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Cash on Cash Return Calculator for Rental Property

Find out what percent return you actually earn on the dollars you put in. Accounts for down payment, closing costs, debt service, and NOI.

Your Investment Inputs

8.8%
Cash on Cash Return
Good return
$4,800
Annual Cash Flow
$400
Monthly Cash Flow
$54,000
Total Cash In
How to use this calculator
1

Enter your cash invested

Add your down payment, closing costs, and any rehab money. Every dollar you put in before collecting rent counts.

2

Enter annual NOI

Use our NOI calculator or enter your annual income minus operating expenses (before mortgage).

3

Enter annual debt service

Total principal and interest payments for the year. Multiply your monthly mortgage P&I by 12.

4

Read your return

CoC updates instantly with a rating so you know where the deal stands relative to targets.

The formula
Total Cash Invested = Down Payment + Closing Costs + Rehab Costs
Annual Cash Flow = Annual NOI - Annual Debt Service
Cash on Cash Return = (Annual Cash Flow / Total Cash Invested) × 100

This is a pre-tax, pre-depreciation return. It tells you the raw yield on your capital before tax benefits kick in. Depreciation can add 1-3% to your effective after-tax return, which is why many investors accept lower CoC in exchange for the tax shield.

Cash on cash return benchmarks
Return Range Rating Context
Below 4%WeakTypical in gateway cities like NYC, LA. Appreciation play, not income.
4% - 8%AcceptableCovers most Sun Belt markets. Decent if appreciation is strong.
8% - 12%GoodMidwest and Southeast sweet spot. Solid income-focused return.
12% - 15%StrongExcellent. Usually requires value-add or BRRR execution.
15%+BRRR TargetCapital recycling goal. Rare without refinancing equity out of the deal.
Common mistakes investors make

Leaving rehab costs out of total invested

Every dollar spent on repairs before the property is rent-ready is capital at risk. Omitting it inflates your CoC by 20-40% on value-add deals.

Using gross rent instead of NOI

Plugging monthly rent times 12 into the numerator and calling it annual cash flow is one of the most common beginner errors. Always subtract operating expenses first.

Ignoring the interest rate environment

A deal that penciled at 4% rates may turn negative at 7%. Run the numbers at your actual locked rate, not the rate you wish you had.

Treating CoC as the only metric

Cash on cash ignores equity buildup, appreciation, and tax benefits. A property at 6% CoC with 3% annual appreciation and strong depreciation can outperform a 10% CoC deal in a flat market.

Track real cash flow, not estimates

DoorVault pulls actual transaction data from your PM statements and shows you real cash on cash return for every property, updated every month automatically.

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Frequently asked questions
What is a good cash on cash return for rental property?
Most experienced buy-and-hold investors target 8-12% CoC. Below 4% is considered weak for income investors. BRRR investors aiming to recycle capital often require 15%+ on remaining cash after refinancing.
What is the cash on cash return formula?
CoC Return = (Annual Pre-Tax Cash Flow / Total Cash Invested) x 100. Total cash invested = down payment + closing costs + rehab. Annual cash flow = NOI minus annual mortgage P&I payments.
What is the difference between cash on cash return and cap rate?
Cap rate = NOI / Property Value. It ignores your specific loan. Cash on cash return = Cash Flow / Cash Invested. It accounts for your down payment and loan terms. Use cap rate to compare properties; use CoC to measure your personal return on invested capital.
Can cash on cash return be negative?
Yes. If annual debt service exceeds NOI, you have negative cash flow and negative CoC. This happens in high-cost markets, with high interest rate loans, or when NOI is underperforming. Some investors accept negative CoC for appreciation upside, but it requires capital reserves to sustain.