Airbnb host fee calculator
See what Airbnb’s 15.5% host fee really takes from each booking, including VAT, what to charge to keep your payout, and what you’d keep on a direct booking.
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Show me howFigures are estimates for guidance, not tax advice. The fee applies to your whole booking subtotal, including cleaning and pet fees. Price suggestions use the same method as Airbnb’s own price adjustment tool. Fee rates checked against Airbnb’s Help Centre in October 2026.
How Airbnb’s host fee works in the UK
UK hosts moved to Airbnb’s single service fee on 22 June 2026. Most hosts pay 15.5%, and Airbnb says the rest typically pay 14% to 16%.
- It comes out of your payout. Guests no longer pay a separate service fee on top.
- It’s charged on the whole subtotal: your nightly rate plus cleaning, pet and extra guest fees.
- It replaced the split fee, where hosts paid 3% and guests paid 14.1% to 16.5% on top.
- There’s no going back. Once your account has switched, you can’t return to the split fee.
Source: Airbnb service fees and Airbnb’s UK switch announcement.
VAT on the Airbnb fee
If you’re not VAT-registered, Airbnb adds 20% UK VAT to its fee. That makes the real cost 18.6% of every booking, not 15.5%.
Airbnb’s own example shows the difference. To keep a £97 payout from a £100 price, a VAT-registered host needs to charge about £115. A host who isn’t registered needs about £119. (Airbnb’s guide to repricing)
If you’re VAT-registered and account for VAT yourself, the 15.5% applies. Set the VAT question in the calculator to match, and check your Airbnb VAT invoices if you’re unsure.
How much to raise your prices
If you were on the old 3% fee, keeping the same payout means raising every part of your price, cleaning fee included, by:
- 14.8% if you’re VAT-registered
- 19.2% if you’re not
Because guests no longer pay a separate service fee, the total they pay changes far less than your listed price does. If you were already on the single fee, there’s no new rise to make.
What a direct booking actually saves
A booking through your own website has no Airbnb fee. It isn’t free, though. You’ll pay card processing, typically 1.5% to 3%, plus the cost of your website and booking system. The calculator takes those off, so the figure it shows is what you’d really keep.
Direct bookings work alongside Airbnb, not instead of it. Every booking you win direct is one you keep the full fee on.
Common questions
What is Airbnb’s host fee in the UK?
15.5% for most hosts on the single service fee. If you’re not VAT-registered, Airbnb adds 20% VAT to the fee, so it costs you 18.6% of each booking.
Is the fee charged on cleaning fees?
Yes. It applies to the whole booking subtotal: the nightly rate plus cleaning, pet and extra guest fees.
How do I work out my Airbnb payout?
Multiply your booking subtotal by 0.845, or by 0.814 if you’re not VAT-registered. A £500 booking pays out £422.50, or £407 without VAT registration.
Can I switch back to the split fee?
No. Airbnb is moving all home hosts to the single fee, and once your account has switched, you can’t switch back.
Why is my fee different from 15.5%?
Airbnb says most hosts pay 15.5% and the rest typically pay 14% to 16%. If you’re not VAT-registered, VAT pushes it higher. Your exact rate is shown in your Airbnb earnings breakdown.
Can I avoid the Airbnb host fee?
Not on bookings made through Airbnb. The only bookings without it are ones that come through your own website. Airbnb’s rules don’t allow you to move guests you met on Airbnb off the platform to avoid its fees, so direct bookings need to come from guests who find you themselves.