Nothing sours a guest’s booking experience faster than hidden fees. In 2025, with Airbnb’s global rollout of total price display and consumer frustration over “junk fees,” cleaning charges are under more scrutiny than ever.
Short-term rental (STR) guests now expect upfront, reasonable, and transparent fees — and hosts who fail to adapt risk losing visibility, trust, and bookings. This blog breaks down what guests expect today, how Airbnb’s policies shape the market, and best practices for keeping your cleaning fee strategy competitive.
Airbnb’s Push for Transparency
- Total Price Display: As of April 2025, Airbnb shows the full price including cleaning fees in search results. Guests compare based on all-in cost, not just nightly rate.
- No-Fee Advantage: Listings with no cleaning fee often get a search boost — Airbnb reports nearly 40% of listings worldwide now charge no fee.
- Checkout Chores: Guests hated paying $150 cleaning fees and being told to vacuum. Airbnb now requires hosts to show checkout tasks upfront and warns against unreasonable chore lists.
- Regulatory Compliance: U.S. consumer protection rules and California state law require mandatory fees to be advertised in upfront pricing — Airbnb is aligning globally.
What this means for hosts: Your cleaning strategy isn’t just an operational choice — it directly impacts search ranking, guest trust, and compliance.
What Guests Expect in 2025
Guests aren’t opposed to cleaning costs — but they demand fairness and clarity:
- No surprises: Travelers want the final price upfront, not a low nightly rate with high add-on fees.
- Reasonable ranges: Fees over 20–30% of the booking cost feel excessive; guests expect 10–15% or less, unless it’s a large luxury property .
- Value for money: If they pay a cleaning fee, guests expect spotless conditions at check-in and minimal checkout chores.
- Fair comparisons: Guests now benchmark STRs against hotels — where cleaning is included. If your fees + chores feel worse than a hotel, they’ll book elsewhere.
Best Practices for Hosts
1. Bundle or Itemize Strategically
- Bundle into nightly rate if you attract short stays — guests love “no cleaning fee” listings.
- Itemize for longer or luxury stays, where a one-time fee is negligible across many nights.
- Test your market: simulate 1–3 night stays and check how your total compares with competitors.
2. Communicate Clearly
- Explain what the fee covers: “Professional cleaning, fresh linens, restocked essentials.”
- Emphasize value: “Our fee goes directly to our cleaning team to ensure hotel-level standards.”
- Set expectations: Guests paying a fee shouldn’t face an extra list of chores.
3. Tailor Fees to Your Property
- Luxury rentals: Guests accept higher fees if service matches. Frame it as premium housekeeping.
- Budget studios: Keep fees minimal or included — budget guests are highly price-sensitive.
- Family rentals: Aim for mid-range, market-aligned fees that reflect true cleaning costs.
4. Offer Added Value
- Waive or discount fees for longer stays.
- Offer optional mid-stay cleanings as an upsell or perk.
- Surprise repeat guests by waiving fees as a loyalty reward.
What to Avoid
- Excessive charges: Don’t set cleaning fees above local norms without justification.
- High fee + chores: Guests will leave bad reviews if they pay $150 and still have to strip beds and mop floors.
- Hidden costs: No off-platform or surprise cleaning charges — it violates policy and erodes trust.
- Silence: Not explaining your fee leaves guests assuming the worst.
South Florida Insights
For STRs in South Florida, fees are particularly sensitive:
- Studios/1BR condos: $75–$100 typical.
- 3–4 BR beach homes: $150–$250 common.
- Luxury villas/Keys properties: $250+ accepted if paired with premium service.
- Short stays in Miami/FLL: Lower or bundled fees perform better, as guests compare against hotels for weekend trips.
Operational Tips
- Pay cleaners fairly — underpaying leads to poor quality, which guests notice fast.
- Inspect regularly to ensure your cleaning matches the fee charged.
- Treat your cleaner as part of your guest experience team: their work directly drives reviews.
Cleaning fees in 2025 aren’t going away — but how you structure them matters more than ever. Guests expect transparency, fairness, and value, while Airbnb’s platform now rewards hosts who keep pricing simple and upfront.
By bundling smartly, explaining fees clearly, avoiding excessive charges, and aligning with guest psychology, hosts can turn a common complaint into a competitive advantage.
In today’s market, a transparent cleaning fee isn’t just a line item — it’s a trust builder.
