How Much Do Booking Channels Charge Hosts in Australia? (And How To Offset It)

If you are listing your holiday rental on multiple platforms, you should understand that every commission or service fee chips away at your profit, and without a clear strategy, those cuts add up fast.

Most hosts often focus on occupancy while overlooking these backend costs from Airbnb, Booking.com, and other booking channels. Failing to understand what percentage of the income STR booking channels take is one way to drain your earnings quietly. This article discusses the real cost of using popular booking platforms in Australia and how to keep more of your earnings.

What are the booking channel fees?

Every time a guest books your property through a short-term rental platform, a service or commission fee is deducted from you, the guest, or both. These fees are not random add-ons; they are baked into the system to cover essential platform operations like payment processing, customer support, listing promotion, and dispute handling.

‍

Why do these fees exist?

Running a booking platform is not cheap. Behind every confirmed reservation are systems that protect you from fraud, ensure smooth transactions, provide marketing reach, and keep guest communication flowing. These vacation rental platform costs are passed along as booking fees, usually calculated as a percentage of the subtotal.

‍

Who pays what?

Some channels split the fee between the host and the guest. Others place the entire fee burden on hosts. The structure matters: it affects your pricing strategy, how competitive your listing appears, and your bottom line.  

‍

So, what percentage do STR booking channels take on average? Depending on the platform and fee model, it ranges anywhere from 2% to 20% (sometimes up to 50%), a difference that adds up fast across multiple bookings.

Fee information for most common booking channels in Australia

Below is a quick overview of the various fees charged by Australia's most popular booking channels.

Host Fees: Airbnb (3% to 16% Range)

This booking channel offers two primary fee structures: the split-fee model and the host-only model. The split-fee setup is standard among individual hosts. In this case, the platform takes around 3% of the host's payout, while the guest pays a service fee as high as 14.2%. This division makes it easy for hosts to manage their earnings while offering transparency to guests.

‍

On the other hand, the host-only model applies when using third-party property management software or for listings such as hotels and serviced apartments. Under this model, the host pays between 14% to 16% of the booking subtotal. 

‍

Host Fees: Booking.com (10% to 25% Commission Model)

Unlike most platforms, this booking channel runs on a flat commission-based model, charging hosts between 10% and 25% of the booking subtotal. The fee depends on your location, listing agreement, and overall volume. Unlike split-fee models, the host covers the full cost here.

‍

Additional expenses can also come into play. Credit card processing fees range from 1% to 3.1%, depending on how you receive your payouts. Hosts may also charge guests for cleaning services, but these are at your discretion. If you generate a high volume of bookings, negotiated rates are possible. 

‍

Host Fees: Vrbo (8% Pay-Per-Booking or $699 Annual Subscription)

This booking platform gives hosts two options: the pay-per-booking model or an annual subscription. With the pay-per-booking setup, you pay 8% per reservation. This includes a 5% service fee plus 3% for credit card processing. It is a good option if you are just starting out or operating seasonally.

‍

On the other hand, you can choose an annual subscription for $699, which allows for unlimited bookings, i.e., without commission deductions. This model is cost-effective for high-volume hosts. You should keep in mind that guests also pay a 6–15% service fee, which is not visible to you but can impact the overall cost of a stay.

‍

The flexibility in pricing structures affects your short-term rental profitability. Depending on your booking volume and market, one model may protect margins better than the other.

Host Fees: Riparide (2% to 3% + Tax)

Riparide charges a modest 2% to 3% service fee on each booking total, plus applicable taxes. This structure is among the lowest in the market, making it attractive for hosts aiming to cut platform costs.

‍

Here, you can choose from the two options:

• Host-only fee: Absorb the cost yourself.
• Split fee: Pass some of it to the guest.

‍

Opting to include all charges in your listing price often creates a smoother guest experience and improves trust. This model is a budget-friendly option for hosts focused on reducing host service fees. Review your host dashboard to verify the correct fee structure, especially when listing across multiple platforms.

How Beyond can help offset booking channel fees

Booking channels can eat into your earnings, especially when you list across multiple platforms and face stacked commission models. That is where smart tools come in. Beyond offers a dynamic pricing solution that helps you respond to real-time market demand, local events, seasonality, and competitor rates.

‍

Instead of absorbing those booking fees, you can push nightly rates higher during peak demand periods and remain competitive during quieter ones. Beyond's free listing analyser lets you forecast revenue potential, identify underperforming dates and make smarter pricing decisions.

If you want to keep more of what you earn, sign up for Beyond's dynamic pricing tool to stay profitable and reduce margin loss.  

‍