Prorated Rent Calculator
Calculate prorated rent for move-in or move-out instantly. Our free calculator shows your daily rent rate, days occupied, and exact partial month amount owed. Works for all 50 states.
Use Actual Days
Calculations use the real number of days in each month (28-31)
Include Move-In Day
Both move-in and move-out days count toward occupied days
Check Your Lease
Some leases may use different proration methods
State-Specific Prorated Rent Laws
Laws vary by state. Get detailed information for your location including legal requirements and calculation methods.
California
Texas
Florida
New York
Illinois
Georgia
North Carolina
Arizona
Ohio
Pennsylvania
Michigan
Washington
Total Jurisdictions
51
Legally Required
3 states
Daily Rate Standard
3 states
Legally Required
No - Optional/industry practice
Calculation Method
Standard Practice
Not generally required by law but standard industry practice. Proration is mandatory in specific situations: when tenant terminates due to landlord's failure to repair (RCW 59.18.090), or for domestic violence victim protection (RCW 59.18.575).
Legend:
Legally Required
State law mandates prorated rent calculation
Not Required
Standard practice but not legally mandated
Daily Rate Method
Monthly rent ÷ days in month × days occupied
Any Method Allowed
Lease terms determine calculation approach
Important Notes:
- Local ordinances may impose stricter requirements than state law
- Always verify calculation method in your lease agreement
- Courts generally favor daily rate method for fairness
- State guides provide detailed legal citations and examples
| Method | Formula | When Used | Accuracy |
|---|---|---|---|
Daily Rate (Recommended) Most accurate | (Rent ÷ Days in Month) × Days Occupied | Standard practice Required in CA, NY | Highest |
30-Day Month Less accurate | (Rent ÷ 30) × Days Occupied | Older leases Not recommended | Medium |
365-Day Year Uncommon | ((Rent × 12) ÷ 365) × Days Occupied | Commercial leases Rarely residential | Medium |
Scenario 1: Mid-Month Move-In (February)
Sarah signs a lease for $1,800/month starting February 15th (non-leap year). Calculate her prorated first month rent.
Scenario 2: Early Month Move-Out (March)
John moves out on March 10th from a $2,100/month apartment. Calculate his final month's prorated rent.
Scenario 3: Leap Year Calculation (February 2024)
Maria moves in on February 20th during a leap year. Her rent is $1,500/month.
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What is Prorated Rent?
Prorated rent is the proportional amount you pay when renting a property for only part of a calendar month, rather than the full month. Instead of paying the complete monthly rent amount, you pay only for the specific days you actually occupy the property. This fair calculation method ensures tenants don't overpay and landlords receive appropriate compensation for actual occupancy time.
The concept of prorating applies most commonly during move-in and move-out situations. For example, if you sign a lease starting on March 15th with a monthly rent of $2,000, you wouldn't pay the full $2,000 for March. Instead, you'd calculate your rent for just the 17 days you occupy the property that month (March 15-31). Using the standard daily rate method, this would equal approximately $1,097 for that partial first month.
Common Situations Requiring Prorated Rent
Moving In Mid-Month
When your lease start date falls in the middle of a month, you only pay for the days from your move-in date through the end of that month. The following month, you begin paying full monthly rent on the 1st.
Moving Out Early
If you vacate the property before the end of your lease month and give proper notice, you typically only pay rent through your actual move-out date, not the entire month. This protects tenants from paying for days they don't occupy the unit.
Lease Terminations
When a lease ends mid-month by mutual agreement, eviction, or early termination with landlord approval, prorated rent ensures both parties are treated fairly for the partial month of occupancy.
Short-Term Rentals
Month-to-month leases or temporary housing arrangements frequently involve prorated calculations when rental periods don't align perfectly with calendar months.
Why Prorated Rent Matters
Understanding prorated rent is crucial for both tenants and landlords because it ensures financial fairness in the rental relationship. For tenants, it means you're not forced to pay for an entire month when you only occupy the property for a few days. This can save hundreds of dollars during move-in and move-out transitions. For landlords, proper proration helps attract quality tenants by demonstrating transparent, ethical business practices while still ensuring they receive appropriate compensation for the days the property is occupied.
