Free Short-Term Rental Income Calculator
That nightly rate is not your income. This calculator starts from ADR × occupancy, then subtracts what Airbnb and Vrbo actually take — platform fees, lodging taxes, turnover costs, and the expenses hosts underestimate — to show your true net annual income.
Revenue
Expenses
Net annual income
$4,310
Profit margin
8.5
Cash-on-cash return
1.3
| Annual breakdown | Amount |
|---|---|
| Room revenue (226 nights × $185) | $41,866 |
| Cleaning fees (71 stays × $125) | $8,840 |
| Gross rental revenue | $50,705 |
| Less: platform fees (14.5%) | −$7,352 |
| Less: lodging / occupancy taxes (8%) | −$3,349 |
| Less: total operating expenses | −$35,693 |
| Net annual income | $4,310 |
Estimate only — not tax or investment advice. Cash-on-cash here divides by purchase price; for a truer figure, enter your all-in cash invested (down payment + closing + furnishings). Local STR regulations and tax rules vary widely — verify both for your market.
How to estimate Airbnb income: ADR × occupancy × 365
Every STR revenue estimate starts with the same formula: average daily rate × occupancy rate × available nights. A $185 ADR at 62% occupancy over 365 nights produces about $41,900 in room revenue — before a single fee. Then add the cleaning fees you collect per stay (the calculator derives your stay count from average stay length), and subtract the three layers most new hosts miss:
- Platform fees (~14–15%). Airbnb's host service fee plus payment processing comes off every payout. On $50,000 of gross revenue, that is over $7,000 gone before expenses.
- Lodging and occupancy taxes. Many jurisdictions add 5–15% on top of the rent. In some markets Airbnb collects and remits them; in others, you must — and the liability is yours either way.
- Turnover-driven costs. Cleaner payouts, laundry, and restocking scale with stay count, not with revenue. A 2-night-minimum strategy can double your turnover costs versus a 4-night minimum at similar occupancy.
What remains after mortgage, utilities, insurance, taxes, and a maintenance reserve is your true net — the number to compare against a long-term rental, not the ADR.
STR expenses most investors underestimate
1.Turnover labor
At 60–80+ stays a year, cleaner payouts are often the second-largest expense after the mortgage. Price per turnover, multiply by stay count, and add laundry service if you outsource it.
2.Restocking and supplies
Linens wear out, toiletries vanish, coffee and snacks need constant replenishment. Budget per stay rather than per month — it scales with occupancy the way your costs actually behave.
3.Utilities
Guests do not pay the electric bill, so they run heat and AC like it is free — because to them it is. Budget 30–50% above what an owner-occupant would spend, with seasonal spikes.
4.Accelerated wear and maintenance
A STR absorbs years of long-term-rental wear in months: furniture, mattresses, appliances, and finishes all cycle faster. A 5–10% of revenue reserve is the minimum realistic provision.