Airbnb Occupancy Rate by City to Maximize Profit

The Airbnb occupancy rate is one of the crucial factors for the success of a vacation rental as it directly affects revenue and ROI.

While there are a number of factors that impact the occupancy of a rental property, a key determinant is location. Thus, in this article, we’ll take a look at the average Airbnb occupancy rates by city in a few major global markets, including the US, Canada, the UK, and Australia. We’ll zoom in on the cities with the highest and the lowest occupancies as well as the seasonality behind them.

This should help a real estate investor identify some top locations for Airbnb investments that are guaranteed to bring in a lot of traffic as long as you manage your property right. Moreover, it will help Airbnb hosts and managers check whether their properties perform as expected based on comparison with market-wide averages.

To conclude, we’ll offer actionable tips on how to boost the occupancy rate of Airbnb houses as well as the best amenities for low vacancies.

What Is Airbnb Occupancy Rate and How Should You Calculate It?

In brief, this metric measures the proportion of time for which an Airbnb listing is booked compared to the total available nights. When multiplied by the daily rates, it provides the monthly – or annual – rental income of a property.

The occupancy rate of a property is calculated by dividing the number of booked nights in a month or a year by the total number of nights over the same period of time.

Airbnb Occupancy Rates by City in the United States (2024 vs. 2023)

First, let’s begin with the average Airbnb occupancy rate by city in the US market, the largest Airbnb market worldwide.

The table below shows the average vacation rental occupancy rate in 2023 and 2024 for the 25 US cities with the largest number of active listings on the platform, in March 2023. These translate into the biggest short term rental markets in the US.

All the Airbnb stats per city quoted in the rest of this article come from Mashvisor Airbnb data. As a leading global provider of short term rental data, Mashvisor gathers performance data from a number of reliable publicly available sources to provide ready market research and analysis for vacation rental hosts and managers.

So, without further ado, what is the average Airbnb occupancy rate per city in the US?

A few important observations emerge from the Airbnb occupancy data presented above.

First and foremost, the US markets with the most Airbnb listings have a wide range of average Airbnb rates: from 45% in Panama City Beach, FL to 73% in San Diego, CA.

These numbers are generally high compared to the US national averages despite the large number of available listings. This means that these markets are so popular that properties don’t compete with each other.

Second, as many as 11 of the 25 cities with the most number of listings are located in Florida, and overall they boast good Airbnb occupancy rates. Florida has once gained a place among the leaders in the US vacation rental market after a major slowdown during the Covid pandemic.

Third, all the markets experienced a significant growth in their vacation rental occupancies between 2023 and 2024. This means that the Airbnb industry continues to heat up and to offer extremely profitable opportunities for investors and Airbnb property managers in spite of all legal regulations and restrictions.

What Is a Good Airbnb Occupancy Rate?

A good occupancy rate is, in general, 65% or more. The reason for this is simple.

According to AirDNA, the average occupancy rate was 55.1% in the 12 months between March 2023 and February 2024, a slight decline from 55.4% in the previous 12 months. As a savvy Airbnb host or property manager, you want to perform at least 10 percentage points better than the average owner.

However, you should keep in mind that a high occupancy rate is not always the best one.

At the market level, there are cities that might benefit from strong demand, while the average nightly rate is relatively low, which would lead to suboptimal Airbnb rental income.

At the property level, if you maximize occupancy, you might be lowering nightly prices too much, thus sacrificing revenue.

So, the best occupancy for real estate investors is the one that results in the highest income and profitability.

Average Airbnb Occupancy Rate in 10 Selected Cities in North America (2024 vs. 2023)

Next, we’ll analyze last 12-month trends in the average Airbnb occupancy for performance evaluation of some of the best short term rental markets in the US. We’ll also discuss what changes in the average occupancy rate for Airbnb owners and managers can expect.

Keep in mind that the markets below present the cities with the highest number of active Airbnb listings in March 2024 in the top US states for this rental strategy.

1. Reunion, FL

Reunion, FL

As a popular resort community in Florida, it comes as no surprise that Reunion has the largest number of Airbnbs in the Sunshine State. The highest Airbnb occupancy rate occurs in the spring (February and March) and July, while the lowest occupancies is in the winter (November and December). This is dictated by seasonal demand.

