How prorated rent is calculated
Prorated rent = monthly rent ÷ days in the month × days occupied
When a tenant moves in or out partway through a month, you charge only for the days they have the home. The most common method divides the monthly rent by the actual number of days in that month and multiplies by the days of occupancy, counting the move-in day.
A worked example
Rent is $1,800 and the tenant moves in on June 19. June has 30 days, so the tenant occupies 12 days: $1,800 ÷ 30 = $60 a day, and 12 × $60 = $720 for June. Full rent starts on July 1.
The three methods
- Actual days in the month. The daily rate changes with the month: higher in February, lower in a 31-day month.
- 30-day month. Every month is treated as 30 days, which keeps the daily rate constant.
- Yearly. Twelve months of rent divided by 365 gives one daily rate for the whole year.
The methods usually differ by a few dollars. What matters is that the lease states which one applies and that you use it the same way for every tenant.
Move-out and deposits
The same calculation works for a tenant who leaves mid-month, if your lease or local law requires prorating the last month. Some leases require full rent for the final month regardless of the move-out date, and some states have their own rules, so check before you charge or refund.
Once the tenant is in, see our guide on collecting rent online.