Bainbridge Island, Washington Short-Term Rental Market
Bainbridge Island, WA STRs averaged $233/night at 53.6% occupancy in April 2026, peaking above 79% in summer.
Quick Answer: Bainbridge Island, Washington is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 70%. average monthly revenue is $5,762. average daily rate is $317. the top operator is Vacasa with 327 listings. market score is 70/100 (grade B).
Market data reflects the Puget Sound/Bremerton regional market, which includes Bainbridge Island. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Bainbridge Island.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Bainbridge Island, Washington is an island community of approximately 24,621 residents in Kitsap County, accessible from downtown Seattle via a 35-minute ferry crossing on the busiest ferry route in Washington State, which carries nearly 5 million riders annually. The STR market spans approximately 5,386 active listings. Entire-place properties dominate at 5,066 (94.1%), with 318 private-room listings and 2 shared-room listings. The bedroom mix skews toward smaller properties: 1-bedroom units lead at 2,160 listings, followed by 2-bedroom (1,396), 3-bedroom (1,145), 4-bedroom (481), and 5-bedroom (193).
In April 2026, the all-listings average daily rate was $233.24 and average occupancy was 53.6%, producing a RevPAR of $125.00. Year-over-year, occupancy declined 1.92 percentage points and revenue fell 2.19%, while ADR rose 4.27%. The 2025 full-year average ADR was $250 at 55.5% occupancy, generating average monthly revenue of $3,908. Distribution shows a balance between platforms: 2,535 Airbnb-exclusive, 409 VRBO-exclusive, and 2,442 on both platforms. The market’s total score is 70.2 out of 100, with rental demand at 83.4 and revenue growth at 81.5 among the strongest sub-scores.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 36% | $177 | $1,852 |
| Feb | 47% | $182 | $2,000 |
| Mar | 50% | $188 | $2,477 |
| Apr | 56% | $204 | $2,992 |
| May | 58% | $221 | $3,172 |
| Jun | 69% | $255 | $4,432 |
| Jul | 79% | $256 | $5,321 |
| Aug | 79% | $255 | $5,363 |
| Sep | 63% | $228 | $3,781 |
| Oct | 50% | $194 | $2,718 |
| Nov | 45% | $192 | $2,271 |
| Dec | 45% | $193 | $2,323 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Bainbridge Island
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vacasa | 327 | 24,080 | ★ 4.52 |
| 2 | Evolve | 144 | 9,100 | ★ 4.83 |
| 3 | San Juan Property Management | 91 | 8,680 | ★ 4.73 |
| 4 | AvantStay | 83 | 6,296 | ★ 4.75 |
| 5 | Brigadoon Vacation Rentals | 58 | 3,491 | ★ 4.81 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Bainbridge Island?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 2,160 |
| 2 bed | 1,396 |
| 3 bed | 1,145 |
| 4 bed | 481 |
| 5 bed | 193 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $326 |
| Luxury | $565 |
| Professionally Managed | $381 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $4,225 |
| Entire Place | $5,964 |
| House | $6,381 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 47.1% |
| vrbo | 7.6% |
| both | 45.3% |
Investment Analysis
Bainbridge Island’s STR investment case rests on its unique position as a high-demand Pacific Northwest island destination with direct ferry access to Seattle. The island draws affluent Seattle-area visitors and regional tourists seeking the Winslow arts district, Bloedel Reserve, local wineries, and outdoor recreation. The demand base is supplemented by Seattle commuters who sometimes offset travel time with overnight stays.
Average monthly revenue of $3,259 in April 2026 annualizes to approximately $39,108 per property. The 2025 annual average of $3,908/month annualizes to approximately $46,896. No housing data was available for this area in our current snapshot, so purchase-price yield calculations cannot be provided. The tier analysis shows relatively modest differentiation at the entry level: entire-home listings average $240.24/night versus $233.24 across all listings, a 3% premium. Luxury properties average $412.22/night, a premium of approximately 77% over the all-listings rate. Professionally managed listings average $264.55/night, about 13% above the all-listings average. The revenue growth sub-score of 81.5 and rental demand sub-score of 83.4 indicate a market with strong underlying demand despite the recent slight YoY dip. The 2021 revenue peak of $3,838/month has been surpassed on an annual basis (2025: $3,908), suggesting the post-pandemic normalization has not eroded the market’s fundamental demand.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Booking Insights
Bainbridge Island’s average booking lead time in April 2026 was 44.2 days, meaning guests typically book about six weeks in advance. This moderate lead window mirrors the Auburn, CA pattern and is consistent with Pacific Northwest leisure travel planning. Operators should maintain rates through the 30-60 day window and apply discounts selectively inside two weeks if needed. Average length of stay is 3.43 nights, which is a classic extended-weekend profile common to ferry-access island destinations where guests are combining the ferry experience with a 3-4 day island stay. A minimum-stay policy of 2-3 nights aligns well with this LOS and reduces turnover frequency. Summer peak months likely skew toward longer stays (possibly 4-5 nights), which would make a 3-night minimum a sound policy for maintaining unit economics without pricing out weekend-plus guests.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Bainbridge Island enacted a new short-term rental ordinance (Chapter 5.38 BIMC) effective September 30, 2024, requiring all STRs (stays under 31 consecutive days) to hold a city Short-Term Rental Certificate. The certificate must be renewed annually through the city’s online portal and is personal to the owner and non-transferable; a new application is required within 14 days of any ownership change.
To register, operators need both a Washington State Business License and a City of Bainbridge Island business license endorsement (NAICS 721199). A minimum of $1,000,000 in primary liability insurance is required under RCW 64.37.050. Operators must designate a local contact who is reachable 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and must respond to complaints within 60 minutes. The lodging tax rate is 4% on the total bill for stays under 30 days; a city B&O tax of 0.1% applies when gross revenue exceeds $150,000 (a return must still be filed below that threshold). No owner-occupancy requirement, primary-residence requirement, or nightly cap was identified. No permit fee was published in available sources. Operating without a certificate is a civil infraction with a separate penalty for each day of violation. Enforcement severity is rated moderate.
Market Comparison
Against U.S. STR benchmarks (median occupancy approximately 55%, median ADR approximately $220), Bainbridge Island performs near median on occupancy (53.6%) and modestly above on ADR ($233.24). The 2025 full-year ADR of $250 is more distinctly above national norms and signals a premium destination relative to typical suburban markets. Peak summer occupancy of 79%+ places the island well above national norms during peak season. The rental demand sub-score of 83.4 and revenue growth sub-score of 81.5 indicate above-average fundamental strength even as the market digests a slight YoY pullback.
Among professional operators, Vacasa leads with 327 listings and 24,080 reviews (4.52 rating), representing approximately 6.1% of total supply. Evolve manages 144 listings at a notably high 4.83 rating (9,100 reviews). San Juan Property Management holds 91 listings (4.73 rating, 8,680 reviews), reflecting the operator’s regional Pacific Northwest island expertise. AvantStay manages 83 listings (4.75 rating) and Brigadoon Vacation Rentals rounds out the top five with 58 listings (4.81 rating). The presence of Pacific Northwest-specialized operators like San Juan Property Management and Brigadoon Vacation Rentals alongside national firms reflects the island’s distinct character as a regional island market.
Frequently Asked Questions About Bainbridge Island, Washington
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