Airbnb Fees Explained for Hosts

Airbnb is one of the most popular booking platforms in the world. It connects millions of travelers daily and has almost 8 million active listings in over 220 countries. However, despite its popularity, some hosts are reluctant to use Airbnb due to high competition, service costs, and possible additional expenses.

In this article, you will discover why Airbnb is an essential platform for owners and managers of non-hotel accommodation facilities (vacation homes, guesthouses, B&Bs, farm stays, and others). We will also analyze the commissions and service costs so that you can make an informed decision about whether or not to publish your properties on Airbnb.

What are the advantages of Airbnb for hosts?

1. Global reach

Airbnb is a global and trusted short-term rental platform that attracts millions of travelers looking for authentic and unique stays. Listing your property on Airbnb opens the door to an international audience, increases your chances of bookings from travelers worldwide, and guarantees hosts a considerable income.

In f024, 96.7% of the 500 best-performing Smoobu hosts had at least one active listing on Airbnb! To find out more, take a look at our Annual Report 2025.

2. Trust and credibility of your services

Trust is at the core of the Airbnb platform. The robust rating model allows hosts and guests to leave reviews, promoting collective responsibility and ensuring a credible and secure experience.

Positive guest reviews can strengthen your accommodation's credibility and encourage future bookings. In addition, the new “Guest Favorite” category allows hosts to gain more visibility and promote their excellent service and positive guest experience.

3. An accessible and intuitive platform

One key advantage of Airbnb is its intuitive and user-friendly platform. This makes it straightforward for hosts to manage reservations, update listings, adjust cancellation policies, and communicate with travelers.

Whether you are an experienced or novice short-term rental manager, Airbnb offers the tools you need to succeed. Furthermore, using a Channel Manager, you can manage all the bookings you receive on multiple portals and direct bookings received on your website from a single platform. You will improve their daily operations and reduce their workload.

4. Greater visibility for new listings

Another noteworthy feature of Airbnb is how the site promotes and rewards new listings. The platform's algorithm prioritizes new or recently updated properties, increasing their visibility in search results.

This makes Airbnb an ideal platform for hosts who want to increase bookings for their new short-term rentals and get positive reviews.

5. A wide range of accommodation options

Whether renting a single room or managing multiple properties, Airbnb accommodates various accommodation needs. You can set house rules, minimum stay requirements, cleaning fees, pet access, etc.

Not only will you have complete control over the experience you offer, but you can also increase the value of your niche rentals, whether glamping tents or luxury villas (with Airbnb Luxe).

Airbnb Service explained

One of the most common concerns among hosts is commission costs: How much does the service cost? How do I know how the price is broken down (daily price, cleaning costs, additional guests)? Are there any extra expenses? How do I handle local taxes, such as the tourist tax?

Let's analyze these aspects so that you have all the answers at your fingertips.

What expenses does the Airbnb service fee cover?

Airbnb charges hosts and guests a commission fee on the booking amount for each booking received on the platform to cover the platform's service costs. So far, so simple. However, for many accommodation hosts, the breakdown of commissions and the different types of expenses is more complicated.

One important thing to note is that Airbnb's commissions are not fixed. This means they vary depending on factors such as the chosen cancellation policy: hosts who apply Super Strict cancellation terms could pay higher costs. The apartment's location also impacts commissions: in China, for example, they are 10%. They also depend on whether or not you are part of Airbnb Luxe, which has a different commission model.

Here's an example that might help clarify things:

• For each booking, the host pays the platform a service fee, which is calculated based on the nightly rate offered and any additional costs included, such as cleaning or pet fees.
• The commission fee will be automatically deducted from each booking.
• The host can decide whether to share the fee with the guest (split fee) or to cover the entire cost (host-paid fee or simplified fee).

The different Airbnb fees explained

Split fee

This is a commission paid by the host and the guest. It is the most common and popular option for hosts with only one accommodation facility (e.g., a holiday home, bed and breakfast, or room rental).

