Luxe Pool Retreat | Between Folly + Downtown CHS Entire home · 4 bedrooms Rated 4.89 - Revenue
- $188,477
- Occupancy
- 53.9%
- Daily rate
- $793
Airbnb market data · 202612 months to September 2026
The average Airbnb in James Island brought in $41,295 over the 12 months through September 2026, about 10% more than the South Carolina average of $37,525.
The short answer
James Island is cheaper but busier than the South Carolina average. Listings averaged $253 a night and were booked on 49% of available nights, against $355 and 39% for the South Carolina average.
Timing matters: in July, usually the best month, the average listing earns about 2.4 times as much as in January, usually the slowest.
With 58 active listings, James Island is the 69th-largest of 116 South Carolina markets AirROI tracks. From a year earlier, average revenue rose 5% while the number of active listings grew 5%.
Browse the live James Island Airbnb market See Every James Island ListingRevenue
Gross bookings per James Island listing averaged $41,295 over the 12 months to September 2026 (South Carolina average: $37,525), before cleaning, platform and management costs and taxes.
In a typical year, the average James Island listing brings in $5,960 in July, its best month, and $2,470 in January, its slowest. The three strongest months bring in 35% of a full year's revenue, where an even calendar would give any three months 25%.
In a typical month, a top-quarter listing earns at least 2.1 times as much as a bottom-quarter one.
These are monthly figures for listings active in each month. The annual average above also counts listings that operated for only part of the year, so it runs below twelve times these figures.
July earns about 2.4 times what January does
Average revenue per active listing, by month, September 2024 to August 2026
Each point is one month as recorded, averaged over the listings active in it. The best and slowest months in the text average each calendar month over the past two years, so they can differ from the highest and lowest points here.
Latest 12 months in the September 2026 data. September's figures are still coming in, so the rows run to August.
July 2026 led on revenue and nightly rate; bookings peaked in June 2026.
| Month | Avg. Revenue | Occupancy | Avg. Nightly Rate | RevPAR | Booking Lead Time | Avg. Length of Stay |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 2025 | $3,376 | 49.0% | $230 | $113 | 42 days | 3.4 nights |
| Oct 2025 | $3,826 | 56.5% | $231 | $123 | 47 days | 3.9 nights |
| Nov 2025 | $3,557 | 54.6% | $221 | $119 | 48 days | 3.6 nights |
| Dec 2025 | $3,244 | 43.2% | $221 | $105 | 46 days | 4.4 nights |
| Jan 2026 | $2,473 | 36.9% | $211 | $80 | 25 days | 6.5 nights |
| Feb 2026 | $2,733 | 43.1% | $216 | $98 | 49 days | 4.1 nights |
| Mar 2026 | $4,427 | 54.9% | $241 | $143 | 67 days | 5.6 nights |
| Apr 2026 | $5,053 | 60.9% | $251 | $168 | 71 days | 5.5 nights |
| May 2026 | $5,441 | 60.3% | $284 | $176 | 68 days | 2.9 nights |
| Jun 2026 | $5,727 | 63.3% | $290 | $191 | 60 days | 3.5 nights |
| Jul 2026 | $6,185 | 59.1% | $291 | $200 | 61 days | 4 nights |
| Aug 2026 | $3,920 | 48.3% | $270 | $126 | 49 days | 3.8 nights |
Averages per active listing in each month. Highlighted: the highest-revenue month of the 12. RevPAR is the month's revenue spread over its nights, booked or not. Booking lead time is the days between booking and check-in, and length of stay the nights per booking, for stays in that month.
These are market-wide figures. To see what one particular James Island home could earn, enter its address, bedrooms and guests in the Airbnb profit calculator; it compares the home with similar listings nearby.
Profit
Yes, when it's run well. The average James Island Airbnb took in $41,295 in the 12 months to September 2026, and run by its owner at everyday costs, about $2,200 a month of that is left after running costs, so a home that costs less than that to own or rent makes money. A listing in the top quarter leaves about $3,210 a month.
Cleaning it yourself keeps the $4,720 a year guests pay in cleaning fees, for about $2,590 a month. Handing the listing to a co-host at about 10% of nightly bookings still leaves about $1,900 a month.
