Charleston Airbnb Market Analysis 2025: Short Term Rental Data & Vacation Rental Statistics in South Carolina, United States
Is Airbnb profitable in Charleston in 2025? Explore comprehensive Airbnb analytics for Charleston, South Carolina, United States to uncover income potential. This 2025 STR market report for Charleston, based on AirROI data from April 2024 to March 2025, reveals key trends in the bustling market of 1,841 active listings.
Whether you're considering an Airbnb investment in Charleston, optimizing your existing vacation rental, or exploring rental arbitrage opportunities, understanding the Charleston Airbnb data is crucial. Leveraging the low regulation environment is key to maximizing your short term rental income potential. Let's dive into the specifics.
Key Charleston Airbnb Performance Metrics Overview
Monthly Airbnb Revenue Variations & Income Potential in Charleston (2025)
Understanding the monthly revenue variations for Airbnb listings in Charleston is key to maximizing your short term rental income potential. Seasonality significantly impacts earnings. Our analysis, based on data from the past 12 months, shows that the peak revenue month for STRs in Charleston is typically May, while January often presents the lowest earnings, highlighting opportunities for strategic pricing adjustments during shoulder and low seasons. Explore the typical Airbnb income in Charleston across different performance tiers:
- Best-in-class properties (Top 10%) achieve $12,647+ monthly, often utilizing dynamic pricing and superior guest experiences.
- Strong performing properties (Top 25%) earn $8,235 or more, indicating effective management and desirable locations/amenities.
- Typical properties (Median) generate around $4,890 per month, representing the average market performance.
- Entry-level properties (Bottom 25%) see earnings around $2,598, often with potential for optimization.
Average Monthly Airbnb Earnings Trend in Charleston
Charleston Airbnb Occupancy Rate Trends (2025)
Maximize your bookings by understanding the Charleston STR occupancy trends. Seasonal demand shifts significantly influence how often properties are booked. Typically, Aprilsees the highest demand (peak season occupancy), while January experiences the lowest (low season). Effective strategies, like adjusting minimum stays or offering promotions, can boost occupancy during slower periods. Here's how different property tiers perform in Charleston:
- Best-in-class properties (Top 10%) achieve 88%+ occupancy, indicating high desirability and potentially optimized availability.
- Strong performing properties (Top 25%) maintain 77% or higher occupancy, suggesting good market fit and guest satisfaction.
- Typical properties (Median) have an occupancy rate around 59%.
- Entry-level properties (Bottom 25%) average 35% occupancy, potentially facing higher vacancy.
Average Monthly Occupancy Rate Trend in Charleston
Average Daily Rate (ADR) Airbnb Trends in Charleston (2025)
Effective short term rental pricing strategy in Charleston involves understanding monthly ADR fluctuations. The Average Daily Rate (ADR) for Airbnb in Charleston typically peaks in March and dips lowest during January. Leveraging Airbnb dynamic pricing tools or strategies based on this seasonality can significantly boost revenue. Here's a look at the typical nightly rates achieved:
- Best-in-class properties (Top 10%) command rates of $656+ per night, often due to premium features or locations.
- Strong performing properties (Top 25%) achieve nightly rates of $402 or more.
- Typical properties (Median) charge around $248 per night.
- Entry-level properties (Bottom 25%) earn around $145 per night.
Average Daily Rate (ADR) Trend by Month in Charleston
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Airbnb Seasonality Analysis & Trends in Charleston (2025)
Peak Season (May, June, April)
- Revenue averages $8,097 per month
- Occupancy rates average 62.0%
- Daily rates average $333
Shoulder Season
- Revenue averages $6,319 per month
- Occupancy maintains around 55.6%
- Daily rates hold near $339
Low Season (January, February, August)
- Revenue drops to average $4,684 per month
- Occupancy decreases to average 47.7%
- Daily rates adjust to average $313
Seasonality Insights for Charleston
- The Airbnb seasonality in Charleston shows moderate seasonality with distinct peak and low periods. While the sections above show seasonal averages, it's also insightful to look at the extremes:
- During the high season, the absolute peak month showcases Charleston's highest earning potential, with monthly revenues capable of climbing to $8,431, occupancy reaching a high of 63.5%, and ADRs peaking at $370.
