Money

How Much Do Airbnb Hosts Make? (And How to Keep More of It)

What Airbnb hosts actually earn, the costs that quietly eat into it, and the single biggest lever, cutting management overhead, to grow your take-home.

Updated June 22, 2026 2 min read

Airbnb income varies wildly by location, property, and how well the listing is run, so any single number is misleading. What is more useful is understanding the costs between gross revenue and your actual take-home, because that gap is where you have the most control.

Gross is not take-home

A listing that grosses $40,000 a year can net anywhere from a little to most of that, depending on the costs below. The line items that vary most, and that you can actually change, are management and turnover.

Cost	Typical range	Can you control it?
Cleaning / turnover	Passed to guests, partly	Somewhat
Platform service fee	About 3 percent (host)	No
Management or co-host	15 to 40 percent of revenue	Yes, the biggest lever
Supplies and restocking	Low single digits	Somewhat
Maintenance and repairs	Variable	Partly
Utilities and internet	Fixed monthly	Slightly

The biggest lever on your take-home

For hosts who use a manager or co-host, that fee is usually the largest controllable cost, a flat 15 to 40 percent off the top of everything. Most of it pays for guest communication. Replace that piece with a flat-fee AI co-host and your effective management cost drops sharply, straight to your bottom line. On a $40,000 listing, moving from a 20 percent co-host to a flat tool can mean keeping an extra $7,000 or more a year.

Keep more of what you earn

The fastest way to grow take-home is not more bookings, it is cutting the percentage fees on the bookings you already have. Rezi handles guest communication for a flat fee per listing instead of a slice of revenue.

How much do Airbnb hosts make on average?

It varies enormously by market and property, so averages are misleading. What matters more is your net after costs, and the largest controllable cost is usually management or co-host fees.

Is hosting on Airbnb worth it?

For many hosts, yes, especially if you keep costs lean. Self-managing with automation instead of paying a 15 to 40 percent management fee is what turns a thin margin into a healthy one.

How do I increase my Airbnb profit?

Cut the biggest controllable cost first. Replacing a percentage-based co-host or manager with a flat-fee AI co-host for guest communication often adds more to take-home than chasing extra bookings.

Let Rezi handle the messages for you

Rezi answers every guest text and call in seconds, 24/7, in your voice. It sends check-in details on time and only pings you for what truly needs you.

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Keep reading

Airbnb Property Management Fees: What Companies Charge in 2026Full-service Airbnb property managers charge 20 to 40 percent of revenue. Here is the real breakdown of fees, what you get, and a far cheaper way to stay hands-off.How Much Does an Airbnb Co-Host Cost in 2026?Airbnb co-hosts typically charge 10 to 20 percent of revenue, or 25 to 50 percent for full management. See the real numbers and a cheaper alternative.How to Self-Manage Your Airbnb (Without Living on Your Phone)Self-managing your Airbnb can save you 20 to 40 percent versus a management company. Here is the exact stack and system to do it without the burnout.