Work out rent for part of a month: a move-in, a move-out or any dates. See the daily rate and what each of the three proration methods charges.
Prorated rent is the rent for part of a month. Work out a daily rate, then multiply it by the days the tenant has the unit:
Prorated rent = monthly rent ÷ days in the month × days occupied
Example: rent is $1,800 and the tenant moves in on 20 March 2026. March has 31 days, and the 20th to the 31st is 12 days, counting the move-in day. $1,800 ÷ 31 = $58.06 a day, and 12 days comes to $696.77.
Leases and landlords use one of three daily rates. They agree on a whole month and differ on a part of one, most of all in February:
| Method | Daily rate | Move in 20 March ($1,800) | Move in 15 February ($1,800) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Days in the month (usual) | Rent ÷ 28 to 31 | $696.77 | $900.00 |
| 365-day year | Rent × 12 ÷ 365 | $710.14 | $828.49 |
| 30-day month (banker’s) | Rent ÷ 30 | $720.00 | $840.00 |
Our view: use the days in the actual month unless the lease says otherwise. It charges exactly half the rent for half of any month, which is easy to explain to a tenant, and it never charges more than a full month. Whichever you use, use the same one for every unit and put it in the lease.
Divide the monthly rent by the number of days in that month to get a daily rate, then multiply by the days the tenant occupies the unit. $1,800 rent for a move-in on 20 March: $1,800 ÷ 31 = $58.06 a day, × 12 days = $696.77.
Usually, yes. The tenant has the unit that day, so it is a day of rent. This calculator counts both the first and the last day of the period.
The one your lease names. If it names none, dividing by the days in that month is the usual method and the default here. A 365-day year gives the same daily rate all year, and a 30-day month is the simplest but charges more for short months like February.
It depends on the lease. Many landlords collect the prorated rent for the partial month at move-in and the first full month on the 1st. When the move-in is late in the month, some collect both at signing, so the next payment is not due a few days later. Tick the box in the calculator to see that total.
There is no single US rule. Whether rent is prorated, and how, comes from the lease and from state and local law, so check both. When a lease starts mid-month, prorating the first month is the common practice.
The same way: the days from the 1st to the last day the tenant is responsible for, at the daily rate. Whether a mid-month move-out is prorated at all depends on the lease and any notice the tenant gave; without an agreement, rent is often owed to the end of the notice period.
Rent charged for part of a month: only the days the tenant has the unit, rather than the full month’s rent.
Got a unit coming up? We checked 11 rental sites for what they cost and who they reach. Where to post rental listings →
Reallyo sends your rental to 19 rental sites, including Zillow, Apartments.com and Realtor.com, and gives it a listing page, a video and social posts. Free for one listing; plans for more start at $39 a month.
Post a rental free →