Lesson · 2 min
Vrbo Fees Explained
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Vrbo fees explained: the new 12% host fee from October 29, what it costs on a $1,000 booking, and how much to raise your price to keep your payout.
On October 29, 2026, Vrbo moves hosts to a flat, all-in 12% commission. Today a host without property management software pays 8% (5% commission plus 3% payment processing), and a host connected through software pays 5%. This two-minute video puts old and new fees side by side on one example booking, from Vrbo's own help page and Skift's reporting, and gives the price change that keeps your payout.
In this video
Chapters
- 0:00Vrbo's fee goes to 12% on October 29
- 0:13What hosts pay today: 8%, or 5% with software
- 0:28The fee on a $1,000 booking: $80 or $50 today, $120 after
- 0:42What the 12% includes and what it is charged on
- 0:57The traveler fee and the rate parity rule
- 1:19How much to raise your price, and Airbnb's 15.5%
- 1:41Regional rates and the booking with no commission
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The Numbers, Step by Step
Example booking, not a quote: $1,000.
Without software today: 8% of $1,000 is $80. From October 29: 12% is $120.
With software today: 5% is $50. From October 29: $120, which is $70 more and 2.4 times the fee.
To keep the same payout: if you paid 8%, raise your price about 4.5% (0.92 divided by 0.88). If you paid 5%, about 8% (0.95 divided by 0.88).
Airbnb's host fee for most hosts is 15.5%. The gap to Vrbo was 7.5 points against 8%; against 12% it is 3.5 points.
What Vrbo's Help Page Says
The 12% is described as all-in and includes payment processing. It is charged on the rental amount and on fees you add for the traveler, such as cleaning, pet and boat fees. Taxes and security deposits carry a 3% payment processing fee but not the 12% commission. In some regions, such as Europe, Australia or New Zealand, hosts may be charged 12% to 15%; your Vrbo Owner Dashboard shows the rate for your listings.
What Skift Reports
The traveler fee, now 11% to 14%, becomes a variable rate that Vrbo says will typically be lower. The new Host Terms ask for rates at least as good as on other channels, your own website included; Skift reports Vrbo plans to ease that for hosts' own websites (revised wording not yet published). Skift also reports that hosts who keep merchant-of-record status pay 12% plus about 3% to their own payment processor.
Word for word
Transcript
From the English captions on YouTube.
0:00 Vrbo's fee goes to 12% on October 29
On October 29, Vrbo’s fee goes to 12%. Here’s exactly what that does to your payout. Stay with me, because the next two minutes could change what you charge your guests.
0:13 What hosts pay today: 8%, or 5% with software
Today, a host without property management software pays 8%: 5% commission, plus 3% for processing. With software connected, it’s 5%. Either way, the new number is the same: 12.
0:28 The fee on a $1,000 booking: $80 or $50 today, $120 after
On a $1,000 booking, that’s $80 today, and $120 after October 29. With software, you pay $50 today. That’s $70 more, and the fee more than doubles.
0:42 What the 12% includes and what it is charged on
Vrbo says the 12 is all-in. Its own help page says it includes payment processing. It applies to your rate and added fees, like cleaning and pets. Taxes and deposits carry only the 3% processing.
0:57 The traveler fee and the rate parity rule
Guests may pay less: Skift reports the 11 to 14% traveler fee becomes variable, and typically lower. Then rate parity. The new terms want rates at least as good as anywhere else, your own website included. But Skift reports Vrbo plans to ease that, letting you price lower on your own website.
1:19 How much to raise your price, and Airbnb's 15.5%
To keep your payout, raise your price 4.5% if you paid 8, 8% if you paid 5. Airbnb takes 15.5%, so Vrbo stays lower. But the gap just got much smaller. Vrbo’s help page says some regions run 12 to 15%. Check your own dashboard for your rate.
1:41 Regional rates and the booking with no commission
The one booking with no marketplace commission is the one made on your own website. Building that website is what we do at Cavmir. Cavmir.com.
Questions
Questions Owners Ask
Does the 12% apply to my cleaning fee?
Yes. Vrbo's help page says it is charged on the rental amount and on added fees such as cleaning, pet and boat fees.
Do I pay the 12% on taxes?
No. Taxes and security deposits carry only the 3% payment processing fee.
Is the 12% the same everywhere?
No. Vrbo says some regions, such as Europe, Australia or New Zealand, may be charged 12% to 15%.
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