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California Rent Increase Calculator

Enter your current and new rent to see the percentage increase and whether it fits within California’s statewide rent-increase cap.

How this is calculated

The math is simple: subtract your current rent from the new price, then divide by your current rent and multiply by 100.

(new rent − old rent) ÷ old rent × 100 = percentage increase

So a jump from $1,800 to $1,950 is a $150 increase, and $150 ÷ $1,800 × 100 = 8.3%. The dollar amount matters for your budget, but the percentage is what's actually comparable to market data and rent-control caps, and it's what other renters in your area are seeing too. That's why lease renewal notices and rent-control laws are almost always written in percentage terms, not dollar amounts.

What counts as a normal increase?

Nationally, rent increases have typically landed in roughly the 3–5% range in recent years, though this shifts with local supply, demand, and inflation. Whether a specific number is "normal" also depends on your state and city. Some places cap increases by law, and even where there's no cap, local market conditions set the practical ceiling. See California renter rights for the specifics where you live.

What to do if yours is above average

An increase can be entirely legal and still negotiable. Leasing offices build in room to move, especially if you've paid on time, plan to renew (not move), or can point to comparable units nearby renting for less. CounterWise checks your new price against real market data for your building and area, then builds a negotiation email around the strongest case available.

See where your renewal actually stands

Free market comparison and a negotiation strategy built around your real numbers. Takes about two minutes.

Check My Renewal →

Is this legal in California?

Under the Tenant Protection Act (AB 1482), most apartments statewide can't have their rent raised by more than 5% plus the local Consumer Price Index change, or 10% total, whichever is lower, in any rolling 12-month period. This is a statewide floor: buildings under 15 years old, single-family homes with proper notice, and some deed-restricted or owner-occupied units are exempt from AB 1482 itself, and a number of cities (Los Angeles, San Francisco, Oakland, Santa Monica, and others) have their own local rent control ordinances with lower caps that apply instead where they're stricter.

Notice required: 30 days’ written notice for increases up to 10%; 60 days’ notice for increases over 10%.

Source: California Civil Code §1947.12 (AB 1482, the Tenant Protection Act of 2019). Summary current as of 2026-09-29. Not legal advice; local ordinances can set stricter limits, and rent law changes over time.

Frequently asked questions

How is a rent increase percentage calculated?
Subtract your old rent from your new rent, divide the result by your old rent, then multiply by 100. A rent that goes from $1,800 to $1,950 is a 8.3% increase: ($1,950 − $1,800) ÷ $1,800 × 100.
What counts as a normal rent increase?
It varies by market and year, but increases in the low single digits (roughly 3–5%) are typically considered ordinary in most U.S. metro areas, while double-digit increases are worth scrutinizing and, in some states, may exceed a legal cap.
Is a rent increase over 10% legal in California?
Under the Tenant Protection Act (AB 1482), most apartments statewide can't have their rent raised by more than 5% plus the local Consumer Price Index change, or 10% total, whichever is lower, in any rolling 12-month period. This is a statewide floor: buildings under 15 years old, single-family homes with proper notice, and some deed-restricted or owner-occupied units are exempt from AB 1482 itself, and a number of cities (Los Angeles, San Francisco, Oakland, Santa Monica, and others) have their own local rent control ordinances with lower caps that apply instead where they're stricter.
Does this calculator require an account or email?
No. Enter your current and new rent and you get an instant result, no sign-up required. Email is only needed later if you want a reminder before your renewal notice arrives, or to generate a negotiation email.