How Much Do Short Term Rentals Make in Orlando, Florida?

The median short term rental in Orlando, Florida generates approximately $27,748 in annual gross revenue for a 5-bedroom property — the most common investment configuration in the market with 1,101 tracked listings. Top-performing 5-bedroom properties at the 75th percentile earn $47,592, and the top 10% generate $62,243. For larger 6+ bedroom homes, the median jumps to $36,093, with the 90th percentile reaching $86,641.

These numbers come from AirDNA’s analysis of 3,602 active short term rental listings in the Orlando metro. Orlando is the most visited destination in the United States — over 74 million tourists per year — and that relentless demand creates one of the most consistent and accessible vacation rental markets in the country.

What makes Orlando unique among short term rental markets is its sheer volume of demand. While other markets rely on seasonal tourism or niche appeal, Orlando is powered by theme parks that operate 365 days a year. Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, SeaWorld, and the expanding roster of attractions create a demand floor that simply doesn’t exist in most other markets. Add in the convention center (one of the largest in the country), youth sports tournaments at ESPN Wide World of Sports, and medical tourism, and you have a market with multiple independent demand drivers.

For investors, Orlando offers something valuable: a low barrier to entry. Compared to coastal markets or mountain destinations, Orlando’s acquisition costs are moderate, and the resort community model provides a turnkey entry point for first-time vacation rental investors. It’s no coincidence that Orlando is the market where many investors — including clients of The Short Term Shop — purchase their first short term rental property.

How Much Do Short Term Rentals Make in Orlando?

AirDNA market data across 3,602 active listings shows what Orlando STRs actually earn — and the importance of bedroom count in this market:

Revenue by Bedroom Count (2026 Data)

Bedrooms	Median Revenue	75th Percentile	90th Percentile	Sample Size
1 BR	$3,738	$8,771	$12,518	260 listings
2 BR	$3,964	$9,925	$23,454	139 listings
3 BR	$14,798	$29,552	$45,333	200 listings
4 BR	$24,861	$39,156	$49,971	581 listings
5 BR	$27,748	$47,592	$62,243	1,101 listings
6+ BR	$36,093	$59,865	$86,641	1,208 listings

Source: AirDNA market data, trailing 12 months. Sample includes 3,602 active listings. Data sourced from AirDNA analysis of 3,602 active listings, trailing 12 months as of May 2026.

The data confirms what experienced Orlando investors already know: bigger is definitively better in Orlando. The revenue curve scales steeply from 3-bedroom to 6+ bedroom because the typical Orlando vacation rental guest is a family — often multiple families traveling together — who need space. A family of six isn’t booking a 2-bedroom condo when a 6-bedroom house with a private pool costs $50 per person per night.

The 1-2 bedroom segment shows notably low median revenue ($3,738–$3,964), reflecting that smaller units face intense competition from hotels in the Orlando market. These are not ideal investment properties.

The 5-bedroom property is the sweet spot for most Orlando investors. With 1,101 listings — the second-largest segment — and a median revenue of $27,748, it’s the dominant investment property type. Top performers at the 75th percentile earn $47,592, and the 90th percentile reaches $62,243. These properties are typically accessible at $400K–$550K in most resort communities.

For investors with larger budgets, 6+ bedroom properties (1,208 listings — the largest segment) earn a median of $36,093, with top performers at the 75th percentile hitting $59,865 and the 90th percentile reaching $86,641. Acquisition costs for these homes run $600K–$900K.

Revenue by Property Type

Property Type	Average Annual Revenue	Average ADR	Occupancy
Resort Community Home	$48,500	$250	58%
Standalone Single-Family	$35,200	$195	53%
Condo (Resort)	$24,800	$155	50%
Townhouse	$28,400	$165	52%

Resort community homes dominate Orlando’s vacation rental market. Communities like Reunion Resort, Champions Gate, Storey Lake, Windsor Hills, and Solterra offer investors a managed ecosystem with amenities (pools, clubhouses, lazy rivers) that enhance the guest experience and justify higher nightly rates.

Standalone single-family homes outside resort communities can work but typically underperform on occupancy. Without the resort amenity package, these properties compete more directly on price.

Condos and townhouses serve the budget-conscious traveler segment. They perform well on occupancy in prime locations near Disney but top out on ADR.

What Affects STR Revenue in Orlando?

Seasonality

Orlando’s seasonality is more moderate than most vacation markets, thanks to year-round theme park operations:

Season	Monthly Revenue (5BR avg)	Occupancy
Peak (Jun–Aug, Dec–Jan)	$5,500–$7,200	72%
Shoulder (Mar–May, Sep–Oct)	$3,800–$4,800	58%
Off-Peak (Nov, Feb)	$2,800–$3,500	45%

Summer and holiday periods are peak season, driven by family travel during school breaks. Spring break (March–April) brings a secondary peak. September and October are softer but benefit from Halloween events at the parks and lower heat.

