Vacancy cost calculator
A vacant unit bleeds three ways: rent you don't collect, turnover costs to make it rentable, and the bills you keep paying while it sits. This calculator totals all three and answers the question that matters — how much rent reduction would have been cheaper than the wait.
Vacancy cost calculator
| Lost rent | |
| Turnover costs | |
| Carrying costs | |
| Cost per vacant day | |
| Equivalent % of annual rent |
Frequently asked questions
What is a normal vacancy rate for a rental?
National average hovers around 6-7% — roughly 3-4 weeks per year. Well-managed single-family rentals in strong markets run 2-4%; anything above 10% usually means pricing or condition problems.
How much does tenant turnover cost?
Beyond lost rent: cleaning ($150-400), painting ($300-1,000+), minor repairs, listing/screening costs, and possibly a leasing fee (often 50-100% of one month's rent if you use an agent). $1,000-2,500 all-in is typical for a modest unit — which is why retaining a decent tenant at slightly below-market rent is usually profitable.
Should I lower rent to fill a vacancy faster?
Run the math this calculator gives you: each vacant day at $1,800/mo costs about $59 in rent alone. If a $50/mo reduction fills the unit two weeks sooner, you save ~$830 in vacancy and give up $600 over a year — you come out ahead.
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