Single fee and split fee
Airbnb has two fee structures for stays. With the split fee the host pays 3% and the guest pays 14.1% to 16.5% on top. With the single fee the host pays one fee and the guest pays none.
Most hosts pay 15.5% on the single fee, the rest typically pay 14% to 16%, and listings in Brazil and Mexico pay 16%. Airbnb is moving all home hosts to the single fee, and once you switch you cannot switch back.
The single fee applies only to bookings made after you switch. Bookings you took before the switch keep the old fee, even if the guest stays later.
What the fee is charged on
Airbnb takes its fee on the nightly price and any fees you charge, such as cleaning, extra guest or pet fees. It leaves out the guest service fee and taxes. The calculator calls the sum the booking subtotal.
Take $150 a night for 3 nights plus a $60 cleaning fee. The subtotal is $510.00, and 15.5% of it is $79.05.
| Single fee | Split fee | |
|---|---|---|
| Booking subtotal | $510.00 | $510.00 |
| Airbnb fee you pay | 15.5%: $79.05 | 3%: $15.30 |
| Guest service fee | None | 14.1% to 16.5%: $71.91 to $84.15 |
| You keep | $430.95 | $494.70 |
| Guest pays | $510.00 | $581.91 to $594.15 |
Guest figures are before taxes. The guest fee under the split fee varies by booking, so it is a range, and it can reach 16.5% when the guest pays in another currency.
How much to raise your price
Airbnb says that if you do not adjust your prices after the switch, your payout per night falls. To keep your old payout you need a price where 15.5% of the subtotal leaves you what 3% used to.
On our example, that moves $150 to $175.15 a night, with the $60 cleaning fee unchanged. You keep $494.71 again, and the guest pays $585.45, close to the $581.91 to $594.15 they paid before.
| Price now | You kept on split fee | Single-fee price | Rise | You keep |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $100.00 | $349.20 | $117.75 | 17.8% | $349.20 |
| $150.00 | $494.70 | $175.15 | 16.8% | $494.71 |
| $200.00 | $640.20 | $232.54 | 16.3% | $640.19 |
| $300.00 | $931.20 | $347.34 | 15.8% | $931.21 |
Computed with Find price in the calculator, with the standard fees and no costs or co-host.
The booking subtotal rises 14.8%, but the cleaning fee stays put, so the nightly price has to rise more, by 16.8%.
VAT on the fee: Airbnb's UK example
In many countries Airbnb adds VAT or GST on top of its host fee, unless you are registered and self-assess it. In the UK that is 20%. Airbnb's own example uses a £115.00 price.
- Fee: £115.00 x 15.5% = £17.83.
- VAT: £17.83 x 20% = £3.57.
- Payout: £119.00 - £17.83 - £3.57 = £97.60.
The calculator gets the same fee and VAT on a £115.00 subtotal. Airbnb's £119.00 price already includes the VAT, so Airbnb takes the fee on £115.00 rather than the whole price, and the calculator, which takes it on the whole subtotal, will differ slightly.
If you are VAT registered and self-assess, tick that box and the VAT line disappears, leaving £97.17 from the £115.00 subtotal.
Co-hosts, costs and payouts
Airbnb works out co-host payouts from your earnings after its fee. A 20% co-host share with $25.00 of other costs on the example booking leaves you $319.76.
- Brazil and Mexico: the single fee is 16%, so the example booking would leave $428.40 before any local taxes.
- Payouts: Western Union takes $10 USD a payout, and an exchange fee applies if your listing and payout currencies differ.
- Occupancy taxes that Airbnb collects and remits do not change your payout.