How is an Airbnb cleaning fee calculated?
Start from what one turnover costs you: the cleaner, washing the linen and towels, and the consumables you restock (toilet paper, soap, tea, coffee). Add an allowance for wear, because towels, sheets and small items need replacing. Then cover Airbnb's cut.
The 0.8171 is what is left of each rupee after Airbnb's 15.5% fee and 18% GST on that fee (15.5% × 1.18 = 18.29%). With a ₹800 cleaner, ₹250 laundry, ₹150 consumables and a 15% allowance, the turnover costs ₹1,380, and the cleaning fee to charge is ₹1,689. Charge only ₹1,380 and Airbnb's fee leaves you about ₹1,128.
Does Airbnb take a fee on the cleaning fee?
Yes. Airbnb works out its host service fee on the booking subtotal: the nightly rate plus the cleaning fee and any other fees you charge. Airbnb is moving all home hosts to a single host-only fee, 15.5% of the subtotal for most hosts, and in India 18% GST is added on that fee. So the cleaning fee is reduced by the same 18.29% as the nightly rate, which is why a cleaning fee set at exactly your cost always comes up short.
What should a cleaning fee be in Indian cities?
| City | Cleaner per turnover | Cleaning fee to charge |
|---|---|---|
| Mumbai | ₹1,000 | ₹1,970 |
| Goa (North) | ₹900 | ₹1,830 |
| Bangalore | ₹800 | ₹1,689 |
| Chennai | ₹750 | ₹1,619 |
| Delhi NCR | ₹750 | ₹1,619 |
| Hyderabad | ₹700 | ₹1,548 |
| Pune | ₹600 | ₹1,407 |
Furnished 2BHK. The cleaner rates are the assumptions used across HostyourBnB's calculators, not a survey; the fee includes ₹250 laundry, ₹150 consumables, a 15% allowance and Airbnb's fee with GST. Check what cleaners charge in your area.
Cleaning fee or a higher nightly rate?
A separate cleaning fee recovers the cost on every stay, however short. The catch is the one-night booking: a ₹1,700 cleaning fee on a ₹3,500 night adds almost half again to the guest's total, which makes the listing look expensive next to others.
The calculator shows the cleaning fee per night of your average stay. If that figure is a large share of your nightly rate, set a two-night minimum or fold part of the cost into the nightly rate instead.
Frequently asked questions
Does Airbnb take a fee on the cleaning fee?
Yes. Airbnb's host service fee is worked out on the booking subtotal, which includes the cleaning fee. With the single 15.5% host-only fee and 18% GST on that fee, about 18.3% of your cleaning fee goes to Airbnb.
How do I calculate my Airbnb cleaning fee?
Add up what one turnover costs you (cleaner, laundry, consumables), add an allowance for wear and replacements, then divide by 0.8171 to cover Airbnb's 15.5% fee plus GST. A ₹1,200 turnover with a 15% allowance needs a cleaning fee of about ₹1,689.
How much is a typical Airbnb cleaning fee in India?
It depends on the city and the flat. For a furnished 2BHK, cleaners charge roughly ₹600 to ₹1,000 a turnover in the metros, which, once laundry, consumables and Airbnb's fee are covered, means a cleaning fee of roughly ₹1,400 to ₹2,000.
Should I charge a cleaning fee or build it into the nightly rate?
A separate cleaning fee recovers the cost on every stay, however short. But on a one- or two-night stay it can make the total look expensive. Check the cleaning fee per night of your average stay; if it is a large share of your nightly rate, consider a two-night minimum.
Can I claim back the GST on Airbnb's fee?
If you have a GST registration (GSTIN) added to your Airbnb tax profile, you can claim the 18% GST on Airbnb's fee as input tax credit. In that case untick the GST option in the calculator.