In 2024, you can expect significantly higher occupancy rates in Reunion, FL, with similar trends in terms of seasonality.

2. San Diego, CA

San Diego, CA

Airbnb statistics by city, provided by Mashvisor, show that San Diego vacation rentals enjoy the highest demand in the summer months (July, August, and September). Things slow down in the winter months (November and December). This is largely expected, considering the beach-related attractions offered by the city.

In 2024, things are looking great for San Diego hosts and managers as demand is exceeding the 2023 levels by 25 percentage points.

3. Houston, TX

Houston, TX

Being the largest city in Texas, Houston hosts the most listings on Airbnb. The Airbnb highest occupancy rate in Houston occurs in July, while the highest Airbnb vacancy rate is in December. This less good occupancy rate in the winter is explained by the slowdown in business travel around the holidays as well as the preference of leisure travelers for other destinations.

In 2024, a Houston Airbnb host can expect similar seasonality trends, with overall better performance.

4. Nashville, TN

Nashville, TN

Nashville, TN is yet another US housing market that experiences a lot of seasonality within the short term rental industry. The peak season is in June, July, and September. Meanwhile, January, November, and December see a major drop to less than 10%. This is generally in line with the typical Airbnb occupancy rate trends in other major locations too.

In 2024, seasonal movements are likely to remain the same, while the overall rates are expected to be about 10 percentage points higher.

5. Atlanta, GA

Atlanta, GA

Based on Mashvisor Airbnb occupancy rate data, Atlanta vacation rentals attract the most guests in June and July. The highest vacancy, on the other hand, happens in December.

As these trends are due to Atlanta’s position as a preferred summer getaway, they will continue into 2024, with a general increase in the averages across all months.

6. New York, NY

New York Airbnb rental properties enjoy the highest occupancy rates between April and July. The highest average Airbnb vacancy rate occurs in December, once again.

Reservations are expected to follow similar patterns in 2024 as they did in 2023, with a slight overall increase.

7. Chicago, IL

Chicago, IL

Airbnb rental statistics by city show that June and July are the months that bring the most market demand for hosts and property managers in Chicago, IL. Meanwhile, the time between November and February sees the lowest occupancies.

2024 seasonality trends are expected to be similar to 2023 trends.

8. Myrtle Beach, SC

Myrtle Beach, SC

Myrtle Beach, SC has an even more pronounced seasonality than most Airbnb markets in the US. According to Airbnb occupancy rate statistics, the peak season is in March and July, while it’s close to 0% in November and December. This only makes sense considering that most guests come for the beaches.

These trends will carry onto 2024, with some increases in overall occupancies.

9. Seattle, WA

Seattle, WA

Seasonality is less of an issue for Seattle Airbnb owners as the city attracts both business and leisure travelers. Still, occupancies are the strongest in March and June-September, while vacancy happens mostly in January and December.

Short term rental property owners and managers should not expect major readjustments in 2024.

10. New Orleans, LA

New Orleans, LA

Unlike other vacation rental markets, New Orleans has a few peaks and a few troughs. The best month for a well-occupied Airbnb property is April, followed by February, May and October. Meanwhile, August and December see the lowest number of reservations.

2024 is not expected to bring any major changes in trends in the New Orleans area, retaining similar peak season and off season.

Airbnb Occupancy Rates by City in Canada 2024

In addition to the US, Canada is another important market for short term rental hosts and managers.

If you’re wondering what is the average occupancy rate for Airbnb in major cities in Canada, you can see in the table below.

Overall, markets in Canada enjoy strong performance, especially Quebec, Montreal, and Victoria, which are popular destinations for both local and international travelers.

Airbnb Occupancy Rates by City in the United Kingdom 2024

The UK also provides endless opportunities for profitable investments in short term rentals due to the large number of annual visitors. Indeed, when choosing between hotels vs Airbnb, more and more travelers go for the second.

But what is the average Airbnb occupancy rate by city in the United Kingdom?

You can figure it out below.

