Airbnb Cleaning Fee: A Comprehensive Guide

Airbnb cleaning fee is an extra charge beyond the nightly rate that hosts add to cover the costs of preparing the property for each guest. This fee helps hosts maintain cleanliness and a high-quality guest experience without eating into rental income. Hosting multiple listings on Airbnb or other platforms makes understanding and setting cleaning fees a key component of short-term rental pricing strategy. Getting fees right is one part of hosting well, see our complete guide to becoming an Airbnb host for the rest.

What is an Airbnb cleaning fee and how does it work?

An Airbnb cleaning fee is a one-time, non-refundable charge guests pay at booking. It covers the cost of cleaning services and supplies needed to reset the property between stays. Unlike nightly rates, it only appears once per reservation no matter how many nights the guest stays. The cleaning fee is not part of the security deposit; it specifically offsets cleaning expenses so hosts don't have to absorb those costs.

Hosts can set this fee separately or roll it into their nightly price, but Airbnb usually shows cleaning fees as a separate line item during booking so guests see the breakdown. Setting it correctly is important so you don't lose bookings by overcharging, or lose money by undercharging.

What does the cleaning fee cover for short-term rentals?

An Airbnb cleaning fee covers several key expenses including:

• Labor costs: Payment for professional cleaners or your own time spent cleaning.
• Cleaning supplies: Detergents, disinfectants, linens, towels, and consumables.
• Linen and laundry services: Washing and replacing bedding and towels.
• Routine maintenance: Small repairs or upkeep ensuring your property stays guest-ready.
• Deep cleaning: Periodic tasks like carpet cleaning, window washing, or appliance maintenance.

This fee ensures your property is clean, safe, and inviting for every guest.

Average Airbnb cleaning fees by property type and location

Cleaning fee pricing varies widely based on the size of your rental, the city, and whether you use a cleaning service or clean yourself. A studio apartment will have a much lower cleaning fee than a multi-bedroom house, and professional cleaning rates differ by region and local wage levels. Fees in major cities like New York and London tend to run higher than in markets where self-cleaning is more common, since professional cleaning labor costs vary so much city to city.

Setting a reasonable cleaning fee can be difficult without access to real-time data on what similar listings nearby are actually charging. PriceLabs' Market Dashboards give you access to booking trends in your area, including cleaning fee data, so you can benchmark against comparable properties rather than guessing.

How to calculate your Airbnb cleaning fee: practical steps

Setting your cleaning fee starts with understanding your actual costs. Here's how you can determine the right amount:

1. Calculate direct costs: Add up professional cleaning charges or estimate your own time hourly rate plus cleaning supplies and laundry expenses.
2. Factor in property size and guest turnover: Bigger properties or those with short turnovers between guests usually need higher cleaning fees.
3. Research local market rates: Check comparable listings in your neighborhood to see their cleaning fees and overall pricing.
4. Consider guest booking patterns: Are most bookings short stays or longer stays? Align your fee with typical booking length.
5. Add buffer for deep cleaning and maintenance: Include a small amount for occasional deep cleans or repairs.

As host Stacey St. John has described it, setting a cleaning fee is both a financial and operational decision: the goal is to fully cover labor, supplies, and laundering costs so they don't cut into rental revenue, while still investing enough in quality inspections to protect the guest experience.

How PriceLabs helps with cleaning fee pricing

PriceLabs Market Dashboards provide real-time neighborhood data to compare cleaning fees, booking trends, and pricing strategies among similar listings. You can filter properties by size, amenities, pet policies, and stay lengths to tailor comps. This data-driven approach helps ensure your cleaning fee is competitive yet covers your costs. Learn more about PriceLabs' dynamic pricing tools.

Pricing strategies for setting Airbnb cleaning fees

Here are four practical approaches to consider when setting your cleaning fee:

1. Align cleaning fee with typical length of stay

If your guests usually book 1-2 nights, your cleaning fee should reflect the effort for quick turnarounds. For longer stays, a higher cleaning fee can be spread over more nights, making the nightly rate feel fairer. Use local data to see cleaning fees for similar average stay durations.

2. Use cleaning fees to manage booking lengths

Setting a higher cleaning fee can discourage short stays that are costly to service, while encouraging longer bookings that reduce turnover frequency. For example, a $100 cleaning fee on a two-night booking adds $50 per night, which may deter some guests. Spread over a week-long stay, it's only $14 per night.

3. Compare your total price to local hotels

Hotels include cleaning in their nightly rates, so compare your total guest price (nightly rate plus cleaning fee) against local hotels. Overpricing can lead guests to choose hotels instead. Balancing cleaning fees and nightly rates helps you stay competitive in markets where hotels are a clear alternative.

4. Adjust cleaning fees to support seasonal pricing

Since total guest payouts include cleaning fees, you can charge more for cleaning and lower your nightly rates during low season to attract bookings without losing revenue. This helps maintain occupancy while covering fixed cleaning costs.

How to change your cleaning fee on Airbnb

You can update your cleaning fee directly in your Airbnb dashboard by following these steps:

1. Log into your Airbnb account.
2. Navigate to "Your Listings" and select the listing you want to edit.
3. Go to "Pricing" then find the "Cleaning Fee" section.
4. Edit the amount you want to charge and save your changes.

Adjusting your cleaning fee can help you react quickly to changing cleaning costs or market conditions.

Should guests be expected to clean after their stay?

Generally, guests paying a cleaning fee are not expected to perform deep cleaning after their stay. However, hosts can request guests to leave the space reasonably tidy, such as washing dishes, taking out trash, or stripping beds. Clear communication in your Airbnb Welcome Book can set these expectations upfront to avoid confusion.

Most guests understand that a cleaning fee covers professional cleaning, so heavy cleaning is not expected on their part. Still, politely setting guidelines helps maintain standards.

Why the Airbnb cleaning fee matters

Airbnb's Enhanced Cleaning Protocol, introduced during the pandemic, raised cleanliness expectations across the platform, and many hosts still factor higher cleaning standards into their costs as a result. Airbnb doesn't set cleaning fee guidelines, so hosts have to calculate fees themselves. Neglecting this risks either undercharging, which cuts into earnings, or overcharging, which deters bookings.

Data tools like PriceLabs Market Dashboards help hosts keep cleaning fees aligned with local costs and competition. Fees are one factor to weigh, for the full picture on whether hosting makes sense, see our guide to the pros and cons of Airbnb hosting.

Summary and final tips

Setting the right Airbnb cleaning fee is essential to cover host cleaning costs and stay competitive. Use local market data, consider guest booking habits, and adjust fees seasonally. Communicate clearly with guests about what the cleaning fee covers and your expectations for post-stay tidiness. Revisit your fees regularly to respond to market changes or shifts in cleaning demands.