- Conversely, the slowest single month of the year, typically falling within the low season, marks the market's lowest point. In this month, revenue might dip to $3,989, occupancy could drop to 41.4%, and ADRs may adjust down to $306.
- Understanding both the seasonal averages and these monthly peaks and troughs in revenue, occupancy, and ADR is crucial for maximizing your Airbnb profit potential in Charleston.
Seasonal Strategies for Maximizing Profit
- Peak Season: Maximize revenue through premium pricing and potentially longer minimum stays. Ensure high availability.
- Low Season: Offer competitive pricing, special promotions (e.g., extended stay discounts), and flexible cancellation policies. Target off-season travelers like remote workers or budget-conscious guests.
- Shoulder Seasons: Implement dynamic pricing that balances peak and low rates. Target weekend travelers or specific events. Offer slightly more flexible terms than peak season.
- Regularly analyze your own performance against these Charleston seasonality benchmarks and adjust your pricing and availability strategy accordingly.
Best Areas for Airbnb Investment in Charleston (2025)
Exploring the top neighborhoods for short-term rentals in Charleston? This section highlights key areas, outlining why they are attractive for hosts and guests, along with notable local attractions. Consider these locations based on your target guest profile and investment strategy.
| Neighborhood / Area | Why Host Here? (Target Guests & Appeal) | Key Attractions & Landmarks |
|---|---|---|
| Historic District | The heart of Charleston, known for its well-preserved architecture, cobblestone streets, and rich history. A prime location for tourists wanting to explore Southern charm and heritage. | Rainbow Row, The Battery, Charleston City Market, Historic homes and plantations, Waterfront Park, St. Michael's Church |
| Sullivan's Island | A charming beach town just a short drive from downtown Charleston. Popular for its relaxing beach atmosphere and family-friendly activities. | Sullivan's Island Beach, Fort Moultrie National Historical Park, The Isle of Palms connector, Coastal restaurants, Historic lighthouse |
| Folly Beach | Known for its laid-back vibe and beautiful sandy beaches, Folly Beach is a favorite among surfers and beach-goers, ideal for those seeking a fun and relaxing getaway. | Folly Beach County Park, The Morris Island Lighthouse, Folly Beach Pier, Biking and walking paths, Local seafood restaurants |
| Mount Pleasant | A rapidly growing suburban area that offers a mix of residential and commercial activities. Close to the beaches and has plenty of parks and outdoor activities. | Shem Creek Park, Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum, Mount Pleasant Town Centre, Local boutiques and markets, Nearby beaches |
| West Ashley | A family-friendly area with a suburban feel, yet close to downtown. Great for visitors who want access to both city life and nature. | Stono River County Park, Batteries and parks, Historic landmarks, Shopping centers, Local eateries |
| North Charleston | Emerging area with a mix of industrial history and modern dining, shopping, and parks. Suitable for long-term guests and business travelers. | North Charleston Coliseum, Riverfront Park, Charleston Area Convention Center, Local craft breweries, Old Navy Yard |
| James Island | A quiet residential area with easy access to downtown Charleston and Folly Beach. Perfect for visitors looking for a serene stay near the city and the beaches. | James Island County Park, Angel Oak Tree, Local dining and shopping, Historic sites, Outdoor activities |
| Daniel Island | An upscale island community known for its golf courses and waterfront views. Attractive to those seeking a luxurious and peaceful environment. | Daniel Island Club, Local parks, Daniel Island History Centre, Waterfront spots, Golf and recreational activities |
Understanding Airbnb License Requirements & STR Laws in Charleston (2025)
While Charleston, South Carolina, United States currently shows low STR regulations, specific Airbnb license requirements might still exist or change. Always verify the latest short term rental regulations and Airbnb license requirements directly with local government authorities for Charleston to ensure full compliance before hosting.
