{
    "name": "Vacancy Rate Calculator",
    "url": "https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/vacancy-rate-calculator",
    "markdown": "https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/vacancy-rate-calculator.md",
    "category": "Real estate",
    "description": "Calculate a property’s vacancy rate by vacant units, by vacant unit-days over a period, or economically by rent lost, with occupancy and rent lost.",
    "summary": "Vacancy can be measured three ways: the share of units empty today, the share of unit-days empty over a period, or the share of potential rent not collected. Each answers a different question.",
    "also_called": [
        "Occupancy rate calculator",
        "Economic vacancy calculator"
    ],
    "applies_to": "Worldwide",
    "last_updated": "2026-10-29",
    "computation": "Results are computed in the visitor’s browser on the HTML page. This API describes the calculator; it does not compute results.",
    "inputs": [
        {
            "name": "basis",
            "label": "Measure vacancy by",
            "type": "select",
            "default": "units",
            "options": {
                "units": "Vacant units today (physical)",
                "days": "Vacant unit-days over a period",
                "economic": "Rent lost (economic)"
            }
        },
        {
            "name": "total_units",
            "label": "Total units",
            "type": "number",
            "default": "20"
        },
        {
            "name": "vacant_units",
            "label": "Vacant units",
            "type": "number",
            "default": "2",
            "shown_when": {
                "basis": "units"
            }
        },
        {
            "name": "vacant_days",
            "label": "Vacant unit-days in the period",
            "type": "number",
            "default": "146",
            "shown_when": {
                "basis": "days"
            }
        },
        {
            "name": "period_days",
            "label": "Days in the period",
            "type": "number",
            "default": "365",
            "shown_when": {
                "basis": "days"
            }
        },
        {
            "name": "market_rent",
            "label": "Market rent per unit (per month)",
            "type": "number",
            "default": "1500",
            "optional": true
        },
        {
            "name": "potential_rent",
            "label": "Gross potential rent",
            "type": "number",
            "default": "100000",
            "shown_when": {
                "basis": "economic"
            }
        },
        {
            "name": "actual_rent",
            "label": "Rent actually collected",
            "type": "number",
            "default": "92000",
            "shown_when": {
                "basis": "economic"
            }
        },
        {
            "name": "currency",
            "label": "Currency",
            "type": "currency",
            "default": "USD"
        }
    ],
    "outputs": [
        {
            "key": "vacancy_rate",
            "label": "Vacancy rate",
            "format": "percent"
        },
        {
            "key": "occupancy_rate",
            "label": "Occupancy rate",
            "format": "percent"
        },
        {
            "key": "lost_rent",
            "label": "Rent lost to vacancy",
            "format": "currency"
        }
    ],
    "formula": {
        "text": "Physical = Vacant units ÷ Total units;  Time-based = Vacant unit-days ÷ (Units × Days);  Economic = (Potential rent − Collected rent) ÷ Potential rent;  Occupancy = 1 − Vacancy",
        "variables": {
            "Vacant unit-days": "the sum of empty days across all units",
            "Potential rent": "rent at market rates with every unit let for the whole period"
        }
    },
    "worked_example": {
        "inputs": {
            "basis": "units",
            "total_units": "20",
            "vacant_units": "2",
            "vacant_days": "146",
            "period_days": "365",
            "market_rent": "1500",
            "potential_rent": "100000",
            "actual_rent": "92000",
            "currency": "USD"
        },
        "steps": [
            "Vacancy = 2 ÷ 20 = 10%; occupancy = 90%.",
            "Rent lost each month = 2 × 1,500 = 3,000."
        ],
        "result": "With 2 of 20 units empty, physical vacancy is 10% and the building loses 3,000 of rent a month."
    },
    "interpretation": "Economic vacancy is usually higher than physical vacancy because it also captures concessions, discounts and unpaid rent. Use it in income forecasts; use physical vacancy to track leasing activity.",
    "assumptions": [
        "For the units method, rent lost is monthly; for unit-days it is for the period, at 12 months’ rent ÷ 365 per day."
    ],
    "limitations": [
        "Units of different sizes and rents are treated alike in the physical and unit-days methods."
    ],
    "rules": null,
    "faqs": [
        {
            "question": "Which vacancy rate should I use in a pro forma?",
            "answer": "An economic vacancy and credit-loss allowance, based on the property’s history or local market data, because that is what reduces income."
        },
        {
            "question": "Is a unit under renovation vacant?",
            "answer": "For physical vacancy, yes. Some owners report it separately as “down” units; be consistent across periods."
        }
    ],
    "sources": [],
    "related": [
        {
            "name": "Rent Collection Rate Calculator",
            "url": "https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/rent-collection-rate-calculator"
        },
        {
            "name": "Cap Rate Calculator",
            "url": "https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/capitalization-rate-calculator"
        },
        {
            "name": "Percentage Calculator",
            "url": "https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/percentage-calculator"
        }
    ],
    "disclaimer": null,
    "publisher": "GM¹X CalcVerse"
}