How to price your static caravan for holiday lets

The right price for your static caravan depends on where it is, what it's like, what the park offers and when people want to go. The best guide is what's actually happening on your own park, so start there rather than with a national average.

Start with your costs

Before you think about what guests will pay, work out what each stay costs you. List your yearly running costs and the costs that come with every booking:

• Yearly: pitch fees, insurance (including letting cover), gas safety checks and servicing, utilities and standing charges, repairs and wear and tear.
• Every stay: cleaning, laundry, consumables (toilet roll, washing-up liquid, bin bags), gas and electricity used, and any park letting fees or passes you pay for.

Knowing your break-even point stops you pricing too low in quiet weeks, and helps you decide whether a short booking is worth taking.

Look at similar vans on your park

Search for caravans on your park and nearby parks, for the same dates, with a similar number of bedrooms, age and quality. Look at several weeks across the year, not just one. Note what they include, such as bedding, towels, passes or a dog-friendly option, and price your van fairly against that. Check again before each season, because prices move.

Seasons, school holidays and weekends

Demand for caravan holidays changes through the year, and your price should follow it. Think in a few simple bands rather than a different price every night:

• Peak: the summer school holidays, Easter and bank holiday weekends are usually the busiest times.
• Shoulder: late spring, early summer and early autumn, when families with young children, couples and retired guests often travel.
• Quiet: outside school holidays, and the end of the season before the park closes, if it does.

Weekends and short breaks are often popular in the shoulder and quiet times. Look at when your park's events, local festivals or nearby attractions draw visitors, too.

Remember school holiday dates vary between England, Wales and Scotland, and between local authorities, so your busy weeks depend on where your guests come from.

Cleaning fee

A separate cleaning fee covers the changeover, so a short stay doesn't cost you more than it earns. Base it on what a changeover really costs you, including laundry. On VanHols, you set your own cleaning fee, it isn't marked up, and you receive all of it. Guests see it as part of the total before they pay.

Minimum stays

A minimum stay protects you from lots of one-night bookings that each need a full clean. On VanHols, you choose the minimum number of nights for your caravan, and guests can't book fewer. Many owners ask for longer stays in busy weeks and accept shorter breaks when it's quiet.

How your price shows on VanHols

VanHols adds 12% on top of your nightly price for guests, rounded to the nearest pound. That's how VanHols is paid. You receive 100% of your nightly price and your cleaning fee. A few examples:

Guests see one clear total, with the nights and your cleaning fee, before they pay. Nothing is added at checkout. If you also advertise elsewhere, set your VanHols price with the 12% in mind so the totals guests see are in line.

Pricing tips

• Review regularly. If your peak weeks fill months ahead, your price may be too low. If quiet weeks stay empty close to the date, it may be too high.
• Be clear about extras. If guests need to pay the park for passes, say so in your listing.
• Price for what's included. Bedding, towels, heating and a dog-friendly van all make a difference to what guests compare.
• Don't forget cancellations. VanHols uses one cancellation policy for every booking, so you and your guests always know where you stand. See the Cancellation & Refund Policy.

Quick questions

More owner guides

• How to rent out your static caravan in the UK
• Park rules on letting your static caravan
• Getting your static caravan ready for guests
• Insurance and tax basics for letting a static caravan
• Static caravan letting FAQ