Airbnb Is Changing Its Fees on September 15: What It Means for Your Next Trip?
When you find a vacation rental you love, there’s one more thing worth checking before you book: who actually manages the home?
The same property you see on Airbnb may also be available directly through the local vacation rental company that takes care of it. Booking directly can give you a clearer look at the total cost, put you in touch with the people who know the home, and help you avoid Airbnb’s service fee altogether.
That matters even more with a change coming to Airbnb this September. Airbnb announced that it is combining its host and guest service fees into one 15.5% service fee. For hosts outside the European Economic Area, Airbnb has set September 15, 2026 as the deadline to adjust prices for the new fee structure.
The fee will now come out of the host’s payout instead of showing up as a separate guest service fee. But that doesn’t mean the cost disappears. Depending on how a property is priced, it could still affect what you pay for your next stay. So before you hit “book,” it pays to compare.
Airbnb’s New 15.5% Service Fee
Until now, many Airbnb bookings have used what the company calls a split-fee model. The host pays part of Airbnb’s fee from the booking payout, while the guest pays a separate Airbnb service fee. That guest fee is why a rental that first looks like one price can cost more by checkout.
Airbnb is changing that setup. Under the new structure, Airbnb will combine the two fees into a single 15.5% service fee. Instead of charging the traveler a separate Airbnb service fee, Airbnb will take the full fee from the amount paid to the host.
Airbnb says the goal is to make prices easier for guests to understand. And from a checkout point of view, it is simpler. You won’t see one price for the rental and another large Airbnb service fee added later. But someone still has to account for that 15.5%.
Will Airbnb Prices Go Up After September 15?
They could, but not every property will change in the same way. Airbnb has given hosts a tool that lets them adjust prices so they can keep roughly the same payout after the new 15.5% fee is deducted.
If a host changes the nightly rate, the price you see on Airbnb may go up, and if they leave the price alone, their payout may go down. That choice is up to the host or property manager. So a home that costs $300 per night today may not have the exact same Airbnb rate after the fee change, even though nothing about the home itself has changed.
Same bedrooms. Same pool. Same view.
What changed is the cost of selling that stay through Airbnb.
Pay Attention to Your Total Vacation Rental Price
This is also a good reason to stop comparing vacation rentals by nightly rate alone. The lowest nightly rate is not always the lowest total. Taxes, cleaning charges, and platform fees can all change the final amount.
Let’s say one home is listed at $120 per night and another is listed at $140. The $120 option looks cheaper at first. But once all required charges are included, it could end up costing more. Before booking, go all the way to the final price and compare the full stay.
Even better, search for the company that manages the home and see whether you can book the same property directly. You may find a different total when Airbnb is no longer sitting between you and the local rental company.
Why Is Booking Direct Worth Checking?
Airbnb is useful for finding vacation rentals. It makes it easy to search by destination, compare homes, check amenities, and read reviews in one place But finding a property on Airbnb doesn’t mean you have to book it there. Many professionally managed vacation homes are also available directly through the local property management company that manages the home.
Booking direct means there’s one less company between you and the people managing your stay. You’re dealing with the team handling the property, answering questions and helping if something comes up during your trip.
It also means you’re not paying Airbnb’s 15.5% service fee as part of that booking. That doesn’t mean the direct price will automatically be 15.5% cheaper. Property managers still set their own nightly rates, cleaning fees, taxes and other charges. But it gives you something valuable: another price to compare before you book.
If you find a home you like on Airbnb, take two minutes to search the property name or management company before checking out. You may find the same home available directly, with a different total price. For a stay that costs hundreds or thousands of dollars, that quick search can be worth it.
What You Get When You Book With a 100 Collection™ Partner
At The 100 Collection™, we make that search easier. We work with professional vacation rental managers who know their destinations, know their homes and know what it takes to give guests a good stay. These are local teams with real experience managing properties, helping guests and answering the kind of questions that don’t always fit neatly into a booking platform.
When you book directly with one of our trusted partners, you’re not just finding another place to reserve the same home. You’re booking with the people who actually know the property, from the best room for the view to what to do if you arrive late, need a local recommendation or have a question during your stay. And because you’re booking directly, you can compare the total price without Airbnb sitting in the middle of the transaction.
Compare Before You Book
You don’t need to stop using Airbnb. It’s still useful for finding homes, checking photos, and reading reviews. But before you book, take one more step.
Search for the local vacation property management company behind the home and compare the direct price for the same dates. Look at the total cost, cancellation policy, and what’s included before deciding which option works best for your trip.
That comparison matters even more as Airbnb moves to its new 15.5% service fee structure.
At The 100 Collection™, we make it easier to find trusted vacation rental managers who know the homes they represent and the destinations around them. You can discover a property you love, see who manages it, and book directly with the local team that knows it best.
Find your destination, compare your options and book directly with our trusted partners through The 100 Collection™.
