Estimate Airbnb Income & Occupancy
Project short-term rental income based on nightly rate, occupancy, expenses, and seasonal variation.
Realistic Airbnb Revenue Projections
Average US Airbnb occupancy: 55-70% depending on market. At $150/night and 65% occupancy: $35,588 gross revenue per year. After Airbnb fees (3-5%), cleaning costs, and expenses (mortgage, utilities, supplies, maintenance): net income is typically 30-50% of gross revenue. Many hosts overestimate income by ignoring seasonal variation, vacancy, and the true cost of turnover.
Key Metrics for STR Success
Revenue Per Available Night (RevPAN): Total revenue ÷ 365. A better metric than nightly rate because it accounts for vacancy. Average Daily Rate (ADR): Revenue ÷ nights booked. Break-even occupancy: The minimum occupancy to cover your costs. If break-even is above 50%, you have thin margins. Superhost status: Requires 4.8+ rating, <1% cancellation rate, 90%+ response rate, and 10+ stays/year. Superhosts earn 10-20% more than non-Superhosts.
The Airbnb "golden triangle": Location (walkable/tourist area), Amenities (hot tub increases revenue 10-25%, pool 15-30%), and Photos (professional photography increases bookings 20-40%). Investing $500 in professional photos and $3,000-5,000 in a hot tub can increase annual revenue by $5,000-15,000 — an ROI that pays back in the first year.