(Source: AirROI data, 2025, finding no licensed listings among those analyzed)
Top Performing Airbnb Properties in Charleston (2025)
Benchmark your potential! Explore examples of top-performing Airbnb properties in Charlestonbased on Trailing Twelve Month (TTM) revenue. Analyze their characteristics, revenue, occupancy rate, and ADR to understand what drives success in this market.
Large Groups - Downtown Charleston - 13BR/13BA
Entire Place • 13 bedrooms
THE INNS - 10 BR Downtown Home - Amazing Location!
Entire Place • 10 bedrooms
THE INNS 8BR/6.5BA Downtown w Outdoor Space!
Entire Place • 8 bedrooms
Historic Downtown Home, Outdoor Space Galore.
Entire Place • 5 bedrooms
Private Pool & Historic Home - ‘Sugarsweet House’
Entire Place • 4 bedrooms
THE INNS TWO Charleston Homes 10BR /6BA Downtown!
Entire Place • 10 bedrooms
Note: Performance varies based on location, size, amenities, seasonality, and management quality. Data reflects the past 12 months.
Top Performing Airbnb Hosts in Charleston (2025)
Learn from the best! This table showcases top-performing Airbnb hosts in Charleston based on the number of properties managed and estimated total revenue over the past year. Analyze their scale and performance metrics.
| Host Name | Properties | Grossing Revenue | Stay Reviews | Avg Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| StayDuvet | 211 | $19,397,642 | 20116 | 4.68/5.0 |
| YourPad | 74 | $9,058,705 | 5915 | 4.54/5.0 |
| Yourpad | 53 | $5,919,688 | 5847 | 4.85/5.0 |
| Town & Island Co. | 25 | $4,469,131 | 2616 | 4.47/5.0 |
| The Inns | 24 | $4,439,015 | 3067 | 4.86/5.0 |
| Curated Vacation Properties | 44 | $3,989,972 | 2844 | 4.26/5.0 |
| Guesthouse | 38 | $3,748,340 | 1449 | 4.73/5.0 |
| The Boroughs | 37 | $3,640,649 | 2838 | 4.02/5.0 |
| Charleston | 22 | $2,248,151 | 1649 | 4.21/5.0 |
| CHC Vacation Rentals | 52 | $1,822,388 | 6229 | 4.77/5.0 |
Analyzing the strategies of top hosts, such as their property selection, pricing, and guest communication, can offer valuable lessons for optimizing your own Airbnb operations in Charleston.
Dive Deeper: Advanced Charleston STR Market Data (2025)
Ready to unlock more insights? AirROI provides access to advanced metrics and comprehensive Airbnb data for Charleston. Explore detailed analytics beyond this report to refine your investment strategy, optimize pricing, and maximize your vacation rental profits.
Explore Advanced MetricsCharleston Short-Term Rental Market Composition (2025): Property & Room Types
Room Type Distribution
Property Type Distribution
Market Composition Insights for Charleston
- The Charleston Airbnb market composition is heavily skewed towards Entire Home/Apt listings, which make up 89.2% of the 1,841 active rentals. This indicates strong guest preference for privacy and space.
- Looking at the property type distribution in Charleston, House properties are the most common (50.1%), reflecting the local real estate landscape.
- Houses represent a significant 50.1% portion, catering likely to families or larger groups.
- The presence of 11.1% Hotel/Boutique listings indicates integration with traditional hospitality.
- Smaller segments like others, outdoor/unique, unique stays (combined 4.7%) offer potential for unique stay experiences.
Charleston Airbnb Room Capacity Analysis (2025): Bedroom Distribution
Distribution of Listings by Number of Bedrooms
Room Capacity Insights for Charleston
- The dominant room capacity in Charleston is 1 bedroom listings, making up 30.1% of the market. This suggests a strong demand for properties suitable for couples or solo travelers.
