Airbnb, Vrbo, Booking: host fee math in plain English

Published host fee percentages are a starting point — promotions, host clubs, and guest-only fee models change the net you keep.

The mistake is modeling one channel’s ADR while ignoring that another channel’s fee structure (or demand mix) changes host payout under the same sticker rate.

Compare host payout under identical ADR and occupancy assumptions inside the STR Profit Calculator channel table. Hold everything else constant.

Direct bookings look cheapest on fees — until you add software, payment risk, and acquisition cost. Use the table as a relative guide, not a guarantee.

Illustrative only — not live comps. Confirm current program terms in each channel’s host dashboard.