How to calculate prorated rent
Prorated rent is the rent owed for part of a month, used when a tenant moves in or out on a day other than the first. Work out a daily rate, then multiply by the days the tenant has the unit.
Prorated rent = monthly rent ÷ days in the month × days occupied
Worked example
Rent is $1,800 and the tenant moves in on June 19. June has 30 days, and the tenant occupies 12 of them (the 19th through the 30th). $1,800 ÷ 30 = $60 a day, and $60 × 12 = $720.
Three ways to set the daily rate
| Method | Daily rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Actual days in the month | rent ÷ 28, 29, 30 or 31 | Most common |
| Banker’s month | rent ÷ 30 | Same rate every month |
| Yearly | rent × 12 ÷ 365 | Same rate all year |
The lease usually says which method applies. If it does not, the actual-days method is the usual default.
How to use this calculator
Enter the monthly rent, choose the days in the month (28, 29, 30 or 31) and enter the days you occupy the unit. The prorated rent calculator shows the rent owed for the partial month using the actual days in the month, and beside it the amounts using a 30-day month and a 365-day year. Read your lease first so you use the figure for the same method your landlord uses.
More examples
The method matters most in short and long months. Here is the same $1,800 rent with 12 days occupied, worked five ways.
| Month and method | Daily rate | Rent for 12 days |
|---|---|---|
| June, actual days (30) | $60.00 | $720.00 |
| February, actual days (28) | $64.29 | $771.43 |
| A 31-day month, actual days | $58.06 | $696.77 |
| Banker’s month, any month | $60.00 | $720.00 |
| Yearly, any month | $59.18 | $710.14 |
The totals use the unrounded daily rate, so they can differ by a few cents from the rounded rate multiplied by the days.
Moving out works the same way. For example, rent is $1,500 and the tenant leaves on March 10. March has 31 days and the tenant occupies 10 of them. $1,500 ÷ 31 is about $48.39 a day, and 10 days comes to $483.87.
What changes the result
- Days occupied. Each extra day adds one full daily rate. In the June example, moving in one day earlier adds $60.
- Length of the month. With the actual-days method, a day in February costs more than a day in a 31-day month, because the same rent is spread over fewer days.
- The method. The banker’s month and yearly methods ignore the length of the month. In the table above, the gap between the highest and lowest result for the same 12 days is $74.66.
Common mistakes
- Leaving out the move-in day or the move-out day. Both count as days occupied.
- Dividing by 30 in every month when the lease calls for actual days.
- Subtracting dates instead of counting them. June 19 through June 30 is 12 days, not 11.
- Rounding the daily rate before multiplying. Round only the final amount.
- Prorating the wrong month. If you move in late in the month, some landlords collect a full first month and prorate the second month instead. The amount is the same, only the timing changes.
Related calculators
If you share the unit, divide the partial month with the rent split calculator. To plan the rest of the move, estimate the movers with the moving cost calculator and check the rent against your income with the rent affordability calculator.
Frequently asked questions
Does the move-in day count?
Yes. Count the move-in day and every day through the end of the month.
Do landlords have to prorate rent?
It depends on the lease and on state law. Many leases prorate the first month. Some states require it when a tenancy ends mid-month.
How do I prorate rent when moving out?
Use the same formula with the days from the first of the month through the move-out day.
Which proration method gives the lowest rent?
It depends on the month. In a 31-day month the actual-days method gives the lowest daily rate. In February it gives the highest, and the yearly method gives the lowest. In a 30-day month the actual-days and banker’s month methods match.
Is the security deposit prorated too?
No. Proration applies to rent for a partial month. The deposit is a separate amount set by the lease.
How do I prorate rent in a leap year?
With the actual-days method, divide by 29 for February. For $1,800 rent that is about $62.07 a day. The banker’s month method still divides by 30.
Is the result a bill I can rely on?
It is an estimate based on the numbers you enter. The amount you owe is set by your lease and your landlord’s ledger, so compare the two and ask about any difference.