What Is Vrbo Service Fee?

As a vacation rental host, you already know that every percentage point matters. One crucial aspect that directly impacts your bottom line is the fee structure imposed by listing platforms – particularly Vrbo.  In this guide, we’ll help you understand what is the Vrbo service fee, break down its components, and discuss Vrbo host fees and Vrbo pricing strategy. 

What Is The Vrbo Service Fee?

Now that you have an overview let’s take a closer look at the individual components of Vrbo’s fee structure which are part of Vrbo listing requirements.

The 5% Vrbo Service Fee

This fee is applied to the total reservation amount, which means it covers:

• The base price
• Any additional fees (cleaning, pet fees, extra guest fees, etc.)

Example:
Consider a scenario where your nightly rate is $200, and you charge an additional $50 for cleaning. 

For a one-night booking, the total reservation amount is $250.

5% Service Fee: 5% of $250 = $12.50

The 3% Payment Processing Fee

In addition to the service fee, Vrbo charges a 3% fee for processing payments:

• This fee applies to the total payment amount received from the guest.
• It covers credit card processing and payment security.
• If you refund part of the payment (such as a security deposit), Vrbo refunds the processing fee for that portion.

Example:
For the same $250 booking, the processing fee is:

3% Processing Fee: 3% of $250 = $7.50

Combined, the total fee (5% + 3%) results in the effective 8% charge per booking.

VAT and Local Considerations

In some regions, Value Added Tax (VAT) is added to the 5% service fee. This means hosts must factor in additional costs when pricing their rentals. 

For example, if VAT in your region is 20%, your effective reservation fee might be slightly higher.

The Vrbo service fee and Vrbo host fees are different charges applied within the Vrbo platform. Here’s how they differ:

What’s The Difference Between Vrbo Service Fee and Host Fees?

The Vrbo service fee and Vrbo host fees are different charges applied within the Vrbo platform. Here’s how they differ:

1. Vrbo Service Fee

• Who Pays? Guests
• Amount: Typically 6% to 15% of the total booking cost (excluding taxes and refundable deposits)
• Purpose: Covers Vrbo’s customer support, secure payments, and platform maintenance
• How It’s Charged: Automatically added to the guest’s total booking amount at checkout

2. Vrbo Host Fees

• Who Pays? Hosts (property owners or managers)
• Amount: Depends on the pricing model:
  • Pay-Per-Booking Model:
    • 5% commission fee on the total booking cost (rental rate + cleaning fee)
    • 3% payment processing fee
    • Total: 8% per booking
  • Annual Subscription Model:
    • $499 per year (flat fee) with no per-booking commissions
• Purpose: Covers platform usage, booking services, and transaction processing

Vrbo Pricing Strategy To Manage Vrbo Service Fees

When finalizing your Vrbo pricing strategy, you and your Vrbo co-host should consider these prices if you decide to get one.  

The Markup/Markdown feature in the Future Prices and Competitor Calendar graphs in PriceLabs Neighborhood Data lets you visualize your prices with a fixed or percentage adjustment. This way, you can simulate different scenarios and see where your nightly rate, plus any markup, lands in the market.

Once enabled, it will also appear in our Competitor Calendar. This gives you a clearer picture of your competitive standing and allows for a straightforward comparison.

Many hosts add extra fees—such as cleaning or pet fees—to their listings. These fees are also subject to the 5% service fee. 

When setting these additional fees, consider:

• What is competitive in your market?
• How do these fees impact the overall booking total?

For instance, if your cleaning fee is set at $75, the 5% service fee applied to this fee is an additional $3.75. 

Using PriceLabs, you can simulate different fee structures using the markup feature to see how they impact your net revenue. This allows you to optimize your rates while covering all expenses.

The goal is to ensure that every booking you receive remains profitable after Vrbo’s fees are deducted. Integrate these variables into your dynamic pricing strategy to adjust your rates in real time, ensuring that your nightly rates are based on seasonality, local demand, and competition in the market.

How Can You Avoid Vrbo Service Fees?

You should encourage guests to book directly through your own website, this way you have more control on your prices and can also avoid Vrbo service fee. You can also offer discounts whenever someone books your property through your website.

While Airbnb might appear cheaper on the surface, Vrbo’s strong brand association with family and group travel and its global reach via Expedia Group can lead to more bookings. For hosts using PriceLabs, comparing net revenues rather than just gross booking rates is essential.

You should list your property on multiple channels and sync your listing across Vrbo and Airbnb to ensure the same pricing across platforms.

Frequently Asked Questions

#1 Do You Have To Pay The Vrbo Service Fee?

Yes! In both Vrbo service fee models, you have to pay the service fee. The pay-per-booking model automatically applies the service fee to every booking you receive. You still need to pay the amount if you opt for the annual subscription model at $499 per year. 

#2 What Is A Typical Vrbo Cleaning Fee?

The cleaning fee on Vrbo varies depending on the size and location of your property and the level of cleaning required. On average, many hosts charge between $50 and $150 for cleaning services. Luxury properties or larger vacation rentals might charge higher. You should consider how much your competitors are charging before finalizing your cleaning fee. 

Wrapping Up

Understanding the Vrbo service fee and how it affects your revenue is a vital part of managing your short-term rental business. With Vrbo’s pay-per-booking model, you’re looking at an 8% fee (split into a 5% service fee and a 3% processing fee) on every booking, or you can opt for a predictable annual fee of $499. 

You should incorporate these fee structures into your pricing strategy. You can adjust your nightly rates in real time, optimize your revenue, and ensure that your net revenue remains robust.