YieldBadger

Short-term rental (Airbnb) calculator

Estimate cash flow for an Airbnb or Vrbo rental from nightly rate, occupancy, cleaning and platform fees, and see the occupancy you need to break even.

Purchase and loan
$
$
$
%
%
yrs
Bookings
$
%
nights
$
Operating costs
$
%
%
%
$
$
$
$
$
$
Monthly cash flow
$850.57
Annual cash flow
$10,207
Cash-on-cash
9.72%
Break-even occupancy
46.8%
Cap rate
9.47%
Gross revenue / yr
$58,400
NOI / yr
$33,128
Nights booked / yr
219
Stays / yr
73
Revenue per available night
$160.00
Platform fees / yr
$1,752
Cleaning / yr
$7,300
Management / yr
$0.00
Fixed costs / yr
$13,300
Loan payments / yr
$22,921
Cash invested
$105,000
Monthly cash flow$850.57

How this is calculated

  1. 1Nights booked = 365 × occupancy %. Stays = nights ÷ average stay.
  2. 2Gross revenue = nights × nightly rate + stays × cleaning fee.
  3. 3Operating expenses = platform, management and maintenance % of gross revenue + stays × cleaning cost + property tax + insurance + 12 × (HOA + utilities + supplies + other).
  4. 4NOI = gross revenue − operating expenses. Cash flow = NOI − loan payments.
  5. 5Cash-on-cash = cash flow ÷ (down payment + closing costs + furnishing). Break-even occupancy: each booked night earns its rate plus a share of a cleaning fee, minus the % costs and a share of the cleaner; break-even is the number of nights whose earnings cover the fixed costs and loan payments, ÷ 365.

Occupancy and lodging taxes are left out because guests pay them, and they're passed through (in many places the platform collects them). Check local short-term rental rules, permits and HOA restrictions before buying; some cities ban or cap STRs.

Learn more

Add this calculator to your site

Frequently asked questions

What occupancy should I assume?
Look at the calendars and reviews of similar listings nearby to see how often they're booked. New listings usually start lower while they build reviews, so be conservative in year one.
What is break-even occupancy?
The share of nights you need booked for cash flow to reach zero. The further it is below your expected occupancy, the more room you have for a slow season.
Does this include lodging or occupancy taxes?
No. Guests pay those taxes, and you pass them on to the city or state, often through the platform, so they don't change your profit.
Can I buy a short-term rental with a regular mortgage?
Second-home loans have rules about renting the property out, so check with your lender. Many investors use investment property or DSCR loans instead.
Should I charge a cleaning fee?
Most hosts do, to cover turnover costs on short stays. Enter both what you charge guests and what you pay your cleaner to see the difference.