Prorated Rent Calculator
Prorated rent is the daily rent times the days the tenant has the unit: for $1,650 rent and an October 18 move-in, that's $745.16 using the actual days in the month. Enter the monthly rent, the move-in date and a method, and this calculator does the math. Set up the right first charge in whichever of the ways to collect rent online you use.
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How to use the prorated rent calculator
Enter three things:
- Monthly rent.
- Move-in date (or move-out date, for a final partial month).
- Method: days in the month, 30-day, or 365-day.
The calculator returns the prorated amount for the partial month, counting the move-in day as a day of occupancy.
The prorated rent formulas
- Days-in-month method: rent / days in that month x days occupied
- 30-day method (banker’s month): rent / 30 x days occupied
- 365-day method: rent x 12 / 365 x days occupied
Days occupied for a move-in = days in the month - move-in day + 1. For a move-out, it’s the move-out day itself, if the tenant has the unit through that day.
A worked prorated rent example
A tenant signs a lease at $1,650 a month and moves in on October 18. October has 31 days, so they occupy the unit for 14 days (October 18 through 31).
| Method | Daily rate | Prorated rent |
|---|---|---|
| Days in month | $1,650 / 31 = $53.23 | $745.16 |
| 30-day | $1,650 / 30 = $55.00 | $770.00 |
| 365-day | $1,650 x 12 / 365 = $54.25 | $759.45 |
The spread is $24.84. That’s not much, but tenants notice, and a lease that names the method avoids the conversation.
In a 30-day month such as September, the days-in-month and 30-day methods give the same result. In February, the 30-day method charges less than the days-in-month method.
How landlords usually handle the first month
There are two common ways to set it up:
- Prorate the first month. The tenant pays $745.16 at move-in for the rest of October, then $1,650 on November 1.
- Full first month, prorate the second. The tenant pays $1,650 at move-in, covering October 18 to November 17, and then a prorated amount for November 18 to 30 so they’re on the first-of-month cycle by December 1.
The second way gets more money in hand at move-in, which some landlords prefer for a new tenant. Either works if the lease spells it out.
What a good result looks like
A good prorated charge is one the tenant can check with a phone calculator and get the same number. Pick one method, write it into the lease, and put the amount on the move-in statement with the dates it covers. Give the tenant a receipt that shows the daily rate and days, especially for a cash or money order payment.
Limits and caveats
- Rounding. The figures above use the unrounded daily rate and round the total to the cent. Some rent apps round the daily rate first, which can change the result by a few cents.
- Move-outs. Whether you have to prorate a final month depends on the lease, the notice given and state law. A tenant who leaves early without proper notice may owe more than the prorated amount.
- Weekly or other rent periods need a different calculation.
- Leap years. The 365-day method ignores February 29. Use the days-in-month method if that matters to you.
Questions landlords ask
The questions we get most, each answered in a paragraph.
How do you calculate prorated rent?
Divide the monthly rent by the number of days in the month to get a daily rate, then multiply by the days the tenant will occupy the unit, counting the move-in day. For $1,650 rent and a move-in on October 18, that's $1,650 / 31 = $53.23 a day, times 14 days, or $745.16.
Which prorated rent method should a landlord use?
Any of the three is common, as long as your lease says which one you use and you apply it the same way to every tenant. The days-in-month method is the most intuitive for tenants. The 30-day method is simpler but charges more in 31-day months and less in February. The 365-day method gives the same daily rate all year.
Do landlords have to prorate rent?
In most places, prorating a move-in is a matter of what you and the tenant agree in the lease. Many landlords prorate the first month, while others charge a full first month and prorate the second. At move-out, rules differ by state and depend on the notice and lease terms. Check your state's rules before you refuse to prorate a final month.
Is the move-in day included in prorated rent?
Usually yes, because the tenant has the keys and can use the unit that day. If a tenant moves in on October 18, they're charged for October 18 through 31, which is 14 days. State the rule in your lease if you do it differently.