Prorated rent calculator
Only pay for the days you live there
I'm on Sep 27
and rent is $.
You pay
$240.00
for 4 days in September
Both methods agree this month.
The lease starts October 20. You've paid the deposit, booked the movers, and checked your balance twice.
Then the email: first month's rent due at signing, $1,800.
For twelve days.
It's easy to just pay it. New landlord, first impression, you don't want to be the difficult one. But those twelve days come to $696.77. The other $1,103 is a couch, a month of groceries, the cushion that makes the first few weeks feel less tight.
Sometimes it's just timing and the difference comes off next month. Sometimes it doesn't. Either way, asking isn't being difficult. It's knowing the number.
Three steps
- 1
Find the daily rate
Rent ÷ days in the month. Some leases use a flat 30.
$1,800÷31=$58.06 - 2
Count your days
Moving in: your date to month-end. Moving out: the 1st to your date.
Oct 20→31=12 days - 3
Multiply
Daily rate × your days. That's it.
$58.06×12=$696.77
Same math, different ends
Moving in
You pay from move-in day to the end of the month. Some landlords take a full month up front and credit the rest later. Ask which.
Total move-in cost →Moving out
You pay from the 1st to move-out day, but only if your lease ends then. Leaving early doesn't shrink the bill.
Give notice first →Quick reference
| Rent | 31 days | 30 days | 28 days |
|---|---|---|---|
| $1,000 | $32.26 | $33.33 | $35.71 |
| $1,500 | $48.39 | $50.00 | $53.57 |
| $2,000 | $64.52 | $66.67 | $71.43 |
| $2,500 | $80.65 | $83.33 | $89.29 |
| $3,000 | $96.77 | $100.00 | $107.14 |
On a flat 30-day lease, the 30-day column applies all year
Good to know
Does my landlord have to prorate?+
Usually not by law. Most do anyway. Get the number in writing before you pay.
Which method is better?+
Depends on the month. A flat 30 costs a bit more in 31-day months and less in February. What matters is that your lease and your bill match.
Do I pay it in the first month or the second?+
Often you pay a full first month and the partial comes off month two. Same total. Just ask.
What if I move out early?+
Proration only applies if your lease ends mid-month. Hand back keys early and you still owe to the end date.