These amounts come before housing costs. Where the mortgage or rent is less each month, the difference is profit; a home owned outright keeps it all after property tax, home insurance and any HOA or condo fees.
| Line | Average listing | Top-quarter listing |
|---|---|---|
| Money in | ||
| Nightly bookings | $36,575 | $52,940 |
| Cleaning fees guests pay11% of James Island bookings | $4,720 | $6,830 |
| Gross bookings | $41,295 | $59,770 |
| Running costs | ||
| Airbnb's feeAbout 13%: 15.5% for the 81% of James Island listings on Simplified Pricing, 3% for the rest | −$5,420 | −$7,850 |
| Cleaning and laundryPaid for by the cleaning fee; $0 if you clean yourself | −$4,720 | −$6,830 |
| Utilities and internetAbout 5% of bookings | −$2,060 | −$2,990 |
| Guest suppliesToiletries, coffee, paper goods: about 2% | −$830 | −$1,200 |
| Repairs and upkeepIncluding linens and small replacements: about 3% | −$1,240 | −$1,790 |
| Short-term rental insuranceOne policy, on top of Airbnb's free AirCover | −$410 | −$410 |
| Permit and registrationWhere one is required | −$210 | −$210 |
| Management$0 when you run it; co-hosts charge from about 10% of nightly bookings | $0 | $0 |
| Pricing and messaging toolsOptional; Airbnb's own tools are free | $0 | $0 |
| Lodging taxesAdded to the guest's bill and passed on | $0 | $0 |
| Total running costsAbout 25% of bookings, plus cleaning paid for by the cleaning fee | −$14,890 | −$21,280 |
| Left for housing costs, then profit | $26,405about $2,200 a month | $38,490about $3,210 a month |
| Housing costs | ||
| Mortgage or rent, property tax, home insurance, HOA or condo fees | Depend on the home | |
The estimate starts from James Island's average listing, run by its owner. Change how the listing performs, who runs it and who cleans to see what is left for the mortgage or rent.
To work out the profit on one James Island home, with its price, its mortgage or rent and your own costs, use the Airbnb income calculator. It starts from the comparable listings around the address.
What a listing keeps comes down to the figures this page measures: nightly rate, nights booked and the months it's open. A listing at the top-quarter mark takes in about $4,980 a month, against $3,440 for the average one.
Occupancy
James Island listings were booked on 49% of the nights they were open over the past year, 10 percentage points above the South Carolina average (39%) and 8 points above the U.S. average (41%). In a typical year, occupancy swings from 39% in January to 65% in June.
The busiest tenth of listings are booked about 2.3 times as often as the bottom quarter.
June is usually the busiest month in James Island, January the quietest
Share of open nights booked, by month, September 2024 to August 2026
The 12-month rate of 49% averages each listing's whole year, slow months included; each month here counts only the listings booked in it.
Nightly rates
The average nightly rate in James Island, known as ADR (average daily rate), was $253 over the past year, about 29% below the South Carolina average of $355 and about 21% below the U.S. average of $320. In a typical year, rates peak in June and July at about $270 and bottom out in January and November at about $205.
The top 10% charge about 2.7 times the rate of the bottom quarter.
June rates run 33% above January's
Average nightly rate (ADR), by month, September 2024 to August 2026
The 12-month ADR of $253 averages each listing's own rate across its whole year; the monthly points average listings month by month, so the two differ.
RevPAR, or revenue per available night, divides a listing's income by every night it was open to book, so it rises with both price and bookings. In James Island it averaged $129 over the past year, from about $80 in a typical January to about $192 in a typical July.
Per open night, by tier:
July RevPAR is about 2.4 times January's
Revenue per open night (RevPAR), by month, September 2024 to August 2026
Seasonality
James Island has one high season, April through July, which makes it a moderately seasonal market. Business is slowest from November to February and slows again in September. A listing earns about 89% more a month in June through August than in December through February.
Average revenue by month in James Island
Average revenue per active listing, each calendar month averaged over the past two years
| Month | Season | Revenue per listing |
|---|---|---|
| January | Low season | $2,470 |
| February | Low season | $2,650 |
| March | Shoulder season | $4,270 |
| April | High season | $4,850 |
| May | High season | $5,160 |
| June | High season | $5,530 |
| July | High season | $5,960 |
| August | Shoulder season | $4,000 |
| September | Low season | $3,080 |
| October | Shoulder season | $3,740 |
| November | Low season | $3,150 |
| December | Low season | $3,050 |
| Season | Revenue per month | Occupancy | Nightly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| High seasonApril–July | $5,370 | 64% | $260 |
| Shoulder seasonMarch, August, October | $4,000 | 56% | $230 |
| Low seasonSeptember, November–February | $2,880 | 46% | $209 |
Guests book James Island stays 54 days ahead on average (about eight weeks). April stays are booked furthest out, about 65 days ahead, and January stays closest to arrival, about 22 days. A typical April booking is made in early February.
