Airbnb Service Fee Update: What Hosts Need to Know

strofsanantonio
Oct 1
2 min read

Airbnb has announced upcoming adjustments to its service fees — but not every host will be affected. The changes roll out this fall, and what you need to do depends entirely on which fee plan you’re on.

First: Check Your Service Fee Plan

Go to your Account Settings → Payments → Service Fee.
If you don’t see this option, update your Airbnb app.

Next...here's what to do.

✅ A. Single Fee (Simplified Pricing)

What it is: Guests pay no separate Airbnb fee. Instead, hosts absorb the service fee.
What’s changing: The host fee increases slightly from 15.0% → 15.5% on December 1, 2025 (for bookings received/confirmed on or after that date).
To do: Decide if you want to adjust your nightly rate or fees by about 0.5% to keep payouts the same.

✅ B. Split Fee

What it is: Hosts pay about 3%. Guests pay 14–16% at checkout.
What’s changing: Nothing. Split-fee hosts are not affected by this update.
To do: Nothing!

✅ C. PMS-Connected Hosts (Property Management Software)

What it is: If you use software such as Guesty, Hostaway, Beyond Pricing, PriceLabs, or other property management systems (PMS) to manage your listings, Airbnb automatically places you in the single-fee plan. Guests see one “all-in” price, and Airbnb takes its service fee out of your payout.
What’s changing: The host fee is increasing from 15.0% → 15.5% on October 27, 2025 (for bookings received/confirmed on or after that date).
Why PMS hosts are different: PMS users don’t have the option to choose between split fee and single fee. Airbnb requires them to use the single-fee system to keep pricing consistent across channels.
To do: Use your PMS tools (API or channel markup settings) to adjust pricing. This way, you can increase your nightly rate slightly to cover the additional fee without reducing your net payout.

Why the Change?

Airbnb says the move is about consistency and simplicity. Guests dislike seeing a “service fee” line item, and hosts on the single-fee model tend to see better conversion. The half-percent increase aligns Airbnb’s fees globally, while leaving split-fee hosts unchanged.

Bottom Line for San Antonio Hosts

Split-fee hosts: no change.
Single-fee or PMS hosts: a small increase (15.0% → 15.5%) this fall.
Action item: Check your service fee plan today so you know where you stand. Connect with your PMS for the best advice on changing your pricing structure.

Compiled from Airbnb Community Leaders, and https://www.airbnb.com/resources/hosting-homes/a/simplifying-airbnb-service-fees-746