How to calculate prorated rent
Prorated rent is the share of a month's rent you owe when you only live in the property for part of that month — typically the month you move in or move out.
- Find the daily rate: divide the monthly rent by the number of days used by your lease's method.
- Count the days you occupy the property, including the move-in (or move-out) day.
- Multiply the daily rate by the days occupied.
The three proration methods
| Method | Daily rate | $1,500 rent, move in 20 Oct |
|---|---|---|
| Actual days in the month | Rent ÷ days in that month | 1,500 ÷ 31 × 12 = $580.65 |
| 365-day year | Rent × 12 ÷ 365 | 49.32 × 12 = $591.78 |
| 30-day (banker's) month | Rent ÷ 30 | 50.00 × 11 = $550.00 |
The “actual days” method is the most common and the fairest month to month. The 365-day method gives the same daily rate all year. With the banker's month, every month counts as 30 days, so moving in on the 20th covers days 20–30.
Need the number of days between two dates for a lease? Use the date calculator, or prepare a bill with the invoice generator.
Prorated rent on move-out
When you leave mid-month, the rent you owe usually runs from the 1st to your move-out day, inclusive. Moving out on 12 March with $1,500 rent: March has 31 days, so 1,500 ÷ 31 × 12 = $580.65. Many leases, however, require rent until the end of the notice period whatever day you hand back the keys — check the termination clause first.
Prorating the first month and paying the second
Landlords often ask for the prorated first month and the full second month at signing, especially when you move in late in the month. Moving in on 25 June with $1,200 rent means 6 days of June (1,200 ÷ 30 × 6 = $240) plus July in full, so $1,440 before the deposit.
Prorating other monthly bills
The same calculation works for anything billed monthly: utilities, parking spaces, storage units, subscriptions or a salary for a partial month. Divide the monthly amount by the days in the month and multiply by the days used.
Need the exact number of days between two dates, or business days only? Use the business day and date calculator. To bill a tenant or a client, the invoice generator creates a PDF in seconds.