FREE DOWNLOAD · CALCULATOR + GUIDE
KASITA CRAFTERS — FREE GUIDE
The Airbnb ROI
Calculator
Estimate your short-term rental income — and how fast a Kasita pays for itself — before you spend a dollar.
01
The five inputs that drive rental profit
02
A fill-in worksheet to run your own numbers
03
A worked example, start to finish
04
California rate & occupancy benchmarks
05
Your payback period — in months
Kasita Crafters — homes for everyone
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HOW IT WORKS
Five numbers, one answer.
To estimate what a short-term rental earns you each month, you only need five inputs. Here's what each one means and where to find it.
1
Average nightly rate
What comparable units charge nearby. Search Airbnb in your area and average a few similar listings.
2
Occupancy rate
The share of nights booked. Established California listings run ~55–70%.
3
Operating costs
Utilities, insurance, supplies, and maintenance — your real monthly run-rate.
4
Cleaning & fees
Cleaning is usually passed to guests; platform host fees run ~3%.
5
All-in unit cost
Unit + site prep + permits — the number you're paying back (see the Cost Guide).
THE FORMULA
Net / mo = (nightly rate × booked nights) − costs
Kasita Crafters — Airbnb ROI Calculator
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THE WORKSHEET
Run your own numbers.
Print this page and fill in the boxes. Shaded rows are calculated from the rows above them.
MONTHLY INCOME
A
Average nightly rate
what comparable units charge
B
Occupancy rate
% of nights booked
C
Booked nights / month
= 30 × B
D
Gross monthly revenue
= A × C
E
Monthly operating costs
utilities, insurance, upkeep
F
Net monthly profit
= D − E
PAYBACK
G
All-in unit cost
unit + site prep + permits
H
Payback in months
= G ÷ F
Kasita Crafters — Airbnb ROI Calculator
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WORKED EXAMPLE
A real backyard studio.
A 400 sqft Studio Model rented short-term in a typical California market. Your numbers will vary — but this is the shape of it.
MONTHLY INCOME
A
Average nightly rate
what comparable units charge
$145
B
Occupancy rate
% of nights booked
65%
C
Booked nights / month
= 30 × B
≈ 20
D
Gross monthly revenue
= A × C
$2,900
E
Monthly operating costs
utilities, insurance, upkeep
$700
F
Net monthly profit
= D − E
$2,200
PAYBACK
G
All-in unit cost
unit + site prep + permits
$38,000
H
Payback in months
= G ÷ F
≈ 17
WHAT THIS MEANS
At these numbers the unit pays for itself in about 17 months. After that, it's roughly $2,200 a month in your pocket.
Kasita Crafters — Airbnb ROI Calculator
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BENCHMARKS
Sanity-check your inputs.
If your worksheet numbers land far outside these California ranges, double-check them before you count on the result.
METRIC
TYPICAL CA RANGE
Nightly rate — backyard studio
$110–$190
Occupancy — established listing
55–70%
Net monthly profit (short-term)
$1,800–$3,200
Long-term rent alternative
$1,400–$2,400
Payback period
14–24 months
SHORT-TERM VS LONG-TERM
Short-term (Airbnb) usually earns more per month but takes active management and varies with season. A long-term tenant earns less but is steadier and hands-off. Many owners start short-term, then switch once the unit is paid off.
Kasita Crafters — Airbnb ROI Calculator
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YOUR NEXT STEP — RENTAL INCOME
See the numbers for your backyard.
A free 20-minute evaluation gives you a rental estimate for your market, the right model for your goal, and an all-in quote — all in writing.
TYPICAL RENTAL POTENTIAL
$1,800–$3,200 / month
1
Book a free 20-minute property evaluation
2
We estimate your rental income and model fit
3
You get an all-in quote in writing — no pressure
Run your real numbers with us.
We'll estimate your rental income, recommend the right model, and give you an all-in quote — free.
BOOK YOUR FREE EVALUATION →
Kasita Crafters — Airbnb ROI Calculator
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