- Together, 1 bedroom and 2 bedrooms properties represent 55.2% of the active Airbnb listings in Charleston, indicating a high concentration in these sizes.
- A significant 38.6% of listings offer 3+ bedrooms, catering to larger groups and families seeking more space in Charleston.
Charleston Vacation Rental Guest Capacity Trends (2025)
Distribution of Listings by Guest Capacity
Guest Capacity Insights for Charleston
- The most common guest capacity trend in Charleston vacation rentals is listings accommodating 8+ guests (25.6%). This suggests the primary traveler segment is likely larger groups.
- Properties designed for 8+ guests and 4 guests dominate the Charleston STR market, accounting for 49.8% of listings.
- 43.5% of properties accommodate 6+ guests, serving the market segment for larger families or group travel in Charleston.
- On average, properties in Charleston are equipped to host 4.9 guests.
Charleston Airbnb Booking Patterns (2025): Available vs. Booked Days
Available Days Distribution
Booked Days Distribution
Booking Pattern Insights for Charleston
- The most common availability pattern in Charleston falls within the 91-180 days range, representing 32.5% of listings. This suggests many properties have significant open periods on their calendars.
- Approximately 51.6% of listings show high availability (181+ days open annually), indicating potential for increased bookings or specific owner usage patterns.
- For booked days, the 181-270 days range is most frequent in Charleston (32%), reflecting common guest stay durations or potential owner blocking patterns.
- A notable 49.4% of properties secure long booking periods (181+ days booked per year), highlighting successful long-term rental strategies or significant owner usage.
Charleston Airbnb Minimum Stay Requirements Analysis
Distribution of Listings by Minimum Night Requirement
1 Night
297 listings
17.3% of total
2 Nights
560 listings
32.7% of total
3 Nights
97 listings
5.7% of total
4-6 Nights
15 listings
0.9% of total
7-29 Nights
97 listings
5.7% of total
30+ Nights
648 listings
37.8% of total
Key Insights
- The most prevalent minimum stay requirement in Charleston is 30+ Nights, adopted by 37.8% of listings. This highlights the market's preference for longer commitments.
- A significant segment (37.8%) caters to monthly stays (30+ nights) in Charleston, pointing to opportunities in the extended-stay market.
Recommendations
- Align with the market by considering a 30+ Nights minimum stay, as 37.8% of Charleston hosts use this setting.
- If feasible, allowing 1-night stays, especially midweek or during low season, could capture last-minute bookings, as only 17.3% currently do.
- A 2-night minimum appears standard (32.7%). Consider this for weekends or peak periods.
- Explore offering discounts for stays of 30+ nights to attract the 37.8% of the market seeking extended stays.
- Adjust minimum nights based on seasonality – potentially shorter during low season and longer during peak demand periods in Charleston.
Charleston Airbnb Cancellation Policy Trends Analysis (2025)
Super Strict 60 Days
90 listings
5.6% of total
Refundable
1 listings
0.1% of total
Super Strict 30 Days
58 listings
3.6% of total
Flexible
102 listings
6.4% of total
Moderate
293 listings
18.4% of total
Firm
584 listings
36.6% of total
Strict
468 listings
29.3% of total
Cancellation Policy Insights for Charleston
- The prevailing Airbnb cancellation policy trend in Charleston is Firm, used by 36.6% of listings.
- A majority (65.9%) of hosts in Charleston utilize Firm or Strict policies, indicating a market where hosts prioritize booking security.
Recommendations for Hosts
- Consider adopting a Firm policy to align with the 36.6% market standard in Charleston.
- Regularly review your cancellation policy against competitors and market demand shifts in Charleston.
Charleston STR Booking Lead Time Analysis (2025)
Average Booking Lead Time by Month
Booking Lead Time Insights for Charleston
- The overall average booking lead time for vacation rentals in Charleston is 54 days.
