Airbnb's fee change for European hosts on 13 October 2026
On 13 October 2026 Airbnb moves the last hosts in the European Economic Area and Switzerland from the split fee to the single host-only fee. Here is what changes, what it really costs with VAT, and what to do before your next bookings come in.
Updated October 10, 2026
What changes
Until now many European hosts were on Airbnb's split fee: the host paid about 3% and the guest paid a separate service fee of 14.1% to 16.5% at checkout.
From 13 October 2026 these hosts move to the single host-only fee:
- Airbnb takes 15.5% of the booking subtotal from your payout (a few hosts pay 14% to 16%).
- Guests pay one total price with no separate service fee.
- The new fee applies to bookings made after the switch. Stays booked before keep their old fee, even if the guest arrives later.
- Once switched, you can't go back to the split fee.
Hosts outside the EEA and Switzerland moved earlier (15 September 2026), and listings connected through channel managers moved in April 2026.
What it really costs: VAT on the fee
The 15.5% is before VAT. In the EU, the UK, Norway and Switzerland, Airbnb charges VAT on its service fee. If you are not VAT-registered, you pay it:
| Country | VAT | Real fee (not VAT-registered) | Old split fee with VAT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Germany | 19% | 18.45% | 3.57% |
| France | 20% | 18.60% | 3.60% |
| Spain | 21% | 18.76% | 3.63% |
| Italy | 22% | 18.91% | 3.66% |
| Poland, Portugal, Ireland | 23% | 19.07% | 3.69% |
| Greece | 24% | 19.22% | 3.72% |
| Croatia | 25% | 19.38% | 3.75% |
VAT-registered hosts are usually not charged VAT on the fee (they account for it themselves), so their fee stays at 15.5%. In Ireland and Switzerland Airbnb applies VAT regardless of registration; registered hosts reclaim it.
How much to raise your prices
If you leave your prices as they are, your payout drops by about 12 to 16 points of the booking value. To keep the payout you had:
- VAT-registered: raise prices by 14.8%.
- Not registered: about 18.2% in Germany, 18.6% in Spain, 18.8% in Italy, 19.0% in Poland or Portugal.
Raise the cleaning fee too, because the fee is charged on it as well. Guests won't see a big difference: before, they paid your price plus a 14% guest fee; now they pay one total that ends up close to the old one.
Use the Airbnb fee calculator to get the exact new nightly price for your country and VAT status.
Checklist before 13 October
- Check which fee you are on: open the payment settings in your Airbnb account and look at the service fee option, or check the fee line on a recent payout.
- Reprice future dates by the percentage above, including the cleaning fee and any weekly or monthly discounts.
- Update your channel manager if it pushes prices to Airbnb, so the markup is applied once.
- Check your minimum price and Smart Pricing limits so they include the increase.
- Look at your first payouts after the switch and compare the fee line with the calculator.
The bigger picture: depend less on one platform
Vrbo moves to a single 12% commission on 29 October 2026 (see the Vrbo calculator), and Booking.com charges around 15% in most of Europe. Every guest who books you directly the second time saves you that commission: a direct booking costs only card processing (about 1.5% in Europe).
Sources: Airbnb service fees and VAT on Airbnb fees in the Airbnb Help Center; EU VAT rates 2026. Checked 9 October 2026. This is general information, not tax advice.
Frequently asked questions
What happens on 13 October 2026 on Airbnb?
Hosts in the European Economic Area and Switzerland who are still on Airbnb's split fee move to the single host-only fee of 15.5%, deducted from the payout. Guests no longer pay a separate service fee. The change applies to bookings made from that date.
Do existing bookings change?
No. Bookings made before your switch keep the fee that applied when they were booked, even if the stay happens after 13 October 2026.
How much is Airbnb's fee with VAT in Italy?
15.5% plus 22% Italian VAT on the fee, so 18.91% of the booking subtotal for hosts without a VAT number. Out of €100 you keep €81.09, compared with about €96.34 under the old 3% split fee.
Can I stay on the split fee?
No. After 13 October 2026 the host-only fee is the only option for EEA and Swiss hosts, and once you have switched you can't switch back.