Short-Term Rental Income Calculator

Estimate your Airbnb or VRBO property's gross revenue, operating expenses, and net income — then see instantly whether the property qualifies for a DSCR loan.

How STR Income Works for DSCR Loans

Short-term rentals (Airbnb, VRBO, direct booking) can generate significantly more income than long-term leases — but lenders underwrite them differently.

Most DSCR lenders use one of two methods to determine qualifying rental income for an STR property: the appraiser's long-term market rent estimate, or actual documented STR income (typically a 12-month average from the hosting platform). Some lenders also accept AirDNA market data.

This calculator lets you model both scenarios — see your full STR income potential, then test whether the property still qualifies at the more conservative long-term rent figure.

Key Formulas

Gross STR Revenue = Nightly Rate × Occ. Rate × 365
Net STR Income = Gross Revenue − Operating Expenses
DSCR Ratio = Monthly Rent ÷ Monthly PITIA
Good DSCR ≥ 1.0x (most lenders) · 1.25x (best rates)

Run the Numbers

Revenue

Your typical nightly rate. Check comparable listings on Airbnb for your area to set a realistic baseline.

Well-managed STRs typically run 60–75% annually. Highly seasonal markets may vary significantly by quarter.

Cleaning fees add to your gross revenue. Estimate ~1 booking per 4–5 nights at your occupancy rate.

Operating Expenses

STR properties typically need specialized short-term rental or landlord policies — often $100–250/mo.

Self-managed = 0%. Property managers typically charge 15–25% of gross revenue.

Toiletries, linens, consumables, etc.

Budget ~1% of property value per year as a rule of thumb.

Estimated Annual Net Income

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Enter your nightly rate to get started

Gross STR Revenue —
Cleaning Fee Revenue —
Total Annual Revenue —
Total Annual Expenses —
Monthly Net Income —
Occupancy Rate —
Effective Nightly Rate (blended) —
Nights Booked / Year —

Estimated Monthly Revenue

Will This STR Qualify for a DSCR Loan?

Enter your loan details below. The monthly rent used is your calculated STR net income ÷ 12 — or enter a custom figure if you expect the lender to use long-term market rent instead.

Leave blank to use your calculated STR net monthly income. Enter a lower figure to test the conservative long-term rent scenario.

DSCR Ratio

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Run the DSCR Calculator

Free AirDNA Market Report

Not sure what nightly rate or occupancy to use for your market? I can pull a free AirDNA report for your specific area — average daily rates, occupancy trends, and seasonal data.

Request Your Free AirDNA Report →

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Want a Full Analysis on a Specific Property?

The calculator above uses your own estimates. We can provide a full STR analysis — including market-based occupancy, average daily rate, and projected revenue data — for any specific property you're evaluating, along with an honest look at which DSCR loan options could work for that deal. No cost, no obligation.

STR income estimate based on market data for that specific area & property type

DSCR viability check — does the projected income support financing at your target price?

Loan options overview — programs that could work for your specific deal

Request a Free STR Analysis

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STR Investing: What the Numbers Don't Tell You

A calculator is a starting point. Here are the factors experienced STR investors watch closely.

Local STR Regulations

Many cities have permit requirements, night caps, or outright bans on short-term rentals. Always verify local ordinances before purchasing — zoning can make or break an STR investment.

Seasonality Risk

Beach towns, ski resorts, and tourist destinations can see 3–4x swings in occupancy between peak and off-season. Model a conservative off-season scenario before committing.

Lender Income Treatment

Even if your STR generates strong income, many DSCR lenders will qualify the loan using the appraiser's long-term market rent — which could be 30–50% lower than actual STR income. Use the DSCR section above to test both scenarios.

STR Calculator — Common Questions

Yes — but lenders handle it differently. Some use the appraiser's long-term market rent (from a 1007 Rent Schedule) as a conservative baseline. Others will accept 12 months of documented STR income from the platform. A growing number also accept AirDNA projected income for properties without rental history. Reach out and we can help you find a lender that works with your specific situation.
For a well-managed STR in a solid market, 60–72% is a reasonable starting assumption. Top performers in strong markets can reach 80–85%, but it's wise to model a conservative scenario (50–55%) as well. Sites like AirDNA and Rabbu publish market-specific occupancy data that can give you a better local baseline than generic averages.
STRs carry meaningfully higher operating costs than long-term rentals. Key additional expenses include: platform fees (Airbnb charges hosts ~3%), cleaning between every stay, a higher insurance premium (specialized STR or landlord policies), higher utilities (you typically cover them), guest supplies and consumables, and higher maintenance turnover from more frequent use. These typically add up to 30–45% of gross revenue — which is why net income matters more than top-line revenue.
DSCR = Monthly Qualifying Rent ÷ Monthly PITIA (Principal, Interest, Taxes, Insurance, HOA). The key variable is what counts as "monthly qualifying rent." For most DSCR loans, it's either the appraiser's market rent for that property as a long-term rental, or documented STR income — depending on the lender. The DSCR section of this calculator lets you test both scenarios by adjusting the qualifying rent field.