnb pros: 2-3* monthly income, flexibility. Cons: vacancy risk, more work, regulations, wear/tear. Break-even: need ~40% occupancy to match traditional rent. Best for: tourist areas, urban centers, unique properties. Consider opportunity cost of time.

What are the legal and tax considerations for Airbnb?

Legal: Check zoning laws, HOA rules, city permits/licenses, occupancy limits. Many cities ban/restrict STRs. Taxes: rental income taxable, may owe occupancy/hotel tax, home office deduction possible, depreciation benefits. If <14 days/year and personal use <14 days, income may be tax-free (IRS rules).