April stays are booked furthest ahead
Average days between booking and check-in, by month of stay, September 2024 to August 2026
The 12-month figure of 54 days averages each listing's year as a whole; each month here averages only the listings with stays in it.
Permits
None of the 58 active listings in James Island display a registration, permit or license number. That doesn't mean no rules apply: some places don't ask hosts to show a number on the listing, and listing data doesn't capture every scheme.
Registration, permit, zoning and occupancy-tax rules vary by address and change often, so confirm them with the city or county before buying or listing in James Island.
Neighborhoods
AirROI's area guide picks four James Island neighborhoods that draw short-term rental guests, led by Historic Downtown, James Island County Park and Bohicket Marina. The picks reflect guest appeal, not earnings data or permit eligibility, so check local permit rules for a specific address before buying.
| Area | Who it suits | Landmarks nearby |
|---|---|---|
| Historic Downtown | Charming area with historic homes and proximity to local attractions. Guests appreciate the walkability and access to downtown amenities, making it ideal for tourists. | Fort Sumter National Monument, Charleston City Market, Waterfront Park, The Battery, Rainbow Row |
| James Island County Park | A large park offering a variety of recreational activities and close proximity to the city. Great for families and outdoor enthusiasts looking for spacious settings. | James Island County Park, Fishing / Rowing/Canoeing, Biking Trails, Picnic Areas, Dog Park |
| Bohicket Marina | Charming marina area that's great for boaters and seafood lovers. Provides easy access to the water and offers a relaxed lifestyle, attracting vacationers. | Bohicket Marina, Bohicket Grill, Kayaking, Fishing, Boat Rentals |
| Riverland Terrace | Quaint neighborhood known for its local eateries and community vibe. Its proximity to downtown Charleston makes it appealing to visitors seeking local experiences. | Terraza, The Terrace Theatre, St. Andrews Parish |
Area descriptions are AI-assisted from public sources and are not checked against zoning.
Listings
Almost every Airbnb in James Island is an entire home: 97% of listings, with private rooms at 3%. Houses are the most common property type at 64%, about 4.6 times the share of hotels, guesthouses and B&Bs (14%).
Nearly all listings rent the whole place
James Island Airbnb listings by room type
| Room type | Share of listings | Listings |
|---|---|---|
| Entire home | 96.6% | 56 |
| Private room | 3.4% | 2 |
Listings by property type
James Island Airbnb listings by property type
| Property type | Share of listings | Listings |
|---|---|---|
| House | 63.8% | 37 |
| Hotel/Boutique | 13.8% | 8 |
| Others | 13.8% | 8 |
| Apartment/Condo | 6.9% | 4 |
| Cabin/Outdoor | 1.7% | 1 |
Three-bedroom homes are the most common size in James Island (29% of entire homes), followed by one-bedroom homes (25%). Shares are of the 55 entire homes that give a bedroom count; rented rooms are left out.
James Island entire homes by number of bedrooms
Entire homes with each number of bedrooms, of those with a bedroom count on file
| Bedrooms | Share of entire homes with a bedroom count | Entire homes |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | 3.6% | 2 |
| 1 bedroom | 25.5% | 14 |
| 2 bedrooms | 25.5% | 14 |
| 3 bedrooms | 29.1% | 16 |
| 4 bedrooms | 16.4% | 9 |
A typical one-bedroom home in James Island earned $30,200 over the past year, against $37,300 for a three-bedroom home.
| Home size | Listings | Typical annual revenue (median) | Average annual revenue | Avg. nightly rate | Occupancy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 bedroom | 14 | $30,200 | $30,500 | $171 | 48% |
| 2 bedrooms | 14 | $51,100 | $41,800 | $215 | 56% |
| 3 bedrooms | 16 | $37,300 | $37,900 | $305 | 41% |
The most common capacity in James Island is eight or more guests (29% of listings), and 46% of listings sleep six or more.
James Island listings by guest capacity
Share of listings by the number of guests they sleep
| Guest capacity | Share of listings | Listings |
|---|---|---|
| 2 guests | 23.2% | 13 |
| 3 guests | 3.6% | 2 |
| 4 guests | 23.2% | 13 |
| 5 guests | 3.6% | 2 |
| 6 guests | 14.3% | 8 |
| 7 guests | 3.6% | 2 |
| 8+ guests | 28.6% | 16 |
James Island hosts set up an average of 2.8 beds per listing, close to one bed per bedroom. Only 16% of listings show their exact location on the listing map; the rest show an approximate area.
