Edisto Island, South Carolina Short-Term Rental Market
Edisto Island STRs averaged $454/night at 70.0% occupancy in April 2026 across roughly 11,850 active listings.
Quick Answer: Edisto Island, South Carolina is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the Charleston market area is 79%. average monthly revenue in the Charleston market area is $11,567. average daily rate in the Charleston market area is $549. the top operator in the Charleston market area is Vacasa with 440 listings. market score is 75/100 (grade B).
Market data reflects the Charleston regional market, which includes Edisto Island. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Edisto Island.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Edisto Island, South Carolina is one of the Southeast coast’s most established vacation rental markets, anchored by a deliberately undeveloped barrier island roughly 45 miles south of Charleston. The market carries approximately 11,850 active listings as of the latest snapshot, making it a large-scale STR destination despite a permanent population of only 1,613 residents.
In April 2026, the market posted an average daily rate of $454 and occupancy of 70.0%, generating a RevPAR of $318. Year-over-year, occupancy slipped 3.9% and ADR dipped 0.7%, with overall revenue down 0.5% compared to April 2025. The longer-term trend shows steady growth from a 2025 annual average occupancy of 62.5% and ADR of $401, both up substantially from 2017 levels of 47.1% occupancy and $261 ADR.
The listing mix skews heavily toward entire-place accommodations, which account for 11,253 of the roughly 11,850 active listings (95%). Private rooms represent 596 listings. By bedroom count, 3-bedroom properties lead with 3,253 listings, followed closely by 2-bedroom (2,761) and 1-bedroom (2,652) units. Larger properties are also well represented, with 1,898 four-bedroom and 1,283 five-bedroom listings. Channel distribution shows strong multi-platform presence: 7,510 listings appear on both Airbnb and VRBO, 3,153 are Airbnb-only, and 1,187 are VRBO-only, indicating a market where cross-listing is the norm rather than the exception.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 39% |
| Feb | 57% |
| Mar | 68% |
| Apr | 66% |
| May | 66% |
| Jun | 75% |
| Jul | 73% |
| Aug | 62% |
| Sep | 56% |
| Oct | 59% |
| Nov | 49% |
| Dec | 44% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Edisto Island are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Charleston market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the Charleston market as a whole, which includes Edisto Island, so these counts are not Edisto Island-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vacasa | 440 | 27,869 | ★ 4.57 |
| 2 | Stay Duvet | 368 | 42,749 | ★ 4.84 |
| 3 | Casago | 291 | 9,129 | ★ 4.56 |
| 4 | Sweetgrass Vacation Rentals | 274 | 9,186 | ★ 4.74 |
| 5 | Akers Ellis Real Estate & Rentals | 268 | 8,693 | ★ 4.73 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Edisto Island?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Edisto Island are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 26.6% |
| vrbo | 10% |
| both | 63.4% |
Booking Insights
Booking-window and length-of-stay analysis for Edisto Island — how far ahead guests book and how to price around it — is available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Short-term rentals are permitted on Edisto Island, though the regulatory framework differs depending on which jurisdiction a property falls under. The built-up beachfront area constitutes the incorporated Town of Edisto Beach, while the larger remainder of the island is unincorporated land governed by Charleston County.
Within the Town of Edisto Beach, operators must obtain a business license classified as Class 9.1 for rental properties. Licenses run annually from May 1 to April 30. The fee is calculated on gross rental receipts rather than a flat amount, and non-resident owners (those with a business address outside the 29438 ZIP code) pay double the standard rate. There is no owner-occupancy requirement, no primary-residence requirement, and no cap on rental nights per year.
Operators must collect and remit a combined 12.0% tax on stays of 30 days or less. This breaks down as 9.0% in state-level taxes (5% sales tax, 1% local option, 2% state accommodations, 1% capital projects), plus 2.0% Town of Edisto Beach local accommodations tax and 1.0% Colleton County local accommodations tax. Beachfront properties are subject to seasonal sea-turtle-friendly lighting requirements from May 1 through October 31. Enforcement is characterized as moderate and license-compliance based.
Properties in the unincorporated Charleston County portion of the island follow county zoning rules rather than town rules. Investors should verify which jurisdiction applies before purchase. No new island-wide STR bans or licensing overhauls were confirmed in current data.
Market Comparison
Edisto Island’s April 2026 ADR of $454 sits well above the national STR median of approximately $220, reflecting the premium coastal beach positioning and the dominance of larger entire-home properties. Occupancy of 70.0% also exceeds the U.S. STR median of approximately 55%, indicating strong demand relative to the national baseline.
The professional management segment is active and competitive. Vacasa leads with 440 listings and 27,869 reviews at a 4.57 average rating. Stay Duvet holds second with 368 listings and 42,749 reviews at a notably higher 4.84 rating. Casago manages 291 listings (4.56 rating), Sweetgrass Vacation Rentals manages 274 listings (4.74 rating), and Akers Ellis Real Estate and Rentals rounds out the top five with 268 listings at 4.73. Together these five operators manage roughly 1,641 listings, representing approximately 14% of the roughly 11,850-listing market.
Compared to busier South Carolina coastal destinations like Hilton Head or Myrtle Beach, Edisto Island is smaller in absolute listing volume but trades at higher nightly rates per listing, consistent with its positioning as a quieter, premium alternative. The rental demand score of 91.16 puts it in the top tier of coastal STR markets by this measure.
Frequently Asked Questions About Edisto Island, South Carolina
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How much revenue does a typical Edisto Island STR generate per month?
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What taxes apply to Edisto Island short-term rentals?
When is peak season on Edisto Island and how much does it affect revenue?
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