Cities in the UK experience generally lower occupancies than cities in Canada, which is likely to be due to the more diverse options that guests face.

Average Occupancy Rate by City in Australia 2024

Australia is also a key vacation rental market, so let’s take a look at the occupancies vacation rental hosts and managers can expect in 2024.

Australia is an ideal location for vacation rental investments, considering the very high occupancy rate, especially in some areas of the country.

Occupancy Rates for Airbnb During COVID-19: 2024 vs. 2020

Since the establishment of Airbnb, the Covid-19 pandemic was the most significant crisis experienced by the vacation rental industry. As soon as the global pandemic was declared, occupancy rates for Airbnb plummeted across the US market.

However, by 2024, the short term rental market has more than recovered and continued to grow.

Following is a comparison in the this metric in some major US cities in March 2020 and March 2024:

• Los Angeles: From under 60% in 2020 and 72% in 2024
• Boston: From less than 50% to 70%
• Miami: From below 60% to 62%
• Dallas: From under 50% in 2020 to 58% in 2024
• Austin: From just below 55% in March 2020 to 60% in 2024
• Atlanta: From less than 35% to 52%
• Chicago: From under 40% to 63%

Which Cities Have the Highest Occupancy Rates in 2024?

When analyzing Airbnb occupancy rates by city, it’s crucial to consider both the markets that perform the best and those that perform the worst in this category. This gives an excellent idea of the range of occupancies that hosts can expect across the US market this year.

Highest Occupancy Rates in US Cities (2024 vs. 2023)

The 10 US cities (that have a minimum of 100 active listings) with the best occupancy in 2024 include:

Currently, the occupancies exceed 80% in the most demanded US markets. It’s important to note that all these markets have marked a major improvement since 2023.

Lowest Occupancy Rates in US Cities (2024 vs. 2023)

The 10 US cities (with at least 100 listings) with the highest average Airbnb vacancy rate are:

The average Airbnb occupancy rates in these cities are in the 20-30% range. Although these rates are very low, one can note that almost all of these markets have improved in this parameter since 2023.

What Are the Differences Between Occupancy Rate, Adjusted Occupancy Rate, and Vacancy Rate?

There are three, interrelated important metrics that hosts and property managers should use together when analyzing the bookings and reservations of their properties.

These include:

• Occupancy rate measures the number of nights booked over the number of days in the said period. It is calculated as a percentage and is usually computed on a monthly or annual basis.

For example, if guests stayed at your rental for a total of 20 days in April, the occupancy rate is 20/30 x 100% = 67%.

• Adjusted occupancy rate is the percentage of nights booked over the total nights for which you made it available for booking. This last part makes the adjusted occupancy rate slightly different from the standard one.

For instance, if in April your property got booked for 20 days, while you listed it for 25 days, the adjusted rate is 20/25 x 100% = 80%.

As you can see, this is higher than the standard occupancy rate.

• Vacancy rate is the exact opposite of the Airbnb occupancy rate and measures the share of days for which your property is not booked over the available nights in the investigated period. It’s expressed as a percentage and calculated monthly or annually.

In the same month of April, the vacancy rate is 10/30 x 100% = 33%.

10 Ways to Increase Your Airbnb Occupancy Rate

Now, as an existing or prospective vacation rental owner or host, you would want to get the most bookings for your short term rental. The good thing is that it is something you can work on regardless of the time of year.

Here are a few tips for improving your performance:

1. Optimize the Daily Price

The price you set for your short term rental is one of the most influential factors that determine your average occupancy. Your strategy needs to be based on competitor analysis and to be dynamic and include additional fees as higher fees like cleaning fees might discourage some guests.

Initially, you should study the local market and price your Airbnb to be competitive with other listings, especially if you’re a beginner. But that’s not enough. You have to continue updating your pricing in line with changes in market demand. You can increase your nightly rate during peak season a bit to further boost rental income. During low season, though, you should bring your daily rates down to continue getting booked nights.

Seasonality can depend on the actual meteorological season, weekdays vs weekends, local events, and others.

If choosing a pricing plan that works for you looks like too much work, don’t worry. Luckily, you can use the Mashvisor Airbnb dynamic pricing tool to help you automate the process.