The key insight for Orlando investors: there is no true dead season. Even during the slowest months, Disney-area properties rarely drop below 45% occupancy.

Location and Resort Community

Where your property sits relative to Disney World and other parks is the single biggest factor after bedroom count:

• Reunion Resort — Premium community, golf, luxury positioning. Highest ADR in the market.
• Champions Gate — Popular with investors, strong amenity package, Oasis water park. High volume.
• Storey Lake — Newer community, close to Disney, attractive amenities. Growing reputation.
• Windsor Hills — Closest gated community to Disney (~2 miles). Strong occupancy.
• Solterra/Paradise Palms — Mid-range communities with solid performance.
• Kissimmee (non-resort) — Lower acquisition costs, moderate performance. Budget positioning.

Properties within 10 minutes of Disney World’s main entrance consistently outperform those 20+ minutes away. Guests are willing to pay a premium for proximity.

Amenities That Drive Revenue

In Orlando, amenities are table stakes — guests expect them:

• Private pool — Essential. Almost every competitive Orlando STR has one. Heated pools command a premium in winter months.
• Game room — Pool tables, arcade games, foosball. Major differentiator for family bookings.
• Themed rooms — Disney/Marvel/Star Wars themed kids’ rooms are a proven revenue booster. They drive bookings and justify $20–$40/night premiums.
• Theater room — Home movie theaters appeal to families and groups.
• Resort amenities — Lazy rivers, water slides, fitness centers. These come with the resort community.

Management

Property management in Orlando typically costs 20–25% of gross revenue, with some companies offering tiered pricing. Orlando has a mature vacation rental management industry with many competing firms, which gives investors leverage on fees.

Dynamic pricing is particularly impactful in Orlando due to the event-driven demand spikes. Marathon weekends, cheer competitions, and holiday periods can see nightly rates jump 50–100% above baseline.

Expenses and Net Income

Here’s the typical expense breakdown for a 5-bedroom Orlando resort community home:

Expense Category	Annual Cost	% of Gross Revenue
Property Management	$5,550–$6,937	20–25%
Cleaning & Turnover	$6,800	24%
Utilities (incl. pool heat)	$4,800	17%
Insurance (STR policy)	$3,200	12%
HOA/Resort Fees	$4,200	15%
Supplies & Consumables	$2,000	7%
Maintenance & Repairs	$3,500	13%
Platform Fees (Airbnb/Vrbo)	$830	3%
Total Operating Expenses	$30,880–$32,267	111–116%

At the median 5-bedroom revenue of $27,748, expenses exceed income for a typical property. This is the reality of median-performing Orlando STRs — and it’s why aiming for the 75th percentile ($47,592) is critical. At that revenue level, net operating income is approximately $15,325–$16,712, which makes the investment work.

For 6+ bedroom properties at the median ($36,093), margins are tighter but workable. At the 75th percentile ($59,865), the economics are strong.

Property taxes in Florida are approximately 0.8–1.0% of assessed value, with no state income tax — a significant advantage for investors.

The short term rental tax loophole is particularly valuable in Orlando. Cost segregation and accelerated depreciation can offset active income and significantly improve after-tax returns, especially in the early years of ownership — even when cash flow is modest.

Is Orlando a Good Place to Invest in Short Term Rentals?

Orlando is the market most investors should consider first — and for good reason:

Strengths:

• Strongest and most consistent tourism demand in the US (74M+ annual visitors)
• Year-round demand — no true dead season
• Accessible acquisition costs ($300K–$600K for most properties)
• Mature management ecosystem with competitive pricing
• No state income tax in Florida
• Turnkey resort community model ideal for out-of-state investors
• Multiple demand drivers beyond theme parks (conventions, sports, medical)
• Massive data set: 3,602 tracked listings provide robust benchmarks

Considerations:

• Median revenue for 5BR ($27,748) requires performing above median for cash flow
• Higher operating expense ratios than some markets (HOA fees, pool costs, turnover)
• Competitive market with significant STR inventory
• 1-2 bedroom units show very low median revenue — avoid this segment
• Florida property insurance costs are rising significantly
• Some communities are adding STR restrictions

Who this market is for: Orlando is excellent for investors who target 5-6+ bedroom properties in resort communities and aim for 75th-percentile performance through amenities, theming, and strong management. The 75th percentile for 5BR ($47,592) and 6+BR ($59,865) generates solid returns. It’s also excellent for investors who want to scale — once you understand the Orlando model, replicating it with additional properties is straightforward.

Avery Carl, founder of The Short Term Shop, frequently recommends Orlando as a starting point for investors building a short term rental portfolio. The market’s consistency and the resort community model provide a learning environment where the fundamentals are clear — and the AirDNA data gives you clear targets to aim for.

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Ready to invest in an Orlando short term rental? The Short Term Shop’s team of STR-specialized agents can help you find the right property in the right resort community. Visit theshorttermshop.com or contact us today to get started.