Airbnb Host Fee & Profit
Calculator UK
Find out exactly what you keep after Airbnb fees, cleaning, utilities, management and all running costs. Trusted by UK hosts, short-let managers and sole traders.
Updated for 2025 · Works for Airbnb, VRBO, Booking.com & direct bookings
Cost breakdown
Health indicators
Occupancy rate
72% — solid. UK STR avg is 65–75%.
Platform fee
3% — competitive.
Net profit margin
27.2% margin — healthy.
Cleaning cost ratio
19% of revenue — high. Try longer average stays to reduce turns.
Management fee
Self-managing — max profit but more time commitment.
Track these costs automatically
Sorted BNB logs every task cost, cleaning spend and maintenance — so your real numbers match this calculator.
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Understanding Airbnb host fees in the UK
Everything UK Airbnb hosts and short-let operators need to know about fees, costs and profitability.
What is Airbnb's host fee in the UK?
Airbnb charges UK hosts a 3% service fee on every booking, deducted from your payout. This is calculated on the booking subtotal (nightly rate × nights) before extras. A separate guest service fee of up to 14.2% is charged to guests on top — you don't pay this, but it can reduce your competitiveness if your nightly rate is already high. Some hosts on the "host-only fee" structure pay 14–16% so guests see a clean price.
How much does it actually cost to run an Airbnb in the UK?
For a typical 2-bedroom UK property earning £2,500–£3,000/month, total running costs are usually £1,600–£2,200/month. The biggest items are: mortgage or rent (if applicable), utilities (£180–£300), cleaning (£45–£80 per turn × number of changeovers), Airbnb's 3% platform fee, and insurance (£50–£120). After all costs, a healthy net margin is 25–35% of gross revenue.
What is a good occupancy rate for Airbnb UK?
UK-wide, the average short-term rental occupancy rate is 65–72%. London and Edinburgh often reach 75–85% in peak season. For a property to be financially viable, most hosts need at least 55–60% occupancy. If you're below 60%, focus on pricing optimisation (dynamic pricing tools like PriceLabs or Wheelhouse) before increasing spend.
How do I calculate my Airbnb profit?
Airbnb profit = Gross revenue − platform fee − cleaning costs − utilities − mortgage/rent − insurance − maintenance − management fee (if any) − consumables − accounting. Use this calculator to get an accurate monthly and annual figure. Remember to account for income tax: UK STR income is taxed as self-employment income, but you can deduct all genuine business expenses.
What is the break-even nightly rate for an Airbnb?
Your break-even nightly rate is total monthly costs ÷ number of booked nights. If your costs are £1,800/month and you're booked 22 nights, you need at least £82/night to cover costs. This calculator shows your break-even rate in the results panel. Anything above that is profit.
Should I use a property management company for my Airbnb?
UK property managers typically charge 15–25% of revenue. On £2,800/month gross, that's £420–£700/month — or £5,000–£8,400/year. Self-managing with a tool like Sorted BNB (from free to £79/month) costs a fraction of that and gives you real-time task tracking, photo-proof checklists, compliance alerts and team management from your phone.
What are the best ways to reduce Airbnb costs in the UK?
1) Increase average stay length — fewer changeovers = lower cleaning costs per month. 2) Negotiate cleaning rates for volume. 3) Use direct bookings to avoid the 3–15% platform fee. 4) Install smart meters to track and reduce utility use. 5) Use a management app like Sorted BNB instead of a full property manager. 6) Buy consumables in bulk. 7) Proactive maintenance to avoid expensive emergency repairs.
Manage your Airbnb more profitably with Sorted BNB
Photo-proof checklists, task management, compliance tracking and cost reporting — built for UK hosts, cleaners and letting agents.