A lot of people buying a cabin ask the same question: could it pay for itself as a rental? Instead of guessing, we’ll show you what our own tiny home Airbnb does, a Cub in Stockton, Missouri.
This post is part of our guide to park model cabins for campgrounds, which covers buying several cabins for a campground or rental site.
Can you rent a tiny home on Airbnb?
Yes. Our Cub in Stockton, Missouri, is listed on Airbnb and rents to guests year-round. A park model cabin works well as a rental because it arrives finished, with a kitchenette, a bathroom and heating and cooling, and plugs into RV-style hookups.
Want to see it as a guest would? Our Cub is listed on Airbnb. A night there is also the easiest way to decide whether a cabin rental is right for you.
How much can a tiny home Airbnb make?
Our Cub in Stockton ran about 40% occupancy at $130 a night this fall, which is our slow season. Over a 30-day month that’s about 12 booked nights, or roughly $1,560 before costs. We expect summer to be noticeably busier.
Your numbers will depend on your location, your season and how well the listing is run. A cabin near a lake, a trail or a busy weekend destination will usually book more often than one with nothing nearby. Treat our numbers as one real example, not a promise.
Seasons matter. Fall has been our slow season, and summer weekends book first. Price higher on weekends and holidays, lower midweek, and watch what other cabins near you charge. If you run a campground, compare cabins vs. RV sites too.
Can rental income pay for the cabin?
At our Cub’s fall numbers, it can cover a loan payment with room to spare. A 5 to 7 year loan on one Cub at $35,250 runs roughly $530 to $770 a month at the example rates below, against about $1,560 a month of fall income, before your other costs.
“You can make a 5 to 7 year loan to buy the cabin, and the rental income covers all costs, so if you can finance the whole thing, you really don’t need to put any money into it.” — the Premium Structures team
| Example rate | 5-year loan | 7-year loan |
|---|---|---|
| 7% | $698/month | $532/month |
| 9% | $732/month | $567/month |
| 11% | $766/month | $604/month |
Payments are simple loan math on $35,250, the retail price of one Cub, with nothing down. They are examples, not a loan offer; your rate depends on your lender and credit. Remember the other costs: cleaning, utilities, Airbnb fees, supplies, insurance, taxes and the cost of your lot or site.
What does a tiny home need before guests arrive?
A level pad, power, water and sewer, then the furnishings: a bed, seating, kitchen basics, towels and linens. Our Cub has a kitchenette with a cooktop and microwave, a bathroom with a shower and stacked laundry, and a covered porch with a picnic table and fire ring outside.
Guests notice the small things: hooks for pans, a clock on the wall, a fire ring for the evening. Plan where you’ll store cleaning supplies and spare linens, because a 12-by-18-foot cabin doesn’t have room to waste.
- Sleep: a bed with good linens, plus a sofa for a second guest or a lazy afternoon.
- Cook: a cooktop, microwave, pans, dishes and basic spices.
- Clean: towels, soap, a cleaning kit and a plan for turnover between guests.
- Outside: a picnic table, a fire ring and a light by the door.
What rules apply to renting a tiny home on Airbnb?
Check local permits, zoning, safety and health rules, and taxes, including occupancy tax, before you list. Airbnb tells US hosts to look up those rules and to review their insurance. In Missouri, places that rent five or more guest rooms, including cabins, fall under the state lodging law.
Airbnb’s own responsible hosting guide for the United States is a good checklist. For Missouri placement rules, see Missouri tiny home laws.
- Zoning: is a short-term rental allowed on your land?
- Permits and licenses: does your city, county or state require one?
- Taxes: occupancy, sales and income tax on rental income.
- Insurance: does your policy cover paying guests?
Should you rent out a Cub or a Kodiak?
The Cub is the easier rental to start with: at 12 by 18 feet it costs less and suits couples. The Kodiak has a bedroom, a sleeping loft, a full kitchen, a full bath and laundry, so it can host more guests and longer stays.
Compare both, with prices, on our log cabin tiny homes page, and see what each costs all in at how much a tiny home costs.
Quick summary
- Our Cub in Stockton, MO, ran about 40% occupancy at $130 a night this fall, roughly $1,560 a month before costs.
- A 5 to 7 year loan on one Cub runs about $530 to $770 a month at example rates of 7% to 11%.
- Plan for cleaning, utilities, fees, supplies, insurance, taxes and your lot.
- Check permits, zoning, occupancy tax and insurance before you list.