What is the Airbnb Calculator?

The Airbnb Calculator estimates short-term rental income and profitability including occupancy rates, nightly rates, expenses, and net returns.

How do I estimate Airbnb occupancy rates?

Research comparable listings in your area using Airbnb, AirDNA, or Mashvisor. Occupancy varies by location, seasonality, and property quality.

What expenses should I include for Airbnb?

Include cleaning fees, supplies, platform fees (Airbnb takes 3-5%), utilities, furnishing, property management, and higher insurance and maintenance costs.

Is Airbnb more profitable than long-term rentals?

Airbnb can generate 2-3x long-term rental income but requires more work, has higher expenses, and faces regulatory risks. Profitability varies by market.

Free Calculator

Airbnb Income Estimator

Estimate your short-term rental income potential. Compare Airbnb returns with traditional long-term rentals to make informed investment decisions.

Pricing

Nightly Rate

Weekend Premium (%)

Cleaning Fee (per stay)

Avg Stay Length (nights)

Occupancy

Annual Occupancy Rate65%

Typical: 50-70% for most markets, 70-85% for high-demand areas

Monthly Expenses

Platform Fee (%)

Cleaning Cost (per turnover)

Property Mgmt (%)

Utilities

Supplies

Maintenance

Insurance

Fixed Costs & Comparison

Monthly Mortgage

Monthly Property Tax

Long-Term Rent (compare)

Property Value (for Cap Rate)

Income Projection

Monthly Cash Flow

$0/year

Annual Revenue

Nightly Revenue$0

Cleaning Fees$0

Gross Revenue$0

Annual Expenses

Operating Expenses-$0

NOI$0

Key Metrics

Occupied Nights237/year

Total Stays79/year

Rev per Night$0

Expense Ratio0.0%

Break-even Occupancy0%

STR Considerations

• Check local regulations and HOA rules
• Factor in seasonality for your market
• Consider startup costs (furniture, photos)
• Account for your time or management fees

How It Works

1. Set Your Pricing

Enter your nightly rate, weekend premium, cleaning fee, and average stay length.

2. Estimate Occupancy

Adjust expected occupancy rate based on your market and seasonality.

3. Add Expenses & Compare

Enter operating costs and compare projected income with long-term rental options.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Complete Guide to Airbnb Investment Analysis

Short-term rentals on platforms like Airbnb and VRBO can generate significantly higher returns than traditional long-term rentals, but they also come with unique challenges and higher operating costs. Our free Airbnb calculator helps you estimate realistic income, account for all expenses, and compare short-term rental returns against long-term alternatives before investing.

Understanding Short-Term Rental Economics

The math behind Airbnb profitability is more complex than traditional rentals. While gross revenue might be 2-3x higher, you'll face turnover costs after each guest, higher utility bills, platform fees, furnishing expenses, and potentially property management costs. Successful STR investors understand their break-even occupancy rate, meaning the minimum bookings needed to cover all costs, and price strategically to exceed it.

Making the Right Investment Decision

The best STR investments combine strong market demand, favorable local regulations, and properties well-suited for short stays. Consider proximity to attractions, airports, or business centers. Unique properties like lakefront cabins or downtown lofts often outperform generic units. Use this calculator to model different scenarios and understand whether short-term rental makes sense for your specific property and market.