US Cities charging the highest short-term rental cleaning fees

We reveal the cleaning fees you can expect to pay in the top US tourist cities, the percentage of properties that charge cleaning fees, and which cities charge the most.

In recent years, the cleaning fees added to short-term rentals has become a hot topic, with many questioning if cleaning costs are reasonable. A common gripe is that the cleaning fee is equal to or more than the booking cost, making what looked like a good deal far less attractive.

While some platforms have taken steps to address the fees on the initial booking pages, many haven't, and cleaning fees continue to catch travellers by surprise.

To gauge the scale of the problem, we decided to analyze the cleaning fees of the 122 most populated and popular tourist destinations in the U.S. Using data from AirDNA; we can reveal the most expensive cities for cleaning fees and the cities where hosts charge the highest percentage of cleaning fees in their daily rates.

Key Findings:

Aspen, Colorado, charges the most for cleaning fees. The typical Aspen host charges $335 for cleaning in their bookings.
More than half of a single-night booking at a destination city goes towards cleaning fees. The average nightly fee is $283, which includes the average cleaning fee of $145.
Indianapolis visitors pay the highest percentage of cleaning fees, where 76.7% of a typical one-night booking comes from the cleaning fee.
Pensacola guests are the most likely to face a cleaning fee. 94% of property owners charge cleaning fees on their bookings.
More than four-fifths of US property owners charge cleaning fees to guests, charging an average of $145 per booking.

Which cities have the highest cleaning fee costs?

Our analysis of short-term rental listings found that Aspen is the most expensive destination for cleaning fees. The figures revealed that for the average booking in Aspen, travellers were charged $335 for cleaning, more than double the average in our study of the most popular and populated destinations ($145).

Aspen’s average cleaning fee is $25 more than the second-most expensive destination for cleaning fees in the US, Santa Rosa, where guests are charged an average of $310 per booking for cleaning fees.

Two destinations from Hawaii are the third and fourth most expensive destinations for cleaning fees, with properties in Kapaa, where guests are charged $283 per booking, and Maui, where properties charge an average of $274 for cleaning fees.

Overall, our analysis shows that California is the most represented destination (four times) among the ten most expensive destinations for cleaning fees, followed by Hawaii (two times).

‍

Ten most expensive destinations for cleaning fees.

#	City	State	Cleaning Fee Percentage Within One-Night Stay	Percent Of Properties With A Cleaning Fee	Average Cleaning Fee
1	Aspen	Colorado	38.5%	55.0%	$335.00
2	Santa Rosa	California	56.9%	89.0%	$310.00
3	Kapaa (Kauai)	Hawaii	56.0%	86.0%	$283.00
4	Maui	Hawaii	54.9%	83.0%	$274.00
5	Key West	Florida	49.2%	79.0%	$271.00
6	Monterey Bay	California	46.2%	82.0%	$248.00
6	Coachella Valley	California	46.7%	79.0%	$248.00
8	Long Island	New York	40.0%	78.0%	$239.00
9	Cape Cod	Massachusetts	45.3%	77.0%	$237.00
10	Santa Barbara	California	46.2%	87.0%	$230.00

‍

Average cleaning fees by state

By state, Hawaii was found to have the overall most expensive average, with the typical Hawaii booking charging $252 in cleaning fees, more than $62 per booking more than the next expensive state for cleaning fees, California.

The average cleaning fee in California destinations was revealed to be $190, followed by Colorado and Massachusetts ($188), and Florida ($178)

‍

Ten most expensive states for cleaning fees.

State	Average cleaning fee
Hawaii	$252
California	$190
Colorado	$188
Massachusetts	$188
Florida	$178
Indiana	$156
Arizona	$151
Maryland	$142
South Carolina	$138

‍

Daily rate vs cleaning fee

In recent years, the backlash to hidden fees, like cleaning, has led to Airbnb and other short-term letting platforms to change the way prices are shown.

Listings now generally show the total fee you should expect to pay. Our figures revealed that 52.4% of a single-night booking comes from the cleaning fee. But this percentage fluctuates across destinations, with some (Indianapolis) having single-night rates to cleaning fees percentages of over 76%, while others (Providence) were just 26%.

‍

Destinations with the highest cleaning fee to daily rate percentage.

#	City	State	Cleaning Fee Percentage Within One-Night Stay	Percent Of Properties With A Cleaning Fee	Average Cleaning Fee
1	Indianapolis	Indiana	76.7%	83.0%	$156.00
2	Lakeland	Florida	72.1%	91.0%	$201.00
3	Cape Coral	Florida	69.2%	90.0%	$226.00
4	San Jose	California	68.4%	79.0%	$147.00
5	Orlando	Florida	67.2%	81.0%	$191.00
6	Boise	Idaho	66.0%	88.0%	$113.00
6	Oakland	California	65.9%	80.0%	$117.00
8	Tucson	Arizona	65.0%	86.0%	$126.00
9	Seattle	Washington	64.9%	85.0%	$138.00
10	Portland	Oregon	63.3%	85.0%	$114.00

‍

As the table shows, over three-quarters (76.7%) of a single-night stay in Indianapolis is made up of the cleaning fee ($156), with Lakeland close behind (72.1%), followed by Cape Coral (69.2%).

