$3,000 rent, rooms of 200, 150 and 120 sq ft
$1,277, $957 and $766.
Rent split calculator
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The whole rent is shared out by the rule you choose: equally, in proportion to bedroom size, or in proportion to income. Shared spaces are split the same way. Utilities are not included unless you add them to the rent.
3 thousand
Split the rent
Number of people
Person 1 pays
$1,277
Person 1 $1,277, Person 2 $957, Person 3 $766, which adds up to $3,000.
Person 1$1,277
Person 2$957
Person 3$766
The split
| Person | Room, sq ft | Share of rent | Pays a month | Pays a year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Person 1 | 200 | 42.6% | $1,276.60 | $15,319 |
| Person 2 | 150 | 31.9% | $957.45 | $11,489 |
| Person 3 | 120 | 25.5% | $765.96 | $9,191 |
Splitting rent so everyone thinks it is fair
Money is one of the most common reasons roommates fall out, and rent is the biggest bill. The simplest rule, an equal share, works when the rooms are much the same. When one room is noticeably bigger, a split by size usually feels fairer.
Say three people share a flat for $3,000 a month, with bedrooms of 200, 150 and 120 square feet. The total is 470. The biggest room pays 200 ÷ 470 of the rent, which is $1,276.60. The others pay $957.45 and $765.96. The shares add up to exactly $3,000.
Couples often split by income instead. With yearly incomes of $90,000 and $60,000, the higher earner has 60% of the joint income, so on $2,500 rent they pay $1,500 and their partner $1,000. Each spends the same share of their pay on rent.
Whatever rule you use, agree it before signing the lease and write it down. Decide what happens with a parking space, a private bathroom or a balcony, and whether utilities are split equally or by the same rule.
Sources
What this calculator does not account for
- Up to four people.
- Private bathrooms or parking need a manual adjustment.
How this is calculated
Formula: Rent split
share =rent × your weight ÷ total of all weightsWhat the symbols mean
- weight1 each for an equal split, room size in square feet, or yearly income.
Good to know
- Shared rooms are split in the same ratio as the private ones.
- For one-off bills, use the split the bill calculator.
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Worked examples
Each example is worked out by the same code as the calculator above.
$2,500 rent, incomes of $90,000 and $60,000
$1,500 and $1,000.
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<iframe src="/embed/rent-split-calculator" title="Rent split" width="100%" height="720" style="border:0;max-width:42rem" loading="lazy"></iframe>Questions
How do I split rent by room size?
Add up the bedroom sizes, divide each room by the total, and multiply by the rent. A 200 sq ft room in a 470 sq ft total pays 42.6%.
How do couples split rent by income?
Each pays their share of joint income. With $90,000 and $60,000, the split is 60% and 40%, so $2,500 rent is $1,500 and $1,000.
Is it fair to split rent equally?
It is simple and fair if the rooms are similar. If one room is bigger or has its own bathroom, a size-based split is usually seen as fairer.
What about a private bathroom?
Add some square feet to that person's room size, or agree a fixed extra amount, before splitting.
Should utilities be split the same way?
Most people split utilities equally, since use is similar. Add them to the rent only if you want them shared by the same rule.