How Airbnb host fees work
Airbnb charges hosts under one of two structures. Most hosts are on the split fee: the host pays about 3 percent of the booking subtotal and the guest pays a service fee on top. Some hosts, including most hotels and many API-connected listings, are on the host-only fee: the host pays roughly 15 percent and the guest sees no separate service fee.
The subtotal that fees apply to is your nightly rate times nights, plus your cleaning fee and any other guest fees you charge. That is why a higher cleaning fee also raises the fee you pay.
Why your bank deposit never matches your rate
The number that lands in your bank is the subtotal minus the host fee. If you only reconcile against your nightly rate, every deposit looks wrong and none of them are traceable. The fix is to record three numbers per booking: the subtotal, the fee, and the payout. When those three live in one row, a payout that arrives short sticks out immediately.
- Vrbo runs about 8 percent total on most bookings, split between commission and payment processing.
- Booking.com commissions commonly run around 15 percent and vary by market.
- Direct bookings skip platform fees entirely, though your payment processor takes roughly 3 percent.
Percentages above are typical published rates as of 2026 and change over time. Treat them as starting points and confirm your own statements.