Providence has the lowest cleaning fee to daily rate percentage, with a typical single-night booking consisting of just 26.5% cleaning fee. Oxford, Mississippi, (27.7%) and Ann Arbor, Michigan, 36.2% round of the three destinations with the lowest rates to cleaning fee ratio.

‍

Destinations with the lowest cleaning fee to daily rate percentage.

#	City	State	Cleaning Fee Percentage Within One-Night Stay	Percent Of Properties With A Cleaning Fee	Average Cleaning Fee
1	Providence	Rhode Island	26.5%	78.0%	$84.00
2	Oxford	Mississippi	27.7%	82.0%	$128.00
3	Ann Arbor	Michigan	36.2%	75.0%	$99.00
4	Athens	Georgia	37.7%	83.0%	$105.00
5	New York	New York	37.9%	69.0%	$114.00
6	Atlantic City	New Jersey	38.0%	70.0%	$170.00
6	Aspen	Colorado	38.5%	55.0%	$335.00
8	Albany	New York	39.1%	78.0%	$127.00
9	Napa Valley	California	39.8%	67.0%	$216.00
10	Long Island	New York	40.0%	78.0%	$239.00

‍

Which destinations have the lowest cleaning fees?

Not all destinations in the U.S. charge hundreds of dollars in average cleaning fees. In Hartford, Connecticut, the typical booking charges just $81 in cleaning fees, accounting for 48.2% of an average one-night booking.

Visitors to Philadelphia and Providence were found to be charged the second least across the destinations analyzed. The average cleaning fee in both destinations is $84, while the average fee within a daily rate equates to 48.3% and 26.5%, respectively.

Pittsburgh is the third most affordable destination for cleaning fees. The typical booking charges $85 for cleaning, accounting for 48.8% of the average daily rate charged.

‍

Popular destinations with the lowest average cleaning fees.

#	City	State	Cleaning Fee Percentage Within One-Night Stay	Percent Of Properties With A Cleaning Fee	Average Cleaning Fee
1	Hartford	Connecticut	48.2%	75.0%	$81.00
2	Philadelphia	Pennsylvania	48.3%	74.0%	$84.00
2	Providence	Rhode Island	26.5%	78.0%	$84.00
4	Pittsburgh	Pennsylvania	48.8%	82.0%	$85.00
5	Oklahoma City	Oklahoma	54.1%	87.0%	$86.00
6	San Juan	Puerto Rico	42.8%	91.0%	$88.00
7	Cleveland	Ohio	53.7%	75.0%	$91.00
7	Spokane	Washington	54.5%	82.0%	$91.00
9	Newark	New Jersey	51.8%	77.0%	$92.00
10	Buffalo	New York	45.4%	80.0%	$93.00

‍

Where are cleaning fees charged the most?

Not all listings charge cleaning fees. However, our analysis found that, on average, 82.35% of listings in popular destinations charge a cleaning fee. This means a consumer will be charged a cleaning fee at four of every five listings. However, in some destinations, virtually all charge a cleaning fee.

Pensacola, Florida, has the highest percentage of listings that charge a cleaning fee. 94% of short-term Pensacola rentals analyzed charged an average of $199 per booking for cleaning.

Behind Pensacola, Corpus Christi, Texas, was found to have 93% of properties listed as charging a cleaning fee, while St. George, Utah, was found to have 92% of listings charging a cleaning fee.

‍

Destinations with the highest percentage of listings that charge a cleaning fee.

#	City	State	Cleaning Fee Percentage Within One-Night Stay	Percent Of Properties With A Cleaning Fee	Average Cleaning Fee
1	Pensacola	Florida	58.4%	94.0%	$199.00
2	Corpus Christi	Texas	46.4%	93.0%	$170.00
3	St. George	Utah	56.8%	92.0%	$180.00
4	San Juan	Puerto Rico ***	42.8%	91.0%	$88.00
4	Asheville	North Carolina	50.7%	91.0%	$131.00
4	Savannah	Georgia	54.9%	91.0%	$186.00
4	Lakeland	Florida	72.1%	91.0%	$201.00
8	Jacksonville	Florida	57.8%	90.0%	$157.00
8	Galveston	Texas	47.5%	90.0%	$162.00
8	Santa Fe	New Mexico	57.8%	90.0%	$172.00
8	San Luis Obispo	California	43.4%	90.0%	$180.00
8	Sarasota	Florida	54.6%	90.0%	$204.00
8	Cape Coral	Florida	69.2%	90.0%	$226.00

‍

In comparison, some destinations have far lower rates of cleaning fees being charged to short-term rental bookings. In Aspen, Colorado, just over half (55%) of listings charge a cleaning fee, while Napa Valley, California, was found to have the second-lowest percentage of properties that charge a cleaning fee (67%).

‍

Destinations with the lowest percentage of listings that charge a cleaning fee.

#	City	State	Cleaning Fee Percentage Within One-Night Stay	Percent Of Properties With A Cleaning Fee	Average Cleaning Fee
1	Aspen	Colorado	38.5%	55.0%	$335.00
2	Napa Valley	California	39.8%	67.0%	$216.00
3	Augusta	Georgia	52.6%	68.0%	$139.00
4	New York	New York	37.9%	69.0%	$114.00
5	Madison	Wisconsin	47.0%	70