Prorated rent calculator
Mid-month move-in? Get the exact first-month figure — and the math to show your tenant.
How proration works (and where landlords slip)
Proration is simple arithmetic with two decisions hiding inside it. First, the denominator: dividing by the actual days in the month means a February move-in has a higher daily rate than a July one; dividing by a flat 30 keeps the rate constant but makes 31-day months a penny-war. Neither is wrong — what's wrong is not writing your choice into the lease.
Second, the day count: the move-in day itself is almost always a paid day (the tenant has possession). Count from the move-in date through the end of the month, inclusive. If the tenant gets keys on the 16th of a 30-day month, that's 15 paid days.
The other slip is bookkeeping: a prorated month breaks every "rent is always $1,500" assumption in a spreadsheet — one more reason running balances should be computed from charges and payments, not typed into a cell.
Frequently asked questions
How is prorated rent calculated?
Daily rate × days occupied. The daily rate is monthly rent divided by either the actual days in that month (most common) or a flat 30 days (the 'banker's month'). A $1,500 rent with a June 16 move-in: $1,500 ÷ 30 × 15 = $750.
Actual days or 30-day month — which should I use?
Either is legitimate if your lease says which. Actual-days is the default expectation in most states; the 30-day method makes February and 31-day months slightly uneven but keeps the daily rate constant. Put the method in the lease and apply it consistently.
Do I prorate the security deposit too?
No — the deposit isn't rent. It's a fixed amount held against the lease terms regardless of move-in date.
Should the prorated month be the first or second month?
Many landlords collect a full first month at signing and prorate the SECOND month instead — it front-loads commitment and simplifies day-one math. Both are common; your lease controls.
Never hand-calculate rent again
LetsGoLandlord charges the prorated amount automatically and keeps the ledger straight. Free for 14 days.