Setting a cleaning fee is one of the trickiest parts of hosting. Charge too little and you lose money on every stay. Charge too much and guests may skip your listing for a cheaper one. The right fee covers your real costs, stays fair to guests, and keeps your bookings steady.
This guide walks you through how to work out your Airbnb cleaning fee step by step. At Pro Cleaning1, we provide fast, thorough turnover cleaning for hosts in South Gate and nearby areas, so we see what these costs look like in practice.
What the Cleaning Fee Is Meant to Cover
The cleaning fee is a one-time charge added to a guest’s booking. It should cover the real cost of getting your place guest-ready after each stay. That usually includes:
- Cleaning labor. Either your own time or what you pay a cleaning service.
- Laundry. Washing sheets, towels, and linens, or paying for a laundry service.
- Supplies. Cleaning products, trash bags, and paper goods.
- Restocking. Soap, toilet paper, coffee, and other guest essentials.
- Small repairs and replacements. Light bulbs, worn towels, or anything that goes missing.
Step 1: Work Out Your Real Cost Per Turnover
Add up what one turnover actually costs you. A simple formula looks like this:
Cleaning fee = cleaning labor + laundry + supplies + restocking
Here is a made-up example with round numbers, to show how it works. Your own costs will differ:
| Cost item | Example amount |
| Cleaning labor | $90 |
| Laundry | $20 |
| Supplies | $8 |
| Restocking | $7 |
| Total per turnover | $125 |
If you clean the place yourself, still put a value on your time. Otherwise you will undercharge and burn out.
Step 2: Consider the Size and Layout of Your Space
A studio and a three-bedroom house do not take the same effort. The main factors that change the time and cost of a turnover are:
- Number of bedrooms and bathrooms. More rooms means more time.
- Total square footage. Bigger spaces take longer to clean.
- Linens to wash. More beds and guests mean more laundry.
- Special areas. Kitchens, patios, and outdoor spaces add work.
- Typical guest mess. Homes that host groups or pets often need more cleaning.
Step 3: Check What Similar Listings Charge
Look at listings near you with a similar size, style, and guest capacity. You are not trying to copy them. You are checking that your fee does not stand far above or below the local range. If yours is much higher, guests may feel it is unfair. If yours is much lower, you may be giving away profit.
Step 4: Decide How to Show the Fee
You have two options:
- Separate cleaning fee. Guests see the fee listed on its own at checkout.
- Built into the nightly rate. You raise the nightly price slightly and skip a separate fee.
A separate fee is clearer about your costs, but some guests compare total prices and dislike big add-ons. Building the cost into the nightly rate can make a listing look cheaper at first glance, but it spreads the cost unevenly across short and long stays. Think about how long your guests usually stay before you choose.
Step 5: Review It Regularly
Your costs change over time. Review your fee every few months and after any change in your cleaning rates, laundry costs, or the number of bookings you get. Guest feedback and reviews also tell you if your cleaning standards match the fee you charge.
Common Mistakes Hosts Make
- Forgetting laundry. Linens add up fast and are easy to overlook.
- Not counting their own time. Free labor is still a cost.
- Setting the fee once and never revisiting it. Costs and market rates change.
- Charging a high fee but delivering an average clean. Guests notice, and reviews suffer.
- Ignoring back-to-back bookings. Tight same-day turnovers need a reliable team and a fee that reflects the speed.
Why a Professional Cleaner Can Be Worth It
Hiring a cleaning team makes your costs predictable and your quality consistent. It also frees you from rushing between checkout and check-in. For a deeper look at what a good turnover includes, read our Airbnb and short-term rental cleaning guide. To understand how professional pricing works in general, see our article on house cleaning cost in South Gate.
A clean entrance also affects reviews. Our guide on outdoor cleaning for curb appeal shows how to make a strong first impression, and our article on keeping a vacant home clean between tenants or guests helps with the gaps between bookings.
Airbnb and Vacation Rental Cleaning With Pro Cleaning1
Our Airbnb and vacation rental cleaning service offers fast, thorough turnovers between guests, on your schedule. Our team is fully insured, bonded, and background-checked, and we bring all the equipment and supplies we need. Eco-friendly product options are available on request.
Need fresh linens too? Our laundry service in South Gate can take care of sheets and towels. You can see everything we offer on our services page, and our home cleaning service in South Gate covers full-property cleans.
Prices start from $75, and the final quote depends on the size of the space and the type of service.
Serving South Gate and Nearby Cities
We are based at 10309 Atlantic Ave, South Gate, CA 90280, and we also serve Bell, Huntington Park, Downey, and Lynwood.
Get a Free Quote
Want to know what your turnovers should cost? Call 562-215-7075 or visit our contact page to request a free, no-obligation quote from Pro Cleaning1. We will get back to you within 24 hours to confirm your appointment.
FAQs
How much should I charge for an Airbnb cleaning fee?
There is no single number. Add up your real cost per turnover and compare it with similar listings nearby.
Should the cleaning fee be separate or built into the nightly rate?
A separate fee shows your costs clearly, while a built-in price can look simpler. Choose based on how long your guests usually stay.
Can I charge guests for extra mess?
Check the rules and options in your hosting platform for extra charges, and be clear about expectations in your house rules.
Does Pro Cleaning1 offer Airbnb turnover cleaning?
Yes. We offer fast turnovers between guests, and one-time and recurring plans are available.