If you’ve ever thought about turning your home—or an extra property—into an Airbnb, the first thing you probably think: how much money can this really make me?
The truth is, there is no straight answer.
Some hosts earn just a little amount of cash each month, while some go away with thousands. It all depends on your property’s location and the amount of effort you put in.
This guide isn’t about hyping Airbnb as a gold mine. Instead, it tells you how much some hosts are earning, how to find a property’s earning potential, and factors that affect it.
Read on to learn about all this in detail!
An Airbnb Property’s Earning Potential
According to AirDNA data (Nov 2023 – Dec 2024), an Airbnb property in the U.S. can earn around $4,300 per month (on average).
That comes out to roughly $50,000 a year if a property is booked consistently.
However, Airbnb’s own internal report says the average U.S. host made about $14,000 in 2023, which is much lower.
This difference exists because most hosts don’t rent their places year-round. Many only make their homes available for a few months or only list smaller, budget-friendly spaces.
AirDNA’s data also mentions that a small budget listing can earn $1,400/month, while large or premium properties can go up to $6,000/month or even more in peak seasons.
Outside the U.S., averages look like this:
• UK: $3,500/month
• Australia: $3,100/month
• Spain: $2,800/month
• Canada: $2,600/month
• France: $2,100/month
• Germany: $2,000/month
The bottom line?
A realistic expectation for most hosts is somewhere between $14,000 a year (if rented part-time) and $50,000+ a year (if rented consistently year-round).
What Factors Impact Airbnb Earnings?
Two hosts can have similar houses on the same street and still make very different amounts.
Do you know why?
That is because a bunch of little details add up.
Here is what matters most:
Location
This one outweighs almost everything else.
Properties in big tourist cities—New York, London, Paris—can ask for higher nightly rates.
The only issues with having a property in a famous neighborhood are competition and strict rules for renting out a property on a short-term basis.
On the other hand, a cottage by a highway may not charge very high, but it can still stay booked because of steady demand.
Property Type and Amenities
The size and style of your property are huge factors.
A big house with multiple bedrooms is supposed to earn more than a small studio. This is because it is suitable for families and groups.
Unique stays always stand out and attract a different kind of guest with a premium rental price. For example, cabins, tiny homes, cabins, treehouses, converted barns, etc.
Amenities matter too.
For example, in cold areas, a hot tub can almost double your nightly rate. In cities, having parking available makes a real difference.
Price Tier
Budget places make less, luxury ones make more.
It is as simple as that.
A budget property might bring in $2,500–$3,000 a month, while high-end listings can push past $6,000. Higher-end homes don’t always book as often, but each reservation is worth more.
The trick here is to know the fit of your property and set prices to match your targeted guest.
Availability, Seasonality, and Competition
The more days you open your calendar, the more you can earn.
Listings that operate full-time usually beat the ones operating part-time.
Short-term rental earnings can also fluctuate based on the season. For example, beach houses shine in summer, while ski cabins peak in winter.
And of course, competition can’t be forgotten.
If there are many similar listings nearby, you’ll need to either stand out with better amenities or adjust your prices to stay attractive.
How to Find Out an STR Property’s Earning Potential?
Do you want to know the estimation of how much your property can earn?
You can guess it, but we don’t recommend doing so since there are better ways to do so.
That said, here are three ways to check what your property could bring in:
1. Airbnb’s Own Calculator
Airbnb has a free tool that gives you a rough estimate.
You need to submit these details about your property: address, number of rooms, and type of space. As you press enter, it will show what other hosts nearby are earning.
It is a starting point, but don’t take the number as gospel—it doesn’t account for everything.
2. AirDNA’s Rentalizer
This is the go-to for serious hosts.
AirDNA pulls data from millions of Airbnb and Vrbo listings and runs it through their system. It looks at local nightly rates, occupancy patterns, and seasonality.
The cool thing is that it compares your property to similar ones nearby.
For example, a 2-bedroom apartment in downtown Austin might show an average nightly rate of $250 with around 70% occupancy.
That gives you a much clearer picture than guessing.
3.DOSbnb’s Estimation
Unlike the automated tools, DOSbnb offers a more hands-on evaluation.
DOSbnb is a professional firm, operating in the short-term rental sector for many years. They offer all the STR co-hosting services, such as:
• Virtual guest assistance
• Listing management and optimization
• Revenue management
• Bookkeeping
• Direct STR website creation
• And much more
Simply contact them via the contact form, share your property’s details, and hit share.
The team at DOSbnb look at your property, your market, and even things like how design or amenities could change your numbers. It is more personal and less “one size fits all.”
If you want a custom breakdown of what your specific property could earn, this is a solid option.
How Much Expense to Expect from an Airbnb?
A lot of new hosts focus on revenue and forget about costs.
The reality? Your take-home income is usually quite a bit less.
These are some common expenses:
a. About 3% Airbnb fees
b. Cleaning and maintenance costs
c. Internet, electricity, gas, and water bills
d. Bedding, towels, kitchen basics, toiletries, and so on
e. Taxes and permits
f. Property management fee (20-30% of your revenue) (if applicable)
The rule of thumb here is to expect expenses to eat up 30–50% of what you see on your Airbnb dashboard. For example, if you gross $4,000 in a month, your actual profit might be closer to $2,000–$2,800.
Conclusion
Airbnb can be a great side income or even a full-time business.
However, how much you earn isn’t very easy to find out.
How much you’re gonna earn depends on location, property type, amenities, and the effort you put into hosting.
Before you list, check your property’s earning potential with tools like Airbnb’s calculator, AirDNA’s Rentalizer, or a custom estimate from DOSbnb.
And just as important, factor in the costs.
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