Prorated Rent Calculator
Pick your move date and rent — see the partial month's rent under the three methods landlords actually use.
Move-in day itself is counted as a paid day (standard practice). Your lease controls the method.
How prorated rent works
When you move in or out mid-month, you pay only for the days you occupy the unit. The disagreement is never the idea — it’s the daily rate. Three conventions exist:
Worked example
Rent is $1,600 and you move in on September 10, 2026. September has 30 days, and you occupy Sept 10–30 = 21 days.
Actual-days: $1,600 ÷ 30 × 21 = $1,120.00
Banker’s month: same here (September is a 30-day month)
Yearly method: $1,600 × 12 ÷ 365 × 21 = $1,104.66
In February or a 31-day month the three methods diverge — that’s when checking the lease matters.
Which method will your landlord use?
- Actual days in the month is the most common and the default most property-management software uses.
- The 30-day banker’s month keeps the daily rate identical year-round; slightly favors the tenant in 31-day months and the landlord in February.
- The yearly (365-day) method produces one constant daily rate all year and is written into some leases and a few state conventions.
No federal law dictates a method — and in most states, none is required at all unless the lease provides it. In practice nearly all landlords prorate move-ins; getting the method in writing before signing is what prevents disputes.
Move-out proration
Switch the calculator to “Out” and it counts days from the 1st through your move-out date inclusive. Note that proper notice rules still apply — if your lease requires 30 days’ notice and you give 10, you may owe rent through the notice period even after leaving.
Frequently asked questions
Is a landlord required to prorate rent?
Generally no law requires it — the lease governs. Mid-month move-ins are almost always prorated by agreement because nobody signs otherwise. Month-to-month tenancies ending mid-month depend on state notice rules and the rental agreement.
Do I pay prorated rent or a full month first?
The common arrangement for a mid-month start: pay a full month up front for the first full calendar month plus the prorated partial month (some landlords collect the prorated amount first, others fold it into month two). The order is negotiable; the amounts are what this calculator gives you.
Is the move-in day itself charged?
Yes — the day you receive keys is a paid day, standard across the industry. This calculator counts it (move in on the 10th of a 30-day month = 21 paid days).
How does proration work in February?
Under actual-days, the daily rate is rent ÷ 28 (or 29) — the highest daily rate of the year. Under the banker’s or yearly methods the rate stays the same as other months. February is where method choice moves real money, in the landlord’s favor under actual-days.
Last reviewed: 2026-08-20 · Report an issue