Backyards are close to standard in James Island: 76% of listings have one, and 67% have a patio or balcony.
Share of James Island listings with each common amenity
Guests
James Island draws mostly domestic guests: 96% of those who left reviews live in the United States. No single city dominates: Charlotte is the largest source, at about 3% of reviews. English is spoken by 71% of guests, and Spanish by 14%.
96% of James Island guests are domestic
Where guests who left reviews live
Where James Island guests come from: top cities
Share of guests who left reviews
| Origin city | Share of guests |
|---|---|
| Charlotte | 3.4% |
| Charleston | 2.1% |
| Atlanta | 1.9% |
| Raleigh | 1.8% |
| Greenville | 1.7% |
Where James Island guests come from: top countries
Share of guests who left reviews
| Origin country | Share of guests |
|---|---|
| United States | 96.0% |
| Germany | 0.8% |
| United Kingdom | 0.6% |
| Canada | 0.4% |
| Brazil | 0.4% |
Languages spoken by James Island guests
Share of guests who left reviews
| Language | Share of guests |
|---|---|
| English | 71.1% |
| Spanish | 13.8% |
| French | 4.3% |
| German | 3.8% |
| Chinese | 1.6% |
James Island Airbnbs average 4.87 stars, and 60% of listings hold Airbnb's Guest Favorite badge. Guests are toughest on value for money: it scores 4.80, against 4.95 for check-in. Listings here carry long review histories, about 192 reviews each on average.
Check-in scores highest in James Island; value is lowest
Average guest rating out of 5 by category; the bars start at 4.0
| Category | Average rating (out of 5) |
|---|---|
| Accuracy | 4.89 |
| Cleanliness | 4.86 |
| Communication | 4.94 |
| Location | 4.89 |
| Check-in | 4.95 |
| Value | 4.80 |
Booking patterns
About half of James Island listings are open to guests more than 180 days a year, and 50% are booked or blocked that many days. The most common booked-or-blocked total is 181 to 270 days a year, covering 38% of listings; blocked nights include any the host closes off.
Days a year James Island listings are open to guests
Share of listings by days a year
| Days a year | Share of listings | Listings |
|---|---|---|
| 271-366 days | 25.9% | 15 |
| 181-270 days | 24.1% | 14 |
| 91-180 days | 37.9% | 22 |
| 31-90 days | 12.1% | 7 |
Days a year James Island listings are booked or blocked
Share of listings by days a year
| Days a year | Share of listings | Listings |
|---|---|---|
| 271-366 days | 12.1% | 7 |
| 181-270 days | 37.9% | 22 |
| 91-180 days | 24.1% | 14 |
| 31-90 days | 17.2% | 10 |
| 1-30 days | 8.6% | 5 |
The average James Island booking lasts 5.2 nights, longest in January and shortest in September. Listings took about 39 bookings each over the year, some 2,200 in all. Check-in is split almost evenly between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m.; check-out is split almost evenly between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m.
Average length of stay by month in James Island
Average nights per booking, by month of stay
Two-year average by calendar month.
About six in ten listings in James Island accept stays of one or two nights. A smaller group, 7%, takes only stays of 30 nights or more.
Minimum stay set by James Island listings
Share of listings by the shortest stay they accept, from one night to 30 or more
Firm is the most common cancellation policy in James Island, used by 47% of listings; it refunds guests in full only if they cancel at least 30 days before check-in. Hosts here lean strict: about six in ten listings use Firm or stricter terms, against 34% on Flexible or Moderate.
Cancellation policies of James Island listings, from most to least flexible
Share of listings by the policy they use
86% of James Island listings charge a cleaning fee. The typical fee is $141; a handful of extreme values pull the simple average far above that, so the median is the better guide. Spread over the average stay of 5.2 nights, that adds roughly $25 a night to what guests pay. For listings that charge one, cleaning fees make up about 11% of gross revenue.
Top earners
The top-grossing Airbnb in James Island, a four-bedroom home, took in $188,000 over the past year, about 4.6 times the city's average of $41,300.
Luxe Pool Retreat | Between Folly + Downtown CHS Entire home · 4 bedrooms Rated 4.89
Waterfront Home 5 minutes From Downtown Charleston Entire home · 4 bedrooms Rated 4.82
Charleston House with Private Pickleball Court! Entire home · 2 bedrooms Rated 4.96
Lovely 4BR/2BA Home Near Downtown & Folly Beach! Entire home · 4 bedrooms Rated 4.91
Zen Den Spacious and Peaceful Entire home · 4 bedrooms Rated 4.76
The Perfect Charleston Oasis Entire home · 3 bedrooms Rated 4.94 Only 5% of James Island listings are classed as professionally managed, though 38% of listings have a co-host. Three-quarters of listings are run by Superhosts, so a strong review record is the norm here rather than an edge. Airbnb's Simplified Pricing, where the host pays the whole service fee and guests see one price with no separate Airbnb charge, covers 81% of listings.
