Are you charging a cleaning fee? Pros and cons to consider when hosting airbnb

nirvanapm2025

Jun 2

2 min read

This is a common question, "...cleaning fee or not to cleaning fee...that is the question! And it's one we all first considered when setting up the listing and it continues to be one one of those decisions Airbnb hosts go back and forth no. While cleaning fees help cover some or all cleaning services, they can also help cover turnover costs. Some hosts bake it into the nightly price others don't. Whatever you decide, it's something that guests look at before making their final booking, so the amount you consider is important in landing a booking.

Before setting your pricing strategy, it's important to understand both the benefits and drawbacks.

Benefits of Charging a Cleaning Fee

Helps Cover Cleaning Costs

First the most obvious, a cleaning fee is a price hosts add in addition to their nightly fee. It can vary, but generally allows hosts to recover expenses from anything related to laundry and supplies to professional cleaners, to prepare the property between stays.

Helps protect Profit Margins

Without a cleaning fee, hosts may need to absorb turnover expenses, especially for short stays where cleaning costs represent a larger percentage of the booking revenue. So having a cleaning fee ensures you're still making a bit of a profit.

Simplifies Nightly Pricing

Some hosts prefer keeping their nightly rate competitive and using that separate cleaning fee to account for fixed turnover costs. It's transparent and guests know what they're paying for. It also makes it easy to change nightly rates knowing wherever you land, you still have that cleaning fee as an additional fee.

Drawbacks of Charging a Cleaning Fee

May Discourage Short Stays

Guests booking one or two nights often pay close attention to cleaning fees. A high fee can make a listing appear less affordable compared to competitors. They may opt to pay for a more expensive listing that has a minimal or no cleaning fee.

Can Create Price Shock

Some travellers become frustrated (I know, because I've been one!) when additional fees significantly increase the total booking cost at checkout. Significant, as I've almost seen it double the price! Shock alright...

Higher Guest Expectations

When guests pay a cleaning fee, they may expect an exceptionally clean property. Any cleanliness issues could result in lower reviews. Cleaning is always important but now with a price tag attached to it, hosts better deliver.

Finding the Right Balance

There is no one-size-fits-all approach. Some hosts charge a modest cleaning fee, while others incorporate cleaning costs into their nightly rate. The best option often depends on your market, property type, and average length of stay.

Before setting a cleaning fee, compare similar listings in your area and consider how the fee affects your overall pricing competitiveness. See what the neighbour is charging and go from there to start. You can always test the waters and adjust as needed.

In the end a cleaning fee is generally thought to be a good idea and can be an effective way to recover operating costs, but it should also be reasonable. The goal is to strike a balance between covering expenses and maintaining an attractive listing that encourages bookings.

Happy bookings!