In short: on Airbnb, the host sets the cleaning fee and the guest pays it, once per stay. It should cover the real cost of cleaning, linen and consumables without putting off short stays. Be aware that since Airbnb introduced its single 15.5% host-only service fee, it also takes a cut of the cleaning fee. At Azur Hébergements, guests pay for cleaning, so it costs the owner nothing.
Who pays the cleaning fee on Airbnb?
The guest. The host sets a cleaning fee in the listing, and Airbnb adds it to the nightly rate and shows it in the total for the stay. Guests pay it once, however long they stay: 2 nights or 10, the amount is the same, unless you set a different fee for short stays.
For the owner, the cleaning fee is income, not a cost. It pays for the clean itself, the laundry and restocking the welcome products. Set it correctly and cleaning has no effect on your income.
How Airbnb treats cleaning fees in 2026
In August 2026, Airbnb announced it was merging its fees into a single 15.5% host-only fee, with hosts in the European Economic Area switched over by 13 October 2026 at the latest. The fee applies to the nightly rate and to every extra charge, cleaning included.
So on a €70 cleaning fee, Airbnb keeps around €10.85 (15.5%), leaving you €59.15. If your cleaner charges €60, you are already slightly out of pocket. You need to recalculate your cleaning fee to allow for this deduction, and many hosts have not done so yet.
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How to set the right amount
The right amount starts from your real cost, never from a figure copied from the listing next door. Add up:
- The clean: time needed for the size of the property and the number of beds, at your cleaner's hourly rate;
- Linen: sheets, duvet covers and towels, washed and ironed by a laundry or in house;
- Consumables: welcome products, toilet roll, coffee, bin bags, cleaning products;
- Airbnb's fee: divide the total by 0.845 to make up for the 15.5% deducted.
Example: €45 for the clean, €15 for linen and €5 of consumables makes a real cost of €65. To keep €65 after Airbnb's fee, you need to charge around €77 (65 / 0.845).
| Item | What it covers | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Cleaning | Full clean: kitchen, bathroom, floors, inside windows | Actual time by property type (studio, one-bedroom, two-bedroom) |
| Linen | Sheets, towels, tea towels, bath mats | Number of beds and maximum guests |
| Consumables | Welcome and cleaning products | Average cost per stay |
| Platform fees | 15.5% on Airbnb, cleaning included | Divide the total cost by 0.845 |
Too high, and you lose bookings
Guests compare the total price, not the nightly rate. High cleaning fees hit stays of 1 to 3 nights hardest, and these are common out of season on the French Riviera. Three settings help you avoid the trap:
- Set a minimum stay at weekends and in low season, so the cleaning cost is spread over more nights;
- Build part of the cleaning cost into the nightly rate when competing listings show low fees;
- Match the fee to the property: a studio takes less cleaning than a two-bedroom apartment with a terrace.
Cleaning fees with us: who pays what
At Azur Hébergements, cleaning fees are paid by guests. Our commission, 20% of rent collected, excl. VAT (24% incl. VAT) for holiday letting, covers full management: listings, dynamic pricing, welcoming guests, organising hotel-standard cleaning and linen, and maintenance. Owners never receive a cleaning bill. Full details on our holiday rental management fees page.
To see what your property could earn with these fees factored in, try our income simulator, or read our article on the cost of Airbnb management.
Information correct as of 24 September 2026. Airbnb's terms change, so check the fee details in your host account.
Find out more about our fees, with cleaning paid by guests, and our holiday rental management.
