Updated 07/30/2025

Dreaming of becoming a successful Airbnb host? It’s easy to focus on the exciting parts, like record-breaking profits and creating beautiful, five-star spaces. But the single most important factor for success is often the least glamorous: cleanliness.

A pristine, fresh-smelling space makes guests feel welcome and safe. It’s the number one driver of positive reviews, repeat bookings, and Superhost status. A well-structured cleaning fee ensures you can deliver this exceptional experience every single time without eating into your profits. This guide will walk you through exactly how to set the right fee for 2025.

Are Airbnb Cleaning Fees Necessary?

For nearly all hosts, a cleaning fee is necessary to cover the non-negotiable expenses of turning over a property. This includes everything from basic cleaning and sanitation to washing linens and restocking essentials. This fee is displayed to guests as a separate line item before they book.

Because some guests are sensitive to extra fees, many hosts prefer to bake the cost into their nightly rate. This creates a higher, all-inclusive price that feels more transparent to the guest. Whether you list the fee separately or build it in, you must account for your cleaning costs to run a profitable business.

What Your Cleaning Fee Should Actually Cover

To set an accurate fee, you need to account for three main categories: your time, your supplies, and your secret weapon for five-star reviews—true odor elimination.

Your Time (or a Professional’s): Calculate the hours it takes to fully clean the space. Even if you do it yourself, your time has value! Research local cleaning service rates and pay yourself accordingly.

Standard Supplies: This includes consumable products like disinfectants, sponges, paper towels, trash bags, and laundry detergent.

Deep Odor & Allergen Removal: This is what separates standard hosts from Superhosts. Stubborn smells from smoke, cooking, pets, or mustiness can sink a review. Your cleaning fee must cover the tools to guarantee a fresh, neutral scent every time. This is where a dedicated odor eliminator product becomes a crucial investment.

Building Your Professional Host Cleaning Kit

While surface cleaners make a room look clean, Puroclenz products make it feel clean on a molecular level. Here’s how to build your arsenal:

• For Routine Turnovers: Between each guest, use the Puroclenz Standard 20g Home Odor Eliminator. After cleaning, just activate the tablet in a bit of water and let the vapor eliminate any lingering odors in the sealed room. It’s the perfect reset for a guaranteed fresh start.
• For Tough Odor Emergencies: Did a guest smoke in your non-smoking unit? Did pet odors seep into the furniture? The Extra Strength Odor Eliminator is the strongest odor eliminator on the market and your emergency reset button, saving you from lost bookings and bad reviews.
• For Embedded Carpet Odors: Carpets and rugs trap smells over time. Use the Puroclenz Carpet Odor Eliminator to penetrate deep into fibers and neutralize musty or stale odors that vacuums leave behind.
• For Constant Bathroom Freshness: Bathrooms are a common source of complaints. Place the Mini Bathroom Odor Eliminator in the space for continuous, low-level odor control that keeps it smelling fresh 24/7.

These professional-grade products use advanced technology to kill bacteria and viral particles while eliminating both active and inactive mold spores that cause bad odors. By including the cost of professional odor elimination in your cleaning fee, you can consistently deliver the fresh, clean experience that turns good hosts into Superhosts.

What Else Affects the Fee?

Besides the tasks that must be completed when cleaning the space, hosts should also factor several other variables into their fees. The area of town, size of the space, target audience, and average length of stay will all affect the price. Properties in urban areas or luxury markets can typically command higher cleaning fees than rural or budget-focused listings.

Hosts who do most or all of the cleaning on their own can consider adjusting their costs, but should still account for their time and the professional-grade products needed to maintain high standards. This approach can attract more guests who are looking for reasonable fees while still ensuring profitability.

How Can Hosts Pick the Right Cleaning Fee in 2025?

While Airbnb cleaning fees vary dramatically across different properties and markets, hosts can start by considering current averages. Recent analysis found that the median cleaning fee per listing for a one-night stay was $75, with larger properties or hosts who hire cleaning help seeing costs increase to approximately $105. However, the average cleaning fee on Airbnb is somewhere between $50 and $80, though these numbers can be misleading given the wide spectrum of property types.

The updated ranges for 2025 show:

• Self-cleaning hosts: $50-$85 (up from the previous $60-$150 range)
• Professional cleaning services: $85-$150+
• Luxury properties: $150-$300+

From Host to Superhost: The Cleanliness Advantage

A fair and accurate Airbnb cleaning fee isn’t just about covering costs – it’s an investment in your business’s reputation. It encourages longer bookings and gives you the resources to provide a professionally clean and fresh-smelling environment that guests will rave about.

By systemizing your turnover with powerful, easy-to-use solutions like the Puroclenz Odor Elimination lineup, you can confidently deliver a five-star experience every time, keeping your cleaning fees reasonable and your reviews glowing.