Airbnb Host Fees Guide: What Hosts ACTUALLY Pay (and How to Reduce It)

How Much Does Airbnb Take? A Simple Breakdown of Airbnb Host Fees

If you’re launching (or already running) an Airbnb, one of the first things you need to understand is how Airbnb host fees actually work. These fees directly affect your bottom line, and if you’re not pricing correctly, they can quietly eat into your profit.

At BNB Guardians, we coach hosts every day on pricing, Airbnb strategy, and Airbnb optimization, and this is one of the most common beginner questions:

“How much money does Airbnb keep from every booking?”

In this quick 3-minute guide, we’ll break down Airbnb’s host fees, show you how they’re calculated, explain which pricing model benefits you most, and share ways to reduce your dependence on Airbnb using multi-channel listing strategies and Guesty.

Let’s jump in.

What Are Airbnb Host Fees?

Airbnb host fees are the commissions Airbnb charges you every time you get a booking. You don’t pay these fees upfront, Airbnb simply deducts them from your payout after the guest checks out.

These fees help cover Airbnb’s support, payment processing, marketing, and platform operations.

But not all fees are the same, and understanding the structure helps you price smarter.

Airbnb’s Two Fee Structures (2025)

Airbnb now uses two main fee models:

1. Split Fee (most common)

This is the classic model — both the host and the guest pay a fee.

• Host service fee: Usually 3%

• Guest service fee: Up to 14.2%, depending on the booking

Airbnb calculates both fees based on the booking subtotal (nightly rate + cleaning fee + extra guest fees).

Example: If your subtotal is $1,000, you’ll pay around $30. Simple.

This is still the default for most hosts worldwide.

2. Host-Only Fee (14%–16%)

This newer model charges all fees to the host, and guests pay no Airbnb service fee at all.

Fee range: 14%–16%

Airbnb encourages this model because:

• Guests see a cleaner, more transparent price

• Listings with host-only fees may convert better

• Rates can stay consistent across platforms like Booking.com or Expedia

However… your fee jumps from 3% to 14–16%.So you must adjust your pricing accordingly (something we teach deeply inside our Airbnb Coaching Program).

Important:Hosts using software like Guesty often fall under the “software-connected host” category, which sometimes requires host-only pricing depending on the region.

Are There Other Airbnb Fees?

For standard Airbnbs, no.But there are exceptions:

• Airbnb Luxe: 3–5%

• Airbnb Experiences: 20%

• Some markets have special fee rules (like Italy)

For 99% of hosts, the only real cost is the service fee.

How Airbnb Host Fees Affect Your Pricing Strategy

Your fee structure determines how you should price your listing.

If you use split-fee, you can keep your nightly prices lower.

If you use host-only fees, you’ll need to:

• Raise your nightly rate

• Add a cleaning fee that offsets the difference

• Use dynamic pricing tools (like PriceLabs)

• Monitor competitor pricing closely

Inside BNB Guardians, we teach hosts exactly how to adjust for fees while staying visible in Airbnb search, a massively overlooked part of Airbnb SEO and Airbnb pricing optimization.

How to Become Less Dependent on Airbnb

Here’s the truth: Airbnb controls the algorithm. Airbnb controls the fees. Airbnb controls your visibility.

Real hosts build systems that take back control.

Here are the three strategies we teach new hosts:

1. List on Multiple Channels

Instead of relying solely on Airbnb, also list on:

• Vrbo

• Booking.com

• Expedia

• Your direct booking website

More visibility = more bookings = less Airbnb dependence.

2. Use Guesty to Sync Everything

When you list on multiple platforms, you must avoid double bookings — the fastest way to ruin your calendar and your ratings.

That’s where Guesty comes in.

Guesty allows you to:

• Sync calendars in real time

• Centralize messaging

• Manage pricing across channels

• Automate cleaning and operations

• Keep availability 100% accurate

• Run everything from one dashboard

BNB Guardians uses Guesty internally, and it’s our go-to recommendation for hosts who want to operate professionally without burning out.

3. Build a Direct Booking Website

Direct bookings are commission-free bookings — meaning Airbnb takes $0.

Benefits of direct bookings:

• You keep more profit

• Guests become loyal to your brand, not Airbnb’s

• You build a repeat-booking machine

• You own your guest email list

• You gain independence from algorithms

If you’re serious about becoming a long-term STR operator, a direct booking website is essential.

Inside our Airbnb coaching program, we walk hosts through creating a simple, SEO-ready online booking site using low-cost tools.

Final Thoughts

Airbnb host fees are a real cost of doing business, but they don’t need to dominate your revenue. When you build a smart pricing strategy, use tools like Guesty, and diversify your listing channels, you get more control, more bookings, and more profit.

You’re not just running an Airbnb… you’re building a business.

Need Help With Airbnb?

Join our Airbnb Superhost Academy community or book a call with us at BNB Guardians. We’ll help you build a profitable Airbnb business without burnout.