How to Price Your Airbnb for Maximum Bookings and Profit

Pricing your Airbnb is one of the trickiest parts of hosting. Too high, and you scare away guests. Too low, and you leave money on the table—or worse, attract the wrong crowd. The truth is, smart pricing is a strategy, not a guessing game. If you want steady bookings, high occupancy, and strong profits, you need to price your property like a pro. Here’s exactly how to do it.

1. Research Your Direct Competition
Start by finding 5–10 listings similar to yours. Same area, similar size, amenities, and guest capacity.
Look at:

• Their nightly rates
• Cleaning fees
• Minimum stay requirements
• Occupancy rates (you can estimate based on their reviews and calendar openings)
  You’re not trying to copy them—you’re trying to find the “market range” you’ll need to stay competitive.

2. Understand That Pricing Should Fluctuate
Airbnb isn’t a set-it-and-forget-it game.

• Prices should rise for weekends, holidays, and high seasons.
• Prices should drop mid-week, in off-seasons, or for last-minute fills.
  Smart hosts adjust pricing weekly or automate it using tools like PriceLabs, Beyond Pricing, or Wheelhouse.

3. Use Strategic Discounts Early On
When launching a new listing:

• Offer a slight discount (5–15%) to encourage early bookings.
• Focus on getting 5-star reviews fast—it will allow you to charge more later.
  Once you have 5+ positive reviews, slowly raise your nightly rate to match your competitors.

4. Set a Sensible Cleaning Fee
Guests look at the full price, not just the nightly rate.
If your cleaning fee is too high compared to your nightly rate (for example, $120 cleaning fee on a $90/night unit), guests will click away.
Balance your cleaning fee so the overall booking feels fair.

5. Offer Discounts for Longer Stays
Incentivize week-long or month-long stays with automatic discounts.
Examples:

• 5% off for 7+ nights
• 15–20% off for 28+ nights
  Longer stays mean fewer turnovers, fewer cleaning fees, and steadier income.

6. Use Price Psychology to Your Advantage
Pricing slightly under round numbers can make your place feel like a better deal.
Example: $139/night feels more attractive than $140 or $145.
Small psychological pricing tweaks can boost clicks without cutting profits.

7. Monitor and Adjust Based on Performance
Check your listing every week:

• If you have lots of views but no bookings, your price is too high.
• If you have lots of bookings instantly, you may be too cheap.
  Stay flexible. Pricing is a moving target, not a one-time decision.

8. Create Packages or Add-Ons
Offer paid extras like:

• Early check-in
• Late checkout
• Pet fees
• Welcome baskets
  Add-ons can increase your income without needing to raise your nightly rate for everyone.

Pricing Is a Skill You Can Master
Great Airbnb hosts aren’t the ones who guess right once—they’re the ones who tweak, learn, and adapt. Smart pricing keeps your place booked, your guests happy, and your income growing month after month.

Need help setting up smart pricing strategies, managing dynamic rates, or optimizing your listing to earn more? BookedHosts offers full-service and virtual co-hosting to take the guesswork out of hosting. Email info@bookedhosts.com or scroll down to submit your property today.

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