Calculate rental or staffing vacancy rate, occupancy or fill rate, vacant units, total capacity, time-based vacancy, and optional rental income loss.
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Vacancy Rate Formula
- Vacant = number of empty rental units, or number of unfilled approved positions
- Total = total rentable units, or total approved positions (filled + open)
If you only have two of the three counts, the calculator derives the third. For rentals, Total = Vacant + Occupied. For staffing, Total = Open + Filled. The result assumes a single point-in-time snapshot. For a period-based rate (such as unit-days vacant divided by unit-days available), multiply each unit by the days it sat empty before dividing.
Reference Tables
Use these as rough benchmarks. Local market data and industry-specific norms should override them.
| Rental Vacancy Rate | Interpretation |
|---|---|
| Below 3% | Tight market, very low turnover |
| 3% to 8% | Typical healthy range |
| 8% to 12% | Soft market or above-average turnover |
| Above 12% | High vacancy, revenue concern |
| Staffing Vacancy Rate | Interpretation |
|---|---|
| 0% to 5% | Low, most positions filled |
| 5% to 10% | Moderate, watch hiring pipeline |
| Above 10% | High, workload and recruitment risk |
Example
A 120-unit apartment property has 9 vacant units.
Vacancy Rate = (9 / 120) * 100 = 7.5%
Occupancy Rate = 100% - 7.5% = 92.5%
FAQ
Is occupancy rate the opposite of vacancy rate?
Yes. They sum to 100%. If vacancy is 6%, occupancy is 94%.
Should I include units under renovation?
That depends on your reporting standard. Physical vacancy includes any non-occupied unit. Economic vacancy only counts units that are not generating rent, which can include concessions and bad debt.
What counts as an "approved position" for staffing?
Budgeted headcount, whether currently filled or not. Contractors and temporary roles are usually excluded unless your policy says otherwise.