- Guests book furthest in advance for stays during May (average 82 days), likely coinciding with peak travel demand or local events.
- The shortest booking windows occur for stays in January (average 43 days), indicating more last-minute travel plans during this time.
- Seasonally, Spring (72 days avg.) sees the longest lead times, while Winter (48 days avg.) has the shortest, reflecting typical travel planning cycles.
Recommendations for Hosts
- Use the overall average lead time (54 days) as a baseline for your pricing and availability strategy in Charleston.
- For May stays, consider implementing length-of-stay discounts or slightly higher rates for bookings made less than 82 days out to capitalize on advance planning.
- Target marketing efforts for the Spring season well in advance (at least 72 days) to capture early planners.
- Monitor your own booking lead times against these Charleston averages to identify opportunities for dynamic pricing adjustments.
Popular & Essential Airbnb Amenities in Charleston (2025)
Amenity Prevalence
Amenity Insights for Charleston
- Essential amenities in Charleston that guests expect include: Air conditioning, Wifi, Smoke alarm, Heating, TV. Lacking these (any) could significantly impact bookings.
- Popular amenities like Hot water, Essentials, Coffee maker are common but not universal. Offering these can provide a competitive edge.
Recommendations for Hosts
- Ensure your listing includes all essential amenities for Charleston: Air conditioning, Wifi, Smoke alarm, Heating, TV.
- Prioritize adding missing essentials: Air conditioning, Wifi, Smoke alarm, Heating, TV.
- Consider adding popular differentiators like Hot water or Essentials to increase appeal.
- Highlight unique or less common amenities you offer (e.g., hot tub, dedicated workspace, EV charger) in your listing description and photos.
- Regularly check competitor amenities in Charleston to stay competitive.
Charleston Airbnb Guest Demographics & Profile Analysis (2025)
Guest Profile Summary for Charleston
- The typical guest profile for Airbnb in Charleston consists of primarily domestic travelers (95%), often arriving from nearby Charlotte, typically belonging to the Post-2000s (Gen Z/Alpha) group (50%), primarily speaking English or Spanish.
- Domestic travelers account for 95.0% of guests.
- Key international markets include United States (95%) and DC (1.1%).
- Top languages spoken are English (77.4%) followed by Spanish (9.5%).
- A significant demographic segment is the Post-2000s (Gen Z/Alpha) group, representing 50% of guests.
Recommendations for Hosts
- Target domestic marketing efforts towards travelers from Charlotte and New York.
- Tailor amenities and listing descriptions to appeal to the dominant Post-2000s (Gen Z/Alpha) demographic (e.g., highlight fast WiFi, smart home features, local guides).
- Highlight unique local experiences or amenities relevant to the primary guest profile.
- Consider seasonal promotions aligned with peak travel times for key origin markets.
Nearby Short-Term Rental Market Comparison
How does the Charleston Airbnb market stack up against its neighbors? Compare key performance metrics like average monthly revenue, ADR, and occupancy rates in surrounding areas to understand the broader regional STR landscape.
| Market | Active Properties | Monthly Revenue | Daily Rate | Avg. Occupancy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Folly Beach | 885 | $6,398 | $497.67 | 47% |
| Sullivan's Island | 24 | $6,341 | $798.57 | 43% |
| Isle of Palms | 873 | $6,018 | $636.28 | 40% |
| Ocean Isle Beach | 414 | $5,769 | $604.07 | 39% |
| Talahi Island | 47 | $5,577 | $314.14 | 50% |
| Mount Pleasant | 445 | $4,059 | $277.98 | 54% |
| Tybee Island | 1,260 | $3,913 | $385.21 | 40% |
| Fripp Island | 124 | $3,827 | $413.61 | 37% |
| Kiawah Island | 532 | $3,755 | $514.97 | 35% |
| Edisto Island | 24 | $3,647 | $324.60 | 43% |