The financial impact can be significant. Consider a scenario where you move into a $2,500/month apartment on the 25th of a 30-day month. Without proration, you'd pay the full $2,500 for only 6 days of occupancy—an effective daily rate of over $416! With proper proration, you'd pay only $500 for those 6 days, saving $2,000 on your first month's housing costs.
Prorated rent is the proportional amount you pay when renting for only part of a month. Instead of paying the full monthly rent, you pay only for the days you actually occupy the property.
How to Calculate Prorated Rent: Complete Step-by-Step Guide
Calculating prorated rent is straightforward when you follow the standard formula used by landlords and property managers across the United States. The most widely accepted method uses the actual number of days in each specific month to ensure accuracy and fairness for both tenants and landlords.
Standard Prorated Rent Formula
This formula calculates your daily rental rate, then multiplies it by the number of days you'll occupy the property. It's the industry standard and the most accurate method available.
Detailed Calculation Steps
Determine Your Monthly Rent
Start with the base monthly rent amount stated in your lease agreement. This is typically the amount you would pay for a full calendar month of occupancy.
Example: Your lease states monthly rent of $1,800
Count the Total Days in the Month
Use the actual number of days in the specific month you're calculating. Never use a fixed 30-day month, as this creates inaccuracies.
Calculate Your Daily Rental Rate
Divide your monthly rent by the number of days in that month. This gives you the cost per day of occupancy.
Formula: Daily Rate = Monthly Rent ÷ Days in Month
Example: $1,800 ÷ 30 days = $60.00 per day
Count Your Occupied Days
Determine how many days you'll occupy the property during the partial month. Include both your move-in and move-out dates in the count.
Multiply to Get Your Prorated Amount
Take your daily rate and multiply it by the number of days you'll occupy the property. This final number is your prorated rent.
Formula: Prorated Rent = Daily Rate × Days Occupied
Example: $60.00 × 15 days = $900.00
Final Prorated Rent: $900.00
Complete Real-World Example
Scenario: Moving Into a New Apartment
Situation: You're moving into a new apartment on October 18th. Your lease states the monthly rent is $2,400.
Calculation Breakdown:
Alternative Calculation Methods
While the daily rate method (dividing by actual days in the month) is the recommended standard, you may encounter alternative approaches in older lease agreements or specific jurisdictions:
Actual Days Method
Uses real calendar days (28-31)
(Rent ÷ Actual Days) × Days Occupied30-Day Month Method
Always divides by 30 days
(Rent ÷ 30) × Days OccupiedAnnual Method
Based on yearly rent
((Rent × 12) ÷ 365) × DaysState Laws for Prorated Rent: Legal Requirements by State
Prorated rent requirements vary significantly across the United States. While some states have explicit laws mandating daily proration for residential leases, others leave the practice to lease agreement terms and industry custom. Understanding your state's specific regulations helps ensure you're being charged fairly and landlords are meeting their legal obligations.
States with Mandatory Proration Laws
California
California Civil Code Section 1947 explicitly requires landlords to prorate rent based on the actual number of days in each month. This is the strictest prorated rent law in the country. Landlords must calculate daily rates using actual calendar days (never 30-day months), and charging a full month's rent for partial occupancy is illegal.
Legal Penalty: Tenants can recover overcharged amounts plus potential damages if landlords violate this requirement.
New York
While New York doesn't have a single statewide statute like California, New York City's Rent Stabilization Code and various housing court precedents effectively require daily proration for rent-stabilized apartments. Market-rate properties typically follow this practice as well, though it's usually governed by lease terms rather than explicit legal mandate.
NYC Specific: Rent-stabilized apartments must prorate using actual calendar days in the month.
