Airbnb vs Vrbo vs Booking.com fees for hosts (2026)
In 2026 Airbnb charges most hosts 15.5%, Vrbo moves hosts to a flat 12% on October 29, and Booking.com averages about 15% in the US, within a typical 10% to 25% range. On a $200 booking a host keeps about $169 on Airbnb, $176 on Vrbo and $170 on Booking.com at 15%.
How do Airbnb, Vrbo and Booking.com fees compare?
| Airbnb | Vrbo | Booking.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Host fee | 15.5% for most hosts (14% to 16% for others) | 12% flat from October 29, 2026 | About 15% average, typically 10% to 25% |
| Fee before the change | About 3% host fee plus a guest fee | 5% with a PMS, about 8% without (5% plus 3% processing) | Unchanged, set in your agreement |
| Applies to | Nightly rate plus cleaning, pet and extra-guest fees | Rental amount and additional fees such as cleaning and pet | Full reservation total including host-added fees |
| Taxes | Not charged on taxes Airbnb collects | Not part of the markup, per Hospitable | Local taxes excluded |
| Who sets your rate | Shown in your listing's service-fee details | Vrbo; varies by region and connection type | Your accommodation agreement and Extranet |
Sources: Airbnb Help Center, Rental Scale-Up, Hostaway, Hospitable and Wise. Booking.com's rate is a third-party average, not a published rate card.
What does a host keep on a $200 booking?
A host keeps $169 on Airbnb at 15.5%, $176 on Vrbo at 12%, and $170 on Booking.com at 15%, from a $200 booking subtotal. The gap between Airbnb and Vrbo is $7 per $200, or 3.5 points. These figures use only the host fee and ignore taxes and guest-side fees.
| Channel | Fee used | Fee on $200 | Host keeps |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airbnb | 15.5% | $31.00 | $169.00 |
| Vrbo | 12% | $24.00 | $176.00 |
| Booking.com | 15% (average) | $30.00 | $170.00 |
Does the guest see the same price on every channel?
No. Guest-side fees differ by platform and change over time. Airbnb's host-only fee removed the separate guest service fee. Vrbo says travelers will in most cases still see a separate service fee at checkout, and it has not published new guest-fee rates (Rental Scale-Up). The host fee shows what you keep. It does not show what the guest pays.
How does a no-show or cancellation affect the fee?
On Booking.com, a non-refundable booking that cancels or no-shows still carries the standard commission on the revenue you keep, unless you mark the guest as a no-show in the Extranet within 48 hours of their planned check-out (Wise). Read our Booking.com no-show guide before the window closes.
Which channel should get your best rate?
The channel with the lowest fee gives you the most per booking, but it is not automatically the channel to favor. Vrbo's new host terms ask for rates at least as favorable as on your other channels (Rental Scale-Up), so a lower Vrbo price is the safe direction. See what Vrbo's parity rule says. Set each channel from the payout you want, then compare the three side by side.
Where is this comparison weak?
Three limits apply. Booking.com's 15% is an average from third-party guides, and your rate may be anywhere in the 10% to 25% range. Vrbo's processing fee treatment is not consistent across sources: one says the 12% includes processing, another says the terms list it separately. And a lower fee does not mean more bookings. Channel traffic, audience and reviews decide occupancy. Check each rate in your own account.
Questions hosts ask
Hosts ask the questions below most often on this topic. Each answer is complete on its own, with the figure and the condition that changes it. We last checked them on October 23, 2026.
What is Airbnb's fee for hosts in 2026?
Most hosts pay a single 15.5% host-only fee. Airbnb says others typically pay 14% to 16%, and hosts in Brazil and Mexico pay 16%. Your rate is shown in your listing's service-fee details.
What is Vrbo's new commission?
Vrbo moves hosts to a flat 12% commission on October 29, 2026. Before that, hosts using a PMS paid 5% and hosts without one paid about 8%, which includes 3% processing.
How much does Booking.com charge hosts in the US?
Third-party guides put the average at about 15%, within a typical 10% to 25% range. Your rate is set by your accommodation agreement, which you can check in the Extranet.
Which platform is cheapest for hosts?
On published fees, Vrbo at 12% costs a host less than Airbnb at 15.5% or Booking.com at about 15%. Cost per booking is not the same as net income, because each channel brings different traffic.
Do the fees apply to cleaning fees?
Yes on all three. Airbnb and Booking.com apply the fee to host-added fees such as cleaning, and Vrbo's commission covers the rental amount and additional fees. Taxes are excluded.
Sources checked
Every fee, date and rule on this page comes from the pages below, which we read on October 23, 2026. Platforms change their terms often, so confirm anything that affects your account against the current page.
See what each channel costs you
The free audit adds up the Airbnb fee gap for your listings. Vrbo and Booking.com are covered in the full audit. Paste your Airbnb link and email.
Market figures use public data from Inside Airbnb (CC BY 4.0). The fee math is arithmetic on the published rates, not legal, tax or accounting advice. Check each platform's current terms for your account.