TL;DR: A cleaning fee is an optional per-stay charge that covers your turnover costs (cleaner pay, supplies, time). Benchmark against at least 10 similar listings in your area rather than relying on global averages. If few competitors charge a fee, consider folding costs into your nightly rate instead.
If you’re an Airbnb host, setting the right cleaning fee can be a tricky part of your pricing strategy. You don’t want to scare off potential guests with added fees, but you also need to cover your costs to provide a clean and comfortable experience for every guest. The right number depends on the size of your rental, whether you pay a cleaning service, and the general price range of your property.
This guide answers the most common questions hosts have about Airbnb cleaning fees — whether to charge one, how much, and how to communicate expectations to guests.
What exactly is an Airbnb cleaning fee?
A cleaning fee is an optional charge that covers your cleaning costs following a guest’s stay. It’s charged once per booking—not per night—regardless of how long the guest stays.
Is the cleaning fee included in the Airbnb listing price?
No. The cleaning fee appears as a separate line item from the nightly rate. When potential guests view your listing, they’ll see the cleaning fee shown separately (prorated across the total nights for comparison purposes), making clear it’s a distinct charge. As a host, you want to make sure your cleaning costs are covered.
How much is an Airbnb cleaning fee?
Cleaning fees vary widely by location and property size. Instead of relying on a global “average,” compare at least 10 similar listings in your area to find a realistic range.
The best approach:
- Research comparable rentals in your market
- Note what they charge (or whether they charge at all)
- Factor in your actual costs—cleaning service rates, supplies, and your time if you clean yourself
If the majority of hosts in your area don’t charge a cleaning fee, consider raising your nightly rate slightly to incorporate those costs, as long as this doesn’t price you above competitors.
A simple starting point: Multiply a realistic hourly rate by the hours needed for a standard turnover, then compare that figure with similar listings and adjust slightly up or down to stay competitive.
How does the Airbnb cleaning fee work?
What it covers: Cleaner pay, supplies, and turnover time between guests.
How it’s charged: One fee per stay, shown separately from the nightly rate. The amount doesn’t change based on number of guests or length of stay.
What it’s not: It’s not a damage deposit and isn’t refunded after checkout.
What your cleaning fee should cover
These are the tasks you or your cleaner handle between guests:
- Washing linens and making beds
- Cleaning and restocking bathrooms (linens, toilet paper, toiletries)
- Cleaning the kitchen, washing dishes, restocking any provided food items
- Washing floors and surfaces
- Replacing garbage bags and cleaning supplies
When a potential guest is scoping out your listing, the cleaning fee will appear separately (shown prorated by the total number of nights of the reservation) and will be listed separately from that nightly rate to make clear that it is a separate charge.
Reasonable guest tasks
To reduce friction over the cleaning fee, clearly communicate what guests should do before checkout. Include these in your house rules and pre-checkout message:
- Take out kitchen trash
- Load dishes into dishwasher (or rinse and stack)
- Place used towels in the tub or designated spot
- Basic tidying of spaces used
Example guest message: “Please load used dishes into the dishwasher (or rinse and stack them), place used towels in the tub, and take out kitchen trash before you check out. Our cleaning fee covers the full turnover between guests.”
Do guests need to clean an Airbnb?
This largely depends on the expectations you set. Knowing they’re paying a cleaning fee, some guests feel they don’t need to clean up before checkout — especially for short stays where the fee may seem steep relative to their booking.
The solution: be specific. If you have preferences for how guests leave the rental, make those clear before the booking closes. Otherwise, you leave it to their discretion—and may be disappointed by the results.
Many hosts include a polite note in their listing description and send a checkout reminder message the day before departure. This sets clear expectations without coming across as demanding.
Are cleaning fees negotiable?
Cleaning fees added to your listing are charged automatically through Airbnb. Guests may reach out to negotiate or ask you to remove the fee, but agreeing opens a slippery slope — they may start negotiating everything else.
When to consider adjusting your fee:
- Repeat guests who’ve proven reliable and low-maintenance
- Last-minute bookings that fill calendar gaps you’d otherwise lose
- Longer stays where the overall payout justifies a small discount
Ultimately, this decision is yours. A small discount might be worthwhile if it means a loyal guest who keeps coming back.
Your framework for Airbnb cleaning fees
Cleaning fees are a completely acceptable and financially smart addition to your short-term rental business. When selecting an amount, remember it’s not set in stone—you can test one amount and adjust if it’s not covering costs or if you notice fewer bookings.
A 3-step framework for setting your cleaning fee
- Calculate your real turnover cost. Add up time, supplies, or your cleaner’s invoice for a standard turnover.
- Benchmark against similar listings. Check at least 10 comparable properties in your area. Where does your cost land relative to what they charge?
- Set a starting fee, then review. Monitor your booking conversion and guest comments for 1–3 months. Adjust up or down based on what you learn.
Finalizing a cleaning fee is always a balancing act—keeping your hosting profitable while keeping guests happy.
Cleaning management made easy
You can save time and effort by organizing and managing your cleaning tasks with Guesty integrations like Properly. Schedule and automate cleaning tasks for yourself or your team to ensure everything is done on time and to the highest quality — maintaining your reputation for hosting responsibly.
FAQs
Per stay. It’s a flat fee charged once per booking, regardless of how many nights the guest books.
At least every 3–6 months, or whenever your costs change (new cleaner rates, supply prices, etc.). Also review if you notice a drop in bookings or guest complaints about the fee.
It can. Guests compare total cost, not just nightly rate. If your cleaning fee pushes your total well above similar listings, you may see fewer bookings. Test and adjust.
Consider this if most competitors in your area don’t charge a separate fee. Folding it into your nightly rate simplifies pricing for guests—but may make longer stays less competitive since they’d pay “cleaning” every night.
No. Changes only apply to new bookings. Existing reservations keep the fee that was in place when they booked.