Unlike other pricing tools, Mashvisor suggests competitive prices that will help you not only boost occupancies but also maximize revenue and profit. This is based on detailed analysis of trends in the local rental market, the performance of comps, and your property’s past performance.

The best part is that you can allow the Mashvisor dynamic pricing tool to take control over your pricing strategy and automatically import the recommended rates to your Airbnb listing.

2. Work on Positive Reviews

Airbnb reviews are instrumental in increasing Airbnb occupancy rate. For many guests the review section is much more important than the listing title and the listing description. Thus, you should work on getting positive reviews from guests.

To achieve this, you need to first and foremost offer outstanding services. Customers love it when they feel valued and well taken care of.

Communication is vital in this regard, so you need answer queries promptly. In addition, you should communicate proactively by providing all necessary check-in and property information before being asked. Then, remain reachable during the stay.

After the stay, make the first move by providing your guests with a positive review on the platform so that Airbnb prompts them to give you a review in return.

Alternatively, you can simply check up with guests after their stay and mention that you wouldn’t mind a review.

If you struggle getting reviews from guests, you can automate the process with the Mashvisor unified inbox tool. Communication automation helps you streamline various vacation rental business aspects. This allows you to spend less time on those activities you struggle with and focus on more productive tasks. 

With the Mashvisor inbox feature, you can perform all communication with guests on a single platform, no matter how many listings you have and on how many websites you list them. You can use templates to automate many parts of the communication by sending automated campaigns, before, during, and after the stay of your guests.

This prompt and efficient communication is guaranteed to improve guest satisfaction and make them more willing to write you a positive review. Moreover, you can automate messages after check-outs to kindly ask for reviews. Sometimes all that guests need is a small reminder.

3. Highlight Your Best Amenities

The amenities that you offer at your Airbnb rental are another factor that greatly influences Airbnb occupancy rates. Guests value additional features that make their stay more enjoyable and memorable, so you have to go beyond the basic amenities.

Ideally, the Airbnb amenities at your property should match the tastes of the target guest niche for your property type. At the same time, there is no need to try to meet any unrealistic expectations.

But there are some extras that are generally demanded and contribute to guest experiences more than others.

Following is a list of the most demanded Airbnb amenities that are guaranteed to help you grow reservations:

• Swimming pool
• High-speed internet
• Furnished kitchen
• Free parking
• Hot tub
• Air conditioning and heating
• Washer and dryer
• Self check-in
• TV
• Fireplace
• Coffee machine
• Laptop-friendly working space
• Barbeque area
• Extra bedding and towels
• Family-friendly environment
• Pet-friendly space
• Comfortable seating options
• Dining table and chairs
• Private entrance to the home
• Breakfast included
• Outdoor sitting area
• Outside children’s playground

Before you start working on adding any of these amenities, it’s a smart move to calculate both the cost and the expected increase in reservations and thus revenue. You want to make sure that any of these extras will bring you positive cash flow.

In addition, take high-quality photos of all these amenities and include them in your listing description.

4. Offer Discounts 

Discounted rates are a good way to stand out from all the other Airbnb rental properties in the area. People’s brains are wired to immediately detect discounts, which will encourage them to check out properties that will make them save money.

There are several ways to do this. You can offer discounts for earlier bookings, which is one of the most common ways to get more bookings. You may also offer discounts for multiple bookings or to those who wish to take advantage of additional Airbnb experiences that you offer.

Really, your ingenuity is the only limit.

You can use the Mashvisor Airbnb calculator to check how each change in daily rates and expected occupancy rate will affect your monthly income, cap rate, and cash on cash return.

5. Offer Benefits for Longer Stays

Some hosts offer added benefits to guests who stay for longer periods, such as a slightly lower nightly rate. Others may offer a one-time cleaning service fee for stays beyond a month or so. Again, it will depend on your creativity and capability as a host. 

The good news is that the Mashvisor vacation rental channel manager can help you easily adjust your special pricing for longer stays, like a week or a month. No matter how many listings you manage, you can quickly apply a weekly stay discount and a monthly stay discount as a percentage of the standard price, so it works along with your dynamic pricing strategy.

