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Airbnb Extra Guest Fee: A Simple Way to Earn More Without Raising Prices

  • Writer: Marifil Limpahan
    Marifil Limpahan
  • Nov 10
  • 3 min read
Airbnb Extra Guest Fee

Maximize Your Airbnb Profits with the Extra Guest Fee Strategy


If you’re looking for ways to increase your short-term rental income without raising your base nightly rate, the Airbnb Extra Guest Fee might just be your secret weapon. This simple pricing strategy allows you to charge more when additional guests stay covering added costs like cleaning and utilities while still keeping your listing competitive for solo travelers and small groups.


Let’s break down how the extra guest fee works, how to set it up (in both Airbnb and Guesty), and some smart pricing tips to help you maximize your revenue.


What Is the Airbnb Extra Guest Fee?

The Airbnb Extra Guest Fee is an optional charge hosts can add for each additional guest beyond a certain number.


It helps offset the increased wear-and-tear, laundry, and utility costs that come with larger groups, and when used strategically, it can also make your listing more attractive to smaller parties who’ll appreciate your lower base price.


Why You Should Charge an Extra Guest Fee


Here are three major reasons every professional host should consider adding one:

  1. Cover additional hosting costs.More guests mean more towels, more linens, more cleaning time, and more utilities. The extra fee helps you maintain your margins while keeping your property in top shape.

  2. Attract solo travelers and small groups.By setting a competitive base rate for one or two guests and charging per additional person, you’ll appeal to both couples and larger groups without leaving money on the table.

  3. Increase your total revenue.Even a modest $10-$20 per night per extra guest can add up quickly — especially during peak seasons or group-travel weekends.


How to Set Up an Extra Guest Fee on Airbnb


Here’s how to enable the feature in your Airbnb dashboard:

  1. Go to your Listings page.

  2. Select Pricing and Availability.

  3. Scroll to the Fees section.

  4. Click Edit next to “Extra Guest Fee.”

  5. Enter the number of guests before the fee applies (e.g., after 2 guests).

  6. Set the amount per additional guest per night.

  7. Hit Save.


From that point forward, your Airbnb calendar will automatically apply the fee when more than your threshold number of guests books a stay.


Setting an Extra Guest Fee in Guesty


If you’re using Guesty to manage your listings (as we do at BNB Guardians), you can configure your pricing rules directly inside your Guesty dashboard.

  • Go to Listings → Pricing → Airbnb Settings.

  • Scroll to “Extra Person Fee.”

  • Set the number of included guests and the per-night charge for each extra.

  • Save and sync — Guesty will automatically push these changes to your Airbnb listing.


Guesty makes it simple to apply consistent pricing rules across all your listings, so you can maintain revenue integrity even when managing multiple properties.


Smart Tips for Maximizing Your Extra Guest Fee

  1. Balance affordability and profitability.Keep your base rate attractive, then add a fair per-person fee that reflects real additional costs.

  2. Communicate clearly.Include the fee details in your listing description and pre-arrival message. Transparency avoids awkward surprises at check-in.

  3. Offer incentives for longer stays.Consider lowering or waiving the fee for weekly or monthly stays. Guests love feeling rewarded for booking longer.

  4. Use automation wisely.Through Guesty, you can set automated messages explaining the fee to incoming guests — ensuring consistent communication even if you manage several listings.

  5. Test and optimize.Don’t be afraid to experiment with your pricing. Use PriceLabs (or your preferred dynamic pricing tool) to track demand and adjust your fees seasonally.


Final Thoughts


Adding an Airbnb Extra Guest Fee is one of the simplest ways to increase your rental income while still appealing to different guest types. It’s flexible, fair, and easy to implement using Guesty’s automation features.


Just remember to communicate clearly, review your pricing regularly, and use data to guide your decisions. At BNB Guardians, we help hosts like you build scalable, automated systems that make short-term rentals more profitable and stress-free.


If you’d like expert guidance on optimizing your pricing strategy, co-hosting support, or building your direct-booking funnel, join our Airbnb Superhost Academy on Skool or book a call with us at BNB Guardians where we help hosts scale smarter.

 
 
 

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