Vacancy Loss Calculator

See exactly how much income you lose for every day your unit sits empty — and what it means for your annual return.

Every Empty Day Has a Price Tag

Most landlords know vacancy hurts — but seeing the daily dollar figure makes the cost tangible. A unit renting for $1,800/month loses $59 every single day it's vacant. This calculator quantifies that loss by day, week, and month, and shows how your vacancy rate affects your annual income — motivating faster action on turnovers and pricing decisions.

Vacancy Details

Operations

— Results

Total Vacancy Loss
Daily Loss per Unit
Weekly Loss
Annual Loss at Vacancy Rate

Why Vacancy Is Your Biggest Controllable Cost

Most landlords focus on cutting operating expenses — but vacancy is often the single largest drag on rental income, and unlike property taxes or insurance, it's directly within your control. A single month of vacancy on a $1,800 unit wipes out the equivalent of a full month of profit. Two months of vacancy in a year represents a 16.7% income reduction before any other expenses.

The Real Cost of a Slow Turnover

A $1,800/month unit sitting vacant for 45 days loses $2,704 in rent. If you could have re-rented it in 21 days instead, you'd save $1,421 — more than most landlords spend on an entire month of repairs.

Typical Vacancy Rates by Market

A 5% vacancy rate is often used as a planning benchmark in stable markets — roughly 18 days per year per unit. Competitive urban markets may run 2–4%. Softer rural or high-turnover markets may run 8–15%. Track your own historical vacancy rate to use the most realistic number in your investment projections.

How to Reduce Vacancy Time

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Free Landlord Companion Spreadsheet

Track your properties & tenants in one place — with direct links to every calculator right inside the file.

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