The Short Answer
Airbnb uses two fee structures. Under the split-fee model, the host pays about 3 percent of the booking subtotal and the guest pays a separate service fee on top. Under the single, host-only fee model, the host pays 15.5 percent and guests see no separate service fee. Airbnb's own resource on its fee changes describes these figures, and it notes that hosts using property management software were scheduled to move to the single fee. Airbnb's page lists a different single fee (16 percent) for listings in Brazil and Mexico. Fee rules change, so confirm your current rate in your Airbnb account.
How the Two Models Differ
- Split fee: Host pays roughly 3 percent. The guest pays an additional service fee, so the guest's total price is higher than the price you set.
- Host-only fee: Host pays 15.5 percent of the booking subtotal. The guest sees the price you set with no added service fee.
Illustration only: on a 100 dollar booking subtotal, a 3 percent fee leaves the host with 97 dollars, while a 15.5 percent fee leaves 84.50 dollars, before other costs.
Other Costs Around Booking Revenue
- Payment processing is generally included in the platform fee, but confirm for your account.
- Lodging or occupancy taxes may be collected by Airbnb in some places and must be handled by you in others.
- Channel managers, pricing software, and property management fees are separate.
- Cleaning fees are charged to guests but do not offset your real cleaning cost if you underprice them.
- Other platforms, such as VRBO, have their own fee structures.
What to Check
- Which fee model applies to each of your listings.
- Whether your projections use net payout or gross booking value.
- How a fee change would affect your break-even. See break-even nights.
- Whether your pricing shows guests a competitive all-in total.
Related Reading
For a platform comparison, see Airbnb vs VRBO. Verify all fee numbers on Airbnb's current Help Center pages before relying on them.