Airbnb Host Fee Calculator: Know Your Exact Payout
Calculate exactly what you'll earn as an Airbnb host after all service fees, or figure out what to charge for a special offer.
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Fee Structure
You pay 3%, guest pays ~14% (most common)
Booking Details
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Fee Breakdown
Enter your booking details to see the fee breakdown
Split-Fee vs Host-Only: Which Airbnb Fee Model is Better?
Airbnb offers two fee structures, and choosing the right one significantly impacts your earnings and guest appeal.
| Split-Fee (Default) | Host-Only (Simplified) | |
|---|---|---|
| Host Fee | 3% | 15% |
| Guest Service Fee | ~14% (13-16%) | 0% |
| Best For | Maximizing host earnings | Showing lower guest price |
| Guest Sees | Price + fees separately | One all-inclusive price |
When to Use Split-Fee (Recommended for Most Hosts)
The split-fee model is Airbnb's default and used by approximately 80% of hosts. You pay only 3% of the booking subtotal, while guests pay around 14% in service fees.
Use split-fee when:
- Maximizing your payout per booking is the priority
- Your nightly rate is competitive for your market
- You're okay with guests seeing fees added at checkout
Example: A $500 booking costs you $15 in fees, netting you $485. The guest pays $570 total ($500 + $70 guest fee).
When to Use Host-Only (Simplified Pricing)
With host-only pricing, you pay 15% and guests pay no service fees. This is also called "Simplified Pricing."
Use host-only when:
- You want to show guests a "what you see is what you pay" price
- You're in a luxury market where transparency builds trust
- You're willing to accept 12% less profit per booking
Example: The same $500 booking costs you $75 in fees, netting you $425. The guest pays exactly $500 total.
Try it yourself: Use our calculator's side-by-side comparison view to see both fee structures for your specific booking.
Three Ways to Plan Your Airbnb Pricing
Scenario 1: You Know What You Want to Earn (Target Payout Mode)
You have monthly expenses to cover and need to net a specific amount from each booking.
Example: Your mortgage, utilities, and cleaning cost $2,000/month. You want to net at least $500 per booking. Enter "$500" in Target Payout mode, and the calculator shows you need to set your nightly rate at $515 (with split-fee) or $588 (with host-only).
Best for: Expense-driven pricing, ensuring profitability, budgeting income goals.
Scenario 2: You're Setting a Fixed Offer (I'll Charge Mode)
A guest asked for a custom quote or you're sending a special offer for a specific amount.
Example: A guest inquired about a 5-night stay and you want to offer $2,500 total. Use "I'll Charge" mode to see you'll net $2,425 after fees with split-fee pricing. This helps you decide if the offer meets your minimum.
Best for: Guest negotiations, understanding net profit from pre-determined offers, evaluating inquiries.
Scenario 3: Guest Has a Budget Limit (Guest Budget Mode)
A guest messaged saying they can only pay up to a certain total amount.
Example: A guest can pay maximum $800 total for a weekend stay. Your cleaning fee is $100. Use "Guest Budget" mode to calculate the maximum offer amount you can send ($614 with split-fee) that keeps them within budget after all fees.
Best for: Budget-conscious guests, filling last-minute gaps, negotiating bookings.
How Airbnb Fees Work
Split-Fee Model (Default)
Most hosts use this model. Fees are split between host and guest.
- Host pays: 3% of subtotal
- Guest pays: ~14% service fee (13-16%)
Host-Only Model (Simplified)
Also called "Simplified Pricing". Host pays all fees.
- Host pays: 15% of subtotal
- Guest pays: No additional fees
Frequently Asked Questions
Which fee structure should I use: split-fee or host-only?
Split-fee is better for most hosts because you net 12% more per booking. You pay only 3% in fees versus 15% with host-only. However, host-only pricing (also called "Simplified Pricing") can appeal to guests who prefer seeing one total price upfront without added fees at checkout. Use our comparison view to see the exact difference for your booking—for example, a $500 booking nets you $485 with split-fee but only $425 with host-only.
How do the three calculator modes work?
"I'll Charge" shows what you'll net when you set a specific price (example: charge $600, net $582 after 3% fee). "Target Payout" works backwards from what you want to earn (example: want to net $500? You need to charge $515). "Guest Budget" calculates the maximum offer when a guest has a spending limit (example: guest's max is $800 total, so you can offer up to $614 and they'll pay $799 after fees). Each mode solves a different pricing question.
How do I calculate what to charge for a special offer?
Use "Target Payout" mode if you know what you want to earn, or "I'll Charge" mode if you're setting a round number. For example, if you want to net exactly $1,000 after fees, enter "$1000" in Target Payout mode and the calculator shows you need to set your offer at $1,030 (with split-fee). The calculator accounts for cleaning fees separately, so your final payout will be $1,000 from the nightly rate plus your full cleaning fee minus the 3% host fee on cleaning.
What if a guest says they can only pay a certain amount total?
Use "Guest Budget" mode to work backwards from their limit. Enter the total amount they can afford (including all fees and taxes), add your cleaning fee, and the calculator shows the maximum offer you can send while keeping them within budget. For example, if a guest can pay $1,200 total and your cleaning fee is $150, you can offer up to $920 in nightly charges—the guest will pay $1,198 total ($920 offer + $150 cleaning + $128 guest fee).
Do cleaning fees and pet fees affect my payout?
Yes, but they're pass-through income. Airbnb adds them to every booking and transfers the full amount to you minus the host service fee (3% with split-fee, 15% with host-only). They're not part of the special offer amount—if you send a $500 offer with a $100 cleaning fee, the guest pays $600 subtotal before service fees. Our calculator shows cleaning and pet fees as separate line items so you see your complete payout, not just the nightly rate.
Why does the guest service fee vary between 13-16%?
Airbnb adjusts the guest fee based on booking value, length of stay, location, and other factors. Shorter stays and lower-priced bookings often see higher percentages (closer to 16%), while longer stays and higher-value bookings trend toward 13-14%. The calculator defaults to 14% (the most common rate) but lets you adjust it if you're seeing different fees on your actual bookings. This matters most in "Guest Budget" mode where you're calculating backwards from the guest's total.
Can I use this calculator for VRBO or Booking.com?
The calculator is built for Airbnb's fee structure, but you can adapt it for other platforms by adjusting the host fee percentage. VRBO charges hosts 5-10% (no guest fee with their "host-only" model), while Booking.com typically charges 15-18% commission. To use the calculator for these platforms, select "host-only" pricing and manually adjust the host fee slider to match their commission rate. The math works the same way—just different percentages.
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