Rex says
Money math without the spreadsheet headache. Plug in your numbers and I'll show you exactly where the dollars land.
Try a scenario
Click to load — tweak from there.Inputs
Result
Collection rate
94.76%
Collection loss rate
6.07%
Monthly collection loss
$2,550
Annualized collection loss
$30,600
Psst — share this and help Rex grow
One click, a permanent link with your numbers baked in.
How to use this
- 1Enter total rent billed (monthly, occupied units) ($).
- 2Enter total rent actually collected (monthly) ($).
- 3Enter additional write-offs from past move-outs (monthly avg) ($).
- 4Read your collection rate on the right — it updates as you type.
- 5Hit Share to keep the scenario or send it to someone.
About this calculator
Collection loss (also called bad debt or credit loss) is billed rent that never gets collected — partial payments, skips, write-offs after eviction, and unresolved balances from move-outs. It's a different number from vacancy loss, and portfolios often watch it closely because a rising collection loss rate is an early warning sign of tenant screening problems or local economic stress before it shows up anywhere else in the financials. This calculator computes your collection rate and loss rate from billed versus collected rent and benchmarks it against typical operating ranges so you know if your number needs attention.
Worked example
Using the values the calculator loads with:
Inputs
- Total rent billed (monthly, occupied units): 42000 $
- Total rent actually collected (monthly): 39800 $
- Additional write-offs from past move-outs (monthly avg): 350 $
Results
- Collection rate: 94.76%
- Collection loss rate: 6.07%
- Monthly collection loss: $2,550
- Annualized collection loss: $30,600
What each field means
Inputs
- Total rent billed (monthly, occupied units) ($)
- The total rent billed (monthly, occupied units) used in the calculation, measured in $. Starts at 42000 $ so you have a working example on load.
- Total rent actually collected (monthly) ($)
- The total rent actually collected (monthly) used in the calculation, measured in $. Starts at 39800 $ so you have a working example on load.
- Additional write-offs from past move-outs (monthly avg) ($)
- The additional write-offs from past move-outs (monthly avg) used in the calculation, measured in $. Starts at 350 $ so you have a working example on load.
Results
- Collection rate
- Returned as a percentage and shown as the headline result. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
- Collection loss rate
- Returned as a percentage. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
- Monthly collection loss
- Returned as a money amount in US dollars. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
- Annualized collection loss
- Returned as a money amount in US dollars. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
FAQ
What's a healthy collection rate?
Well-run conventional multifamily typically runs 97-99% collection rate in a stable economy. Below 95% consistently is worth investigating — it usually points to screening standards that are too loose, an affordability mismatch between rent and local incomes, or slow follow-up on late payments.
How is this different from vacancy loss?
Vacancy loss is rent you never billed because the unit sat empty. Collection loss is rent you billed to an occupied unit but didn't actually get paid. Both reduce effective gross income, but they point to different problems — one is a leasing/marketing issue, the other is a screening/collections issue.
Does one large eviction write-off skew this number?
Yes, significantly on a smaller portfolio — a single $4,000 write-off from an evicted tenant can swing a 20-unit property's monthly collection loss rate dramatically. Track a rolling 12-month average rather than reacting to any single month's number.
How do I improve collection rate?
Tighten income and rental history verification during screening (income at 2.5-3x rent is a common minimum), enforce a consistent grace period and late fee policy without exceptions, and follow up on missed payments within days rather than weeks — early intervention dramatically improves eventual recovery odds.
Accuracy and limitations
- Results are estimates before tax, fees, and inflation unless an input explicitly covers them.
- Rates are treated as fixed for the whole period — variable-rate products will drift from this projection.
- This is educational maths, not financial advice. Check anything contractual with the lender or your accountant.
Related tools
Cite this calculator
Writing about this topic? Grab a citation — every link helps keep these tools free.
RevenueLab. (2026). Rent Collection Loss Rate Calculator. Retrieved from https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/rent-collection-loss-rate
<p>Source: <a href="https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/rent-collection-loss-rate" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Rent Collection Loss Rate Calculator — RevenueLab</a> (2026).</p>
Source: [Rent Collection Loss Rate Calculator — RevenueLab](https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/rent-collection-loss-rate) (2026).