Nearby markets
Of the eight nearby markets in the table, all within 22 km, Folly Beach (9 km away) earned the most per listing, about 2.2 times as much as James Island. Mount Pleasant was the busiest, booked on 54% of nights against 49% in James Island.
| Market | Listings | Avg. annual revenue | Avg. nightly rate | Occupancy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston 6 km | 1,941 | $69,945 | $431 | 52% |
| Folly Beach 9 km | 954 | $90,705 | $624 | 47% |
| Mount Pleasant 13 km | 467 | $57,242 | $331 | 54% |
| Johns Island 17 km | 177 | $48,156 | $474 | 42% |
| North Charleston 17 km | 866 | $36,648 | $234 | 49% |
| Kiawah Island 19 km | 655 | $54,381 | $661 | 34% |
| Isle of Palms 21 km | 1,125 | $90,614 | $780 | 42% |
| Hanahan 22 km | 116 | $31,917 | $234 | 47% |
See all 116 South Carolina Airbnb markets
Markets elsewhere in the United States with a similar nightly rate and occupancy to James Island:
FAQ
An active James Island Airbnb grossed $41,295 on average in the 12 months to September 2026, according to AirROI's tracking of 58 active listings. That is before cleaning, management, taxes and financing. Busier, better-run listings do far better: the top quarter took in $5,240 or more in a typical month.
It depends most on the home's size, location and how it's run. The middle half of James Island listings earn between $2,450 and $5,240 in a typical month, and the top tenth $7,290 or more. For one home, enter its address and bedroom count in the Airbnb calculator: it compares the home with similar listings nearby.
Listings in James Island were booked on 49% of available nights over the past year. That compares with 39% for the South Carolina average. June is usually the busiest month.
The average booked night in James Island cost $253 before fees. Half of listings charge between $145 and $295, so bedroom count and location move the price more than the average suggests.
None of the active James Island listings display a registration, permit or license number. That doesn't mean no rules apply, so confirm registration, permit and occupancy-tax rules with the city or county before buying.
Yes, when it's run well. The average James Island Airbnb grossed $41,295 in the 12 months to September 2026, 10% above the South Carolina average of $37,525. Run by its owner, with the cleaning fee covering the cleaner and everyday costs for Airbnb's fee, utilities, supplies, upkeep and insurance, $26,405 a year (about $2,200 a month) is left before the mortgage or rent. A home that costs less than that to own or rent makes a profit, and a listing at the top-quarter mark leaves about $3,210 a month. Check a specific home in the Airbnb estimator.
July usually pays best, averaging $5,960 per active listing over the past two years, and January usually pays least. The month-by-month table above shows how the latest 12 months played out.
Each night a James Island listing was open to book earned $129 on average over the past year, booked or not. That figure, revenue per available night (RevPAR), folds price and occupancy into one number; the top 10% of listings made $197 or more.
James Island stays were booked 54 days (about eight weeks) before arrival on average over the past year, so most of a month is booked well before it starts.
The average James Island Airbnb stay lasted 5.2 nights over the past year. A listing took 39 reservations over the year on average.
Guests rate James Island Airbnbs 4.87 out of 5 on average. Guests score check-in highest and value lowest.
Historic Downtown, James Island County Park and Bohicket Marina draw the most short-term rental interest in James Island. The neighborhood guide explains what brings guests to each.
AirROI counted 58 active Airbnb listings in James Island as of September 2026. The closest tracked market is Charleston, 6 km away.
In James Island, 86% of listings add a cleaning fee. The median fee is $141; a handful of extreme values pull the simple average far above that, so the median is the better guide.
Method
Figures on this page cover 58 active Airbnb listings in James Island from October 2025 to September 2026 (trailing twelve months). AirROI refreshes them monthly from listing-level booking and calendar data covering 20+ million properties worldwide. Money figures are in U.S. dollars. Annual revenue averages every listing active during the period, including those listed for only part of it; monthly figures average the listings active in each month; the tier lists show the spread. Neighborhood descriptions are AI-assisted. See the methodology for definitions.
Need this programmatically? The same metrics are available through the AirROI Airbnb Data API and bulk downloads in the data portal.