6. Have a Target Market in Mind

Before you start working on some of the other tips, you need to define your target guest type. Depending on your market, property type, and preferences, you may decide to cater to business travelers, remote workers, couples, or families on vacation.

Knowing your target market will help you improve your investment property and adjust your marketing strategy in a strategic manner to boost your Airbnb occupancy rate.

7. Take Advantage of Social Media

You can use your social media account to market your short term rentals, or you can create dedicated for your Airbnb rentals as part of your vacation rental marketing strategy.

Either way, you want to maintain brand consistency across all platforms. For example, you can get a name for your Airbnb business and use it as your brand name on all platforms. 

Here are some social media tips to help you boost your reservations:

• Share useful information on your Facebook business page for potential guests to see what you have to offer
• Open an Instagram or TikTok account and work with influencers and bloggers to help you gain more exposure for your business
• Post your rental’s high-quality images on Twitter and use hashtags related to travelers and short term rentals

When it comes to posting, the most important type of content is photos of your rental. Remember that the pictures should be professional. You can use the same high-quality photos you’ve uploaded on your Airbnb listing.

Also, stay consistent when it comes to posting content. Don’t be discouraged if your posts initially get fewer likes and shares than you’d like. You have to start from somewhere and then slowly build on that. With time, more and more people will see your posts on those platforms.

On social media, you can engage with groups, communities, and forums for vacation rental owners to interact with other hosts and managers. This will not only help you gain tips on how to boost your vacation rental game, improve your services, and ensure that you boost your Airbnb success rate but also bring you referrals.

8. Lower the Minimum Stay Between Bookings

Most Airbnb hosts set their minimum stays to a few days, which may discourage visitors staying for short periods and negatively affect your occupancy, rental income, and cash flow. A great way to ensure your rental doesn’t stay vacant much is by opening Airbnb bookings for single nights.

This will increase your visibility on the platform and attract short term Airbnb guests.

Keep in mind that you can allow 1-night minimum stays for one or multiple listings efficiently via the Mashvisor multi-calendar. With our tool, you can manage the availability and the rules of all your listings from a single view.

While lowering your minimum stay to one night will definitely increase property management tasks, it will also help you get more guests. More guests mean more bookings and less vacancy.

9. Offer Special Deals

You may find yourself having potential guests who are deciding between two similar listings. Your best bet in this case is to send them a special offer that still ensures positive cash flow. While you won’t make as much rental income as initially planned, it’s better than having vacant Airbnb properties. You can use the Airbnb platform to do that.

Another way to offer special deals is by giving previous guests discounts on their next visit. You can mention it to them when they’re checking out or when you check up on them after their stay. This demonstrates goodwill and also lets your guests know what to expect next time they book with you. You’ll see a boost in your average occupancy rate for Airbnb if you do this regularly.

Furthermore, you can offer discounted nights for extended stays. If you have available nights before your next booking, you can offer guests a chance to extend their trip by a night or two at a lower price, instead of leaving the rental to stay vacant.

10. Use a Property Management Software

While hiring an additional person on your team can help reduce your hosting duties, using a property management software can be a more cost-effective option.

The Mashvisor vacation rental software can help you optimize and automate a lot of aspects of the Airbnb property management process.

These include:

• Using the latest and most reliable Airbnb occupancy rate data and others stats for informed business decisions
• Applying a dynamic vacation rental pricing strategy to strike the right balance between reservations and nightly rates
• Making changes and edits to all your listings’ details from a single platform
• Managing availability and pricing from a single place for boosting Airbnb rental income
• Automating communicating with guests to reduce the cancellation rate and get more positive reviews

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Conclusion

Striking the best possible Airbnb occupancy rate – without unnecessarily sacrificing pricing – is the key to a successful short term rental business. This starts with choosing a popular market, continues with adding the right amenities, and finishes with optimizing your listing.

If you need some extra help in the management of your Airbnb rentals, check out the Mashvisor vacation rental software platform. The available professional hosting tools will help you manage multiple listings from a single location, while applying automated dynamic pricing, optimizing communication, and speeding up listing optimizations.