Revenue calculators show what you might earn. This shows what you actually keep. Every expense, every fee, every hidden cost.
Leave at $0 if you already own the property or want to calculate operating profit only.
Pre-filled based on your bedroom count. Adjust any number to match your property.
Most Airbnb calculators stop at revenue estimation. They tell you what a property might earn based on comparable listings, but leave you guessing about the expenses that determine whether you actually make money. This calculator starts where they stop.
Enter your nightly rate and occupancy (or grab a free estimate from Awning, Rabbu, or AirROI), and the calculator models 15+ expense categories with pre-filled defaults based on your property size. Adjust any number to match your actual costs. Results update instantly.
These defaults are based on published industry data. According to Turno's marketplace data from thousands of completed cleanings, average cleaning costs range from $65 for a 1-bedroom to $210+ for a 5-bedroom property. According to Proper Insurance, STR-specific insurance runs $2,000 to $4,200 per year depending on property size and location, compared to $1,200 to $1,800 for standard homeowners policies.
| Expense Category | 1 BR | 2 BR | 3 BR | 4 BR | 5+ BR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cleaning per turnover | $65 | $85 | $115 | $155 | $210 |
| Supplies per turnover | $15 | $20 | $25 | $30 | $40 |
| Insurance per year | $2,000 | $2,400 | $3,000 | $3,500 | $4,200 |
| Utilities per month | $175 | $225 | $300 | $400 | $525 |
| Maintenance per year | $2,000 | $2,800 | $3,800 | $5,000 | $6,500 |
| Smart tech per month | $25 | $30 | $35 | $40 | $50 |
The platform you list on significantly affects your take-home pay. According to Airbnb's published fee structure, the Host-Only fee model charges hosts 15% of the booking subtotal (nightly rate + cleaning fee). The Split Fee model charges hosts approximately 3% while adding a 14% service fee to the guest. According to Vrbo's pricing page, Vrbo charges hosts approximately 8% of the booking total. According to Booking.com's partner documentation, their commission averages 15%.
Direct bookings through your own website typically cost only 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction for payment processing through services like Stripe. On a property earning $50,000 per year, the difference between Airbnb Host-Only (15%) and direct booking (3%) is roughly $6,000 in annual savings.
Cap rate (capitalization rate) measures your property's return independent of financing. It is Net Operating Income divided by the purchase price. A 2-bedroom vacation rental generating $20,000 in net operating income on a $300,000 purchase price has a 6.7% cap rate. According to Mashvisor's 2024 market analysis, average STR cap rates range from 4% in premium urban markets to 12%+ in emerging vacation rental markets.
Cash-on-cash return measures your annual cash flow divided by the total cash you invested (down payment + closing costs + furnishing). This accounts for the leverage effect of a mortgage. A property that generates $12,000 in annual cash flow on $85,000 in total cash invested yields a 14.1% cash-on-cash return. Returns above 10% are generally considered strong for short-term rental investments.
The gap between estimated and actual profitability usually comes from expenses that new hosts overlook. According to Awning's analysis of hidden STR costs, the most commonly missed categories include: