How this calculator works
Splitting rent evenly per person is simple, but it ignores that some bedrooms are much larger than others. Splitting by floor area charges each room in proportion to its share of the total bedroom space, then divides that room rent among its occupants. A couple sharing a large room therefore pays more in total than a single person in a small room, but less each. The equal-per-person setting does what it says: everyone pays the same amount regardless of room size. Neither method accounts for shared spaces such as a living room, kitchen or bathroom, which are used by everyone and are usually treated as common. Some households add a premium for a private bathroom or an en-suite, and a discount for a room without a window or on a noisy street. Those adjustments are subjective; make them before or after the calculation and record the agreed rule. Enter areas in square metres. If you measured in square feet, divide by 10.7639 to convert, or keep every measurement in square feet and treat the numbers as one consistent unit, since only the proportions matter. The number of people must be a whole number, and every bedroom must have at least one occupant.
Formula
Area method: rent for room i = total rent x area_i / total area, and each occupant pays that amount divided by the number of people in the room. Equal method: each person pays total rent / total people, and the room rent is that amount times the number of occupants. Total area = sum of the bedroom areas. Total people = sum of the occupants.
Worked example
A $3,000 rent shared by three bedrooms of 15, 12 and 10 square metres, with two, one and one occupants. The total area is 37 square metres and there are four people. By area, the rooms pay $1,216.22, $972.97 and $810.81, so each person pays $608.11, $972.97 and $810.81. Split equally per person, everyone pays $750 and the rooms pay $1,500, $750 and $750.
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Frequently asked questions
Which method is fairer?
Area-based splitting is generally seen as fairer when room sizes differ a lot, because it charges for the space each household actually occupies. Equal per person is fairer when the rooms are similar and the group values simplicity.
Should the largest bedroom always pay more?
Yes under the area method, but the difference can be reduced if the large room has a drawback or is shared as a couple. The group should agree the rule before signing a lease.
What about utilities and internet?
Split those per person rather than by area. They are consumed by people, not by floor space, so an equal-per-person split is the usual approach.
How do I convert square feet to square metres?
Multiply square feet by 0.092903. If every area is entered in the same unit, the proportions are unchanged, so the method still works with square feet as long as you do not mix units.
Can a bedroom have zero occupants?
No. A room with nobody in it should not be part of the split. Remove it from the lists or give it at least one occupant.