Fees decide how much of each booking you keep, so it pays to know them exactly. All figures are from the sources listed at the end, checked in October 2026. Your own contract or account settings are the final word.
The fees side by side
| Site | What the host pays | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Airbnb, host-only fee | 15.5% for most hosts (14% to 16% for some; 16% in Brazil and Mexico) | Becoming the standard. Once moved to it, you can't move back |
| Airbnb, split fee | 3% (4% in Brazil and Mexico), plus a guest fee of about 14% to 16.5% | Being phased out |
| Booking.com | Commonly 10% to 25%, about 15% on average | Set in your contract. Preferred Partner adds about 2 to 3 points; Genius discounts are funded by you |
| Vrbo | About 8%: 5% commission + 3% payment processing | Annual subscription closed to new hosts |
| Agoda | Set per contract, shown in the Partner Portal | Optional programmes raise commission for more visibility |
| Expedia (hotels) | Commonly 15% to 30% | Set per contract; paid visibility programmes on top |
Airbnb's move to a 15.5% host-only fee
Airbnb has been moving hosts from the split fee to a single host-only fee. According to Hostfully, the switch reached hosts using management software in the US and Canada on 27 October 2025, other software-connected hosts on 13 April 2026, non-EU independent hosts on 15 September 2026 and EU independent hosts on 13 October 2026. With the host-only fee you usually raise your nightly price to keep the same income, because the guest no longer pays a separate service fee.
Connecting Airbnb to InnRow with a calendar (iCal) link does not by itself make you an API-connected host. See InnRow and Airbnb.
A worked example
A room at 100 a night (in any currency) for 3 nights, so 300 in room revenue:
| Site | Fee | You keep |
|---|---|---|
| Airbnb host-only (15.5%) | 46.50 | 253.50 |
| Booking.com at 15% | 45.00 | 255.00 |
| Booking.com at 15% + Preferred (about 18%) | 54.00 | 246.00 |
| Vrbo (about 8%) | 24.00 | 276.00 |
| Your own booking page | 0 | 300.00 |
Taxes on commission (such as VAT or India's 18% GST on OTA commission) can add to the cost. Try your own numbers in the OTA commission calculator.
Which one should you use?
Rarely just one. Booking sites bring guests who would never find you alone, especially travellers from abroad. The usual pattern for a small property:
- List on two or three sites that suit your guests: Airbnb for homes and longer stays, Booking.com and Agoda for rooms and international travellers, Vrbo for whole homes and families.
- Keep every site on one calendar so nothing is sold twice. See how to avoid double bookings.
- Win back repeat and local guests directly, where no commission applies, with a booking page, your Google Business Profile and WhatsApp.
In India, MakeMyTrip and Goibibo matter too; see OTA commissions in India.
Sources
- Airbnb service fees (Airbnb help)
- Airbnb host fees and rollout dates (Hostfully)
- How much Booking.com charges hosts (Guesty)
- Booking.com commission breakdown 2026 (Holidayfox)
- What commission do I pay to Agoda? (Agoda Partner Hub)
- Expedia commission rates for hotels (Preno)
- Vrbo host fees (Hostfully)
Questions people ask
What is Airbnb's host fee in 2026?
Most hosts pay a 15.5% host-only fee. The older split fee (3% for the host plus a guest fee) is being phased out.
What commission does Booking.com charge?
It's set in each property's contract, commonly between 10% and 25%, about 15% on average. The Preferred Partner programme adds about 2 to 3 percentage points.
Is Airbnb or Booking.com cheaper for hosts?
At typical rates they are close: about 15.5% on Airbnb's host-only fee and about 15% on Booking.com. Booking.com's Preferred programme and Genius discounts can raise its real cost.
How much does Vrbo charge hosts?
About 8% per booking: a 5% commission plus 3% payment processing.
How can I avoid booking site commission?
Take more bookings directly, through your own booking page, Google Business Profile and repeat guests, while keeping booking sites for new guests.