• Hosts pay 3% of the booking amount.
• Guests pay a fee of between 5% and 15% of the booking cost, including service fees and the additional services mentioned above.

Usually, the default option is the simplified commission the host pays, but you can easily change it if you prefer the shared commission model.

Host-only fee

This has been the default commission model since 2022, although it is not the most common. With this fee, the host covers the entire commission cost, which is 15% or just under that for the booking's subtotal.

This simplified commission model is mandatory for hosts using vacation rental management software like Smoobu. Listings in countries such as the United States, Canada, Mexico, the Bahamas, Argentina, Uruguay, and Taiwan are exempt from this rule.

The main difference is that guests do not pay a commission on bookings in this model. Therefore, competitive rates could motivate guests to choose one accommodation over another.

If you use the simplified commission model, you can increase the base price to compensate for the 15% commission, something that guests won't notice, and that will allow you to cover any additional costs.

Additional Airbnb commissions

Airbnb Experiences is an initiative created to meet the growing demand from travelers seeking unique and personalized vacation activities. Airbnb charges a 20% commission for experiences, which is automatically deducted from the final price.

How can I understand how much Airbnb charges hosts?

Airbnb allows hosts of accommodation facilities promoted on the platform to view the breakdown of commissions and income transparently:

1. Log in to your account.
2. Access your transaction history.
3. Search for the booking in question.
4. Click on “Payment” and look for Airbnb service fees.

Frequently asked questions about Airbnb fees

Although Airbnb offers many advantages, some hosts are reluctant to join the platform because of the confusion over service fees. Let's look at the most frequently asked questions:

1. I'm afraid of paying too many commissions on Airbnb

Airbnb's service fees are among the lowest in the industry compared to other platforms. The 15% host commission is also the most competitive on the market compared to other booking sites.

In addition, the global reach of the platform and the high potential for bookings far outweigh the minimal cost of commission fees.

2. I'm afraid I won't get enough visibility on Airbnb

Airbnb is a popular platform offering dedicated tools to make your listing stand out.

You can rank high in the search results by using quality photos, detailed descriptions, and competitive prices. In addition, as mentioned above, new listings receive a boost, giving you a competitive advantage when starting.

3. I don't know how to manage Airbnb guests' expectations

Smoobu, Airbnb's preferred software partner, offers a channel manager function that simplifies host communication. Thanks to message templates and the possibility to program them in advance, you can respond promptly and effectively to your guests' needs.

In addition, clear rules and a detailed description of the property will allow you to manage guests' expectations and reduce misunderstandings.

4. I'm afraid of receiving negative reviews on Airbnb

No host wants to receive negative reviews.

Airbnb encourages open communication to resolve issues before they escalate. Most hosts leave constructive reviews and feedback; positive reviews from satisfied hosts quickly overshadow negative reviews.

Final tips for success on Airbnb

Here are some tips to maximize your success on Airbnb:

1. Optimize your listing: Use professional photos and write a detailed description highlighting your property's unique features. Learn more here.
2. Set an appropriate pricing strategy: Search for similar listings in your area and use Airbnb's pricing tools to offer competitive rates.
3. Encourage reviews: offer excellent service and ask your guests to leave a review after a particularly positive stay. Favorable reviews increase your credibility and online visibility.
4. Take advantage of promotions: Airbnb's promotional tools can offer discounts and special offers and attract more bookings.

Maximize your profits with Airbnb in 2025

Airbnb is more than just a booking platform. It's a powerful tool for hosts who want to grow their short-term rental business. With its global reach, competitive commission structure, and easy-to-use features, Airbnb offers the opportunity to increase bookings, revenue, and guest satisfaction.

Don't let your doubts stop you from using this fantastic platform. Connect Airbnb to your Smoobu account to avoid double bookings and enjoy the benefits of belonging to one of the world's largest traveler communities.