There’s $6 Billion Being Wasted in America’s Spare Bedrooms

If Americans put their spare bedrooms to use as rentals—rather than junk rooms, man caves or craft stations—they could pocket as much as $6.2 billion a week.

A new analysis from Finder.com found there are over 9.4 percent more bedrooms in the U.S. than people -- 357 million bedrooms but only 323.4 million people. That leaves at least 33.6 million spare rooms. And there are likely even more extra bedrooms since many couples share a room, the analysis concluded.

Americans in bigger cities could get significantly more than the national average. For example, Phoenix residents can get $338 a week ($17,576 a year), while people in Nashville, Tenn., can rake in $572 a room per week to the tune of nearly $30,000 a year.

Jonathan Sloane | E+ | Getty Images

There are crucial steps to take before posting an advertisement for your bedroom. If you're a renter, check your lease for rules regarding subleasing; homeowners should check local and state laws regarding renting extra rooms.

Make sure your homeowners or renters insurance policy covers tenants. If not, services like AirBnB often offer their own policies that cover your home and possessions and liability if guests get hurt. Take the extra step of doing background checks on potential guests and securing any valuables in your home. Ask for a security deposit or advance rent to protect from a delinquent tenant.