Airbnb host fee of 15.5%: how owners keep their earnings

Airbnb host fee: what changed on 13 October

Since 13 October 2026 the Airbnb host fee in Slovenia, the rest of the European Economic Area and Switzerland has worked differently. Instead of two fees, one for the host and one for the guest, there is now one: 15.5%, paid by the host. Airbnb explains that the rate reflects its average service fee worldwide. According to Airbnb, most hosts pay 15.5% and the rest typically pay 14% to 16%.

Two changes matter for owners:

• Guests see the price you set. Airbnb no longer adds its fee on top.
• The whole fee is deducted from your payout. Before, most hosts paid 3%, and the guest paid the rest, 12% to 20% according to the Slovenian Association of Private Hosts.

The new fee applies to bookings made after the switch to the new model. Confirmed bookings stay as they were. Hotels, apartment complexes and hosts who manage listings through property management software were already paying the single fee.

What you keep from a price of €100

The Slovenian Tourist Board and Večer give this example, and Airbnb gives the same one in dollars:

If you have not adjusted your prices, you receive almost 13% less for the same night. The guest pays less than before, but that does not necessarily bring you more bookings.

With an adjusted price, the guest pays the same as before and you keep the same payout. For other prices we did the calculation ourselves, with the old 3% fee and the new 15.5%, without VAT:

Airbnb offers a tool that adjusts prices across all your listings at once. According to Airbnb, the tool also includes VAT on the fee in the suggested price, unless you are VAT registered and self-assess VAT. So its suggested price may be slightly higher than the figures above.

What to check two weeks after the switch

1. The payout on a new booking. Open a booking accepted after 13 October and check what Airbnb pays you per night. Compare the amount with the payout for the same night before the change.
2. All prices, not just the base price. Check seasonal prices, weekend prices, the cleaning fee and extra-guest charges.
3. Discounts. Airbnb advises checking discounts and promotions too. The Slovenian Association of Private Hosts warns that discounts on the portals, such as length-of-stay and last-minute discounts, or Genius and mobile rates on Booking.com, can stack up and push the price below a realistic level.
4. Channel management software. If you manage prices through such software, check that the new prices have actually reached Airbnb.
5. Fee invoices. According to the Slovenian Association of Private Hosts, Airbnb keeps fee invoices for 6 months. Export them regularly (Menu, Taxes, Tax documents) and send them to your accountant.

Airbnb and Booking.com: easier to compare

According to the Slovenian Association of Private Hosts, Booking.com charges 15% to 16.4% depending on the programme, and Expedia 15% to 18%. With the new model, the Airbnb host fee is similar, and Airbnb now works like Booking.com: the host pays the fee.

This makes pricing simpler, because it is easier to see what you keep when you compare prices on both platforms. Even so, the association recommends renting out your apartment through several channels.

Owners of several apartments: one review for all listings

With several listings, a small difference adds up quickly. Example: at €100 a night and 20 booked nights a month, the difference between €97 and €84.50 a night is €250 a month for one apartment.

So check each listing separately, including apartments you rent out only in season. This matters most for December and holiday prices, because guests book those dates in advance.

How we handle it at VisitVibe

When VisitVibe manages your apartment, we run the prices, discounts and listings on Airbnb and Booking.com. You do not need to change any settings each time a platform changes its rules. If you are selling your apartment, read how it can earn while it waits for a buyer.

Check after 13 October

• Compare the payout per night on a new booking with the payout before the change.
• Check your base price, seasonal prices, cleaning fee and extra charges.
• Review your discounts: weekly, monthly and last-minute.
• If you use channel management software, check that the new prices have reached Airbnb.
• Compare your prices on Airbnb and Booking.com.
• Export your fee invoices and send them to your accountant.