States Where Proration is Standard Practice
Most U.S. states don't have specific laws requiring prorated rent, but the practice has become industry standard. In these jurisdictions, proration is typically addressed in lease agreements rather than mandated by statute:
What Your Lease Agreement Should Include
Key Lease Language to Look For:
- "Rent for partial months shall be prorated based on the number of days in that month"
- "Daily rental rate = Monthly rent ÷ actual days in the calendar month"
- "Move-out proration requires 30-day written notice as per state law"
Local Ordinances May Override State Laws
Even if your state doesn't require proration, your city or county might. Major metropolitan areas often have tenant-friendly ordinances that go beyond state requirements:
San Francisco, CA
Rent Ordinance requires strict proration compliance
Chicago, IL
RLTO specifies fair rental practices including proration
Seattle, WA
Tenant protection ordinances encourage proration
Common Prorated Rent Calculation Mistakes to Avoid
Even with a straightforward formula, prorated rent calculations can go wrong when landlords or tenants make common errors. These mistakes can result in overcharges, disputes, and damaged rental relationships. Here are the most frequent pitfalls and how to avoid them:
Mistake #1: Using a Fixed 30-Day Month
One of the most common errors is assuming every month has 30 days and dividing monthly rent by 30 regardless of the actual calendar. This creates inaccuracies that unfairly benefit either the landlord or tenant depending on the month.
Example of the Problem:
For $1,500/month rent in February (28 days) vs. March (31 days):
Wrong (30-day method):
February: $50.00/day
March: $50.00/day
Correct (actual days):
February: $53.57/day
March: $48.39/day
Mistake #2: Not Counting Move-In or Move-Out Days
Many people incorrectly exclude either the move-in day or move-out day from their calculation, thinking partial-day occupancy shouldn't count. However, standard industry practice and most state laws consider any day you have access to the property as a full occupied day.
Example: Moving in on June 15th in a 30-day month
❌ Wrong: 15 days (June 16-30 only)
✓ Correct: 16 days (June 15-30 inclusive)
Mistake #3: Ignoring Lease Agreement Terms
Some tenants assume proration is always calculated the same way, but lease agreements may specify different methods or include clauses about notice periods, termination fees, or minimum rental periods. For example, your lease might require a 30-day notice to move out, meaning you could owe rent for days after you vacate if you didn't give proper notice.
Mistake #4: Assuming All Charges Are Prorated
Prorated rent typically applies only to base rent. Utilities, parking fees, storage, pet rent, and other monthly charges may not be prorated at all—or may be calculated separately. Some landlords charge full monthly amounts for these items regardless of your move-in or move-out date.
What's Usually Prorated:
- ✓ Base monthly rent
- ✓ Pet rent (sometimes)
What's Often NOT Prorated:
- ✕ Utilities (unless specified)
- ✕ Parking fees
- ✕ Storage fees
- ✕ Application/admin fees
Mistake #5: Confusing Prorated Rent with Security Deposits
Some tenants mistakenly believe landlords can automatically deduct final month's prorated rent from their security deposit. In most states, this is illegal without your written authorization. Security deposits are specifically designated for damages and unpaid rent after proper billing—not for automatic rent deduction.
Prorated Rent Calculator Comparison: Why Choose RentLateFee.com
While many prorated rent calculators exist online, they vary significantly in accuracy, ease of use, and transparency. Understanding these differences helps ensure you get reliable results without hidden limitations or paywalls.
- 100% Free, No Signup
- Actual Days Method (Most Accurate)
- State-Specific Legal Guidance
- Mobile-Optimized Design
- Detailed Formula Breakdown
- Works Offline (PWA)
- Free to Use
- Basic Calculation Only
- ✕No State-Specific Info
- ✕May Use 30-Day Method
- ✕Limited Explanation
- ~Basic Mobile Support
- ✕Requires Paid Subscription
- Highly Accurate
- Automated Billing Integration
- ✕Landlord/PM Only Access
- ✕Not Available to Tenants
- ~Complex Interface
What Makes Our Calculator Stand Out
Key Advantages:
1. Legal Compliance Built-In
Our calculator uses the actual days method required by California law and recommended nationwide. You can trust the calculations meet legal standards in all 50 states.
2. Educational Context
Unlike bare-bones calculators, we explain *why* calculations work this way, helping you understand your rights and obligations under rental law.
3. Mobile-First Design
Calculate on the go during apartment tours or lease signings. Our responsive design works perfectly on phones, tablets, and desktops.
4. No Hidden Costs or Limitations
Many calculator sites gate results behind email signups or premium subscriptions. Ours is completely free with unlimited use—no account required.