For hotel managers entering the short-term rental market, cleaning fees can be a real headache. Guests complain about them, hosts debate how much to charge, and everyone online argues if they’re even fair.
But these fees aren’t just a random charge. They cover your cleaning costs and reflect your brand’s quality. Unlike hotels, Airbnb hosts list this cost separately. How you set and communicate that fee shapes a guest’s entire experience. To succeed, you need to master this part of your pricing to manage costs and keep guests coming back.
What Is a Cleaning Fee?
So, what’s the Airbnb cleaning fee? It’s a one-time charge you add to a booking to pay for the cleanup between guests. This covers the cleaner, the products, laundry, and maybe even restocking the coffee and shampoo. It’s not for damages—it’s purely for the cleaning.
For hotel folks, this is a new idea. You’re used to building cleaning costs into the nightly rate. But with rentals, every turnover is different. A tiny apartment is easy to clean, but a large house with multiple bathrooms is a huge job. The separate fee helps you cover that specific cost for each stay.
The real challenge is finding the right price. Guests see that fee upfront, and a high one can scare them off. But charge too little, and you can’t afford to maintain your standards. Nailing that balance is what separates the pros from the amateurs.
How Much Is an Airbnb Cleaning Fee?
Cleaning fees on Airbnb vary widely depending on location, property size, and service level. According to market data from platforms, the average cleaning fee in the United States ranges from $50 to $120 per stay. Urban apartments often fall near the lower end, while luxury homes or multi-bedroom properties can charge several hundred dollars.
However, average numbers only tell part of the story. A good fee should reflect the actual cost of cleaning, not just what others charge. For hotel managers running serviced apartments or boutique units, this means accounting for staff wages, cleaning duration, supplies, and linen turnover.
Guests are becoming more sensitive to extra charges, especially after years of “fee fatigue” from travel platforms. Surveys show that travelers increasingly compare total prices rather than nightly rates alone. If your cleaning fee makes the total cost appear inflated, you risk losing bookings even if your service quality is excellent.
A smart strategy is to research comparable listings in your area, calculate your true cleaning expenses, and ensure your fee aligns with guest expectations. Transparency builds trust, while hidden or excessive fees can quickly damage it.
How Does the Airbnb Cleaning Fee Work?
On Airbnb, the cleaning fee is a one-time charge, not a nightly one. It’s just added to the total price at checkout. Airbnb collects the full payment and sends the cleaning fee to you after the guest checks in, just like they do with the room rate.
If a guest cancels and gets a full refund, they usually get the cleaning fee back, too. But once the stay starts, that money is yours, since you’ve already scheduled the cleaning.
For hotel managers, this is a different way of doing things. Hotels build cleaning into the room price, but Airbnb guests expect to see it listed separately. This can actually be a good thing if you explain it well.
In your listing, just say what the fee is for. Something like, “This covers professional cleaning, fresh linens, and full sanitation.” This shows guests the fee is for a clean, comfortable stay, not just extra profit.
Also, don’t ask guests to do major chores like washing the bedding or vacuuming, especially if you’re charging a cleaning fee. A small request, like taking out the trash, is fine. But making them feel like they’re your unpaid cleaner will just get you a bad review.
Why Do Airbnb Hosts Charge a Cleaning Fee?
For hotel managers looking to understand the short-term rental market, it’s crucial to know why hosts use a separate cleaning fee. There are three main reasons, and they’re not all about the cost of cleaning.
- Cover actual expenses. This is the most straightforward reason. Unlike hotels with their own staff, most hosts pay independent cleaners. The fee ensures they can afford a professional deep clean between every guest.
- Pricing strategy. For a long time, hosts would lower the nightly rate and shift the cost to the cleaning fee. This made their listing appear higher in search results, which are often sorted by price. It was a “bait-and-switch” to get more views, even if the final price was the same. Airbnb has tried to fix this by showing the total price upfront, but the habit stuck.
- Discourage short bookings. A high, fixed cleaning fee makes a one-night stay very expensive on a per-night basis. Since cleaning takes the same amount of effort regardless of stay length, this tactic encourages longer bookings, which are more profitable for the host.
However, this strategy can backfire. Guests hate paying a large fee and then finding the property isn’t clean. To avoid bad reviews, the quality of the cleaning must match the price of the fee. Every guest should feel the space was spotless and worth the cost.
How to Determine the Right Cleaning Fee for Your Property
Finding the ideal cleaning fee is both a financial and emotional decision. The number should reflect your costs and your brand promise. Here are key steps for hotel managers and professional hosts:
1. Calculate true cleaning costs.
Include staff wages, laundry, supplies, and restocking. Add transportation if cleaners travel to the property. Divide total monthly cleaning expenses by the number of stays to find a fair per-booking cost.
2. Study your competition.
Look at local listings of similar size and quality. If most charge $80, pricing yours at $150 may need clear justification — such as premium service or larger space.
3. Consider your stay length.
Short stays generate more frequent turnovers, increasing total cleaning cost per month. You might adjust your cleaning fee or set minimum stay requirements to balance profit and workload.
4. Align with guest expectations.
Guests are willing to pay for visible cleanliness. Highlight what the fee includes: “Fresh sheets, disinfected bathrooms, and deep cleaning after every stay.” Transparency helps justify the cost.
5. Review performance regularly.
Track guest feedback and occupancy. If bookings drop after raising your cleaning fee, reassess. If guests praise cleanliness, that’s a sign your fee matches perceived value.
6. Integrate smart operations.
Use scheduling tools or PMS integrations to coordinate housekeeping efficiently. The more streamlined your cleaning process, the easier it is to maintain high standards without raising fees unnecessarily.
Remember, the best cleaning fee is one that covers your costs, satisfies your guests, and supports consistent quality. It’s not about maximizing revenue from one booking — it’s about long-term trust and repeat stays.
Conclusion
Airbnb cleaning fees may seem like a small detail, but they play a major role in how guests perceive fairness, comfort, and professionalism. For hotel managers adapting to short-term rental platforms, mastering this element can strengthen your pricing strategy and enhance guest satisfaction.
A well-calculated cleaning fee tells guests that you care about their experience — that every stay is fresh, hygienic, and worth the price. Keep it transparent, review it often, and ensure the cleaning quality justifies every dollar.
Clean rooms build reputations. Fair fees build trust. Together, they turn one-time visitors into loyal guests.
