Airbnb charges hosts and guests “service fees” to cover their operation costs (such as Airbnb's 24/7 customer support). Service fees are applied to all confirmed reservations.
Airbnb can charge a host one of two service fee models:
- Split-fee: This fee type will be applied to Airbnb hosts who don't use property management software (PMS). In this model, the service fee is split between the host and the guest per reservation. If the guest pays in a foreign currency (other than the default currency of your property) they'll be subject to an FX fee in addition to their part of the split fee.
- Host-only fee: This fee will be applied to Airbnb hosts using a PMS (such as Guesty). This service fee type is paid only by the host. However, if the guest pays in a foreign currency (other than the default currency of your property), the guest will be subject to an FX fee.
Once a host starts using a PMS to manage their vacation rentals, they'll be moved from the split fee to the Host-only fee model (or vice versa). Host service fees are automatically pre-deducted from the reservation payout.
Learn about Airbnb service fees for hosts below. For full information, read this Airbnb article.
Split-fee
This fee type is divided between the host and the guest. This fee type is not relevant for Guesty users.
Host-only fee
The fee is applied to hosts using software providers, including channel managers, and property management systems, such as Guesty. You may be exempt from this fee if your properties are mostly located in the USA, Canada, the Bahamas, Mexico, Argentina, Taiwan, or Uruguay.
Additionally, a Host-only fee is mandatory for all traditional hospitality listings–including hotels, and serviced apartments, regardless of the properties' location.
Host-only fees are typically between 14–16% of the reservation subtotal amount. The fee may be higher for Super Strict cancellation policies, and lower for stays of 28 nights or more.
VAT charges to service fees
Depending on your property’s jurisdiction, VAT may also apply to service fees. The service fee will be VAT-inclusive where applicable.