Is Airbnb Cleaning Fee Included? Explained Clearly
The Airbnb cleaning fee is included in the total booking price, but it appears as a separate line in the cost breakdown for transparency. This one-time fee is set by the host to cover professional cleaning and property preparation between guest stays. It ensures the space is thoroughly cleaned, sanitised, and restocked before every check-in. While it forms part of the final price you pay, separating it from Airbnb’s service fee helps guests see exactly how much goes toward maintaining hygiene and presentation standards. Understanding how this fee works helps travellers compare listings and avoid pricing confusion.
What the Airbnb Cleaning Fee Actually Covers
An Airbnb cleaning fee covers the full turnover process between guests, not daily housekeeping. It is designed to ensure every new arrival walks into a spotless, sanitised, and fully reset property.
This typically includes:
- Washing and replacing all linens, towels, and bedding.
- Cleaning bathrooms, kitchens, and high-touch surfaces with disinfectants.
- Vacuuming, mopping, and dusting floors and furniture.
- Emptying bins, restocking consumables, and removing perishables.
- Performing quality checks for presentation, odour, and safety.
In professional operations, the cleaning fee also supports supply costs (detergents, microfibre cloths, disinfectants, waste bags) and equipment maintenance. Using eco-friendly cleaning products is not only safer for the environment but also aligns with guest preferences for greener stays.
Is the Airbnb Cleaning Fee Included in the Nightly Rate?
Whether the cleaning fee is included in the nightly rate depends entirely on the host’s pricing model. Airbnb gives hosts two display options: bundle the cleaning cost into the nightly price or list it separately at checkout.
When the cleaning fee is included, guests see a single, all-inclusive rate. This approach improves transparency and aligns with Airbnb’s new “total price display” policy, which prioritises clarity over hidden costs. It’s especially popular among hosts targeting short stays, where guests expect a simple, upfront price.
When the cleaning fee is separate, it appears as a line item before tax and service fees. This allows hosts to keep base prices competitive while still covering turnover costs. However, it can lead to price confusion if guests compare listings solely by nightly rate without toggling “display total price.”
To see if cleaning is included, guests should always enable Airbnb’s total-price view, which reveals all fees before booking.
How Airbnb Cleaning Fees Are Calculated
Hosts calculate cleaning fees based on real cleaning workload, not profit. The key factors include:
- Property size: Larger properties require longer cleaning times and more supplies.
- Occupancy level: The more guests, the higher the laundry and waste load.
- Cleaning frequency: High-turnover listings or those following Airbnb’s Enhanced Cleaning Protocol need deeper sanitation.
- Professional vs self-cleaning: Outsourcing to certified cleaners increases cost but ensures compliance with hygiene standards.
- Regional labour rates: Cleaning prices vary by city — Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane generally have higher service rates than rural areas.
Professional Airbnb cleaners often charge per square metre or per changeover, providing predictable costs for hosts. For guests, the cleaning fee is a one-time charge per booking — meaning the longer the stay, the lower the effective nightly cost.
Airbnb Cleaning Fee vs Hotel Cleaning Practices
Airbnb and hotels both charge for cleaning, but they structure it differently. Hotels include daily housekeeping within their room rate. Airbnb hosts, on the other hand, charge a single cleaning fee per stay that covers the post-checkout reset only.
For short bookings, the Airbnb fee can seem high because it’s divided by fewer nights. For longer stays, however, the cost per night is often lower than hotel housekeeping expenses. The Airbnb model also provides greater control — guests can request professional mid-stay cleaning for an additional charge, rather than having daily staff interruptions.
This distinction highlights a broader difference: Airbnb cleaning fees fund full turnover sanitation, whereas hotel cleaning focuses on daily maintenance. Both systems maintain hygiene but serve different operational rhythms.
How Professional Airbnb Cleaning Improves Guest Experience
Cleanliness is the most heavily weighted factor in Airbnb guest reviews. Professional cleaning ensures more than just visible tidiness — it prevents odours, removes allergens, and extends property lifespan.
Professional Airbnb cleaners follow structured checklists that align with the platform’s Enhanced Cleaning Standards introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic. These include ventilating rooms, disinfecting high-touch points (switches, remotes, handles), and using colour-coded microfibre systems to avoid cross-contamination.
For hosts, professional cleaning reduces complaints, increases five-star reviews, and allows faster turnovers without compromising quality. For guests, it guarantees that the space feels fresh, safe, and genuinely cared for — reinforcing trust in the property and the brand. Our Airbnb cleaning services are designed to meet these expectations with speed, compliance, and flexibility for every changeover.
Are Airbnb Cleaning Fees Taxed in Australia?
Yes. In Australia, Airbnb cleaning fees are subject to Goods and Services Tax (GST) when the host is GST-registered. Cleaning fees form part of the total accommodation charge and are taxed accordingly.
Hosts who hire third-party cleaning providers also pay GST on those services, but they can typically claim that tax as an input credit. Airbnb automatically includes any applicable GST within the guest’s total price at checkout, so guests never need to calculate tax manually.
For hosts, recording cleaning invoices accurately helps streamline BAS reporting and ensures compliance with the Australian Taxation Office’s short-term rental guidelines.
Can Airbnb Cleaning Fees Be Negotiated or Refunded?
Refunds and negotiations depend on the timing and circumstances of a booking.
Cleaning fees are automatically refunded if a guest cancels before check-in and the
property hasn’t been serviced. Once cleaning begins or the stay starts, the fee becomes non-refundable, as costs have already been incurred.
Negotiation is rare but possible for long-term or repeat guests. Some hosts offer discounts or waive cleaning fees for extended stays to encourage loyalty. However, Airbnb prohibits hosts from charging additional cleaning fees after booking or collecting them outside the platform.
How to Identify Airbnbs with No or Low Cleaning Fees
Finding low-fee listings is easier with Airbnb’s total price toggle. Activate this option to compare full costs per night, including cleaning. Guests can also refine results by filtering for stays longer than three nights — as cleaning fees are spread across more days, total nightly costs drop.
Studios, smaller apartments, and host-cleaned homes tend to charge lower fees. Reading reviews often reveals whether guests found the cleaning fee fair relative to property's condition. Prioritising listings with verified “Superhost” badges can further ensure cleanliness aligns with expectations.
FAQs About Airbnb Cleaning Fees
Before booking or listing a property, both guests and hosts often have similar questions about how cleaning fees work. Below are detailed, 100-word-minimum answers to the most common ones.
Are Airbnb Cleaning Fees Refundable If I Cancel?
Yes, cleaning fees are refunded if a booking is cancelled before check-in and no cleaning has been completed. Once cleaning occurs or the stay begins, Airbnb’s system locks the fee as non-refundable. Guests cancelling after arrival typically forfeit the cleaning fee since turnover tasks have already taken place. If a property fails to meet basic cleanliness standards on arrival, guests can report it to Airbnb within 24 hours, triggering an investigation and possible partial refund.
Why Are Airbnb Cleaning Fees Sometimes So High?
High cleaning fees usually indicate professional cleaning involvement, large property size, or strict adherence to Enhanced Cleaning Protocols. Urban markets such as Sydney and Melbourne face higher labour costs and product standards, especially for multi-bedroom homes. Some hosts also include restocking time for toiletries, detergent, and coffee supplies within the fee. While it may appear steep for a single night, the cleaning cost spreads across multiple nights for longer bookings, often averaging lower than daily hotel housekeeping fees.
Do Guests Have Cleaning Obligations Before Checkout?
Yes, most Airbnbs expect guests to perform light tidying, such as washing dishes, collecting rubbish, and returning furniture to its place. This helps cleaners focus on deep cleaning rather than basic resetting. However, guests are not required to vacuum, scrub, or launder linens — those are included in the host’s fee. Following simple checkout instructions improves efficiency and may help guests receive positive reviews from hosts.
Final Thoughts
Understanding whether the Airbnb cleaning fee is included — and what it funds — helps guests avoid surprises and empowers hosts to maintain high standards of cleanliness and transparency.
A fair, well-structured cleaning fee ensures properties remain guest-ready, linens are sanitised, and spaces stay hygienic. Professional Airbnb cleaning services are the backbone of five-star experiences and repeat bookings.
Everyday Clean provides professional Airbnb turnover cleaning across Sydney — including same-day service, supply restocking, and eco-friendly sanitation compliant with Airbnb’s Enhanced Cleaning Standards.
Author: Everyday Clean Content Team
Everyday Clean is Sydney’s trusted provider of commercial cleaning solutions, including schools, offices, gyms, and childcare centres. Our licensed professionals use advanced, eco-friendly equipment to deliver safe, compliant, and spotless results across all facilities. With deep experience in hospitality and short-term rentals, we help Airbnb hosts maintain five-star standards that guests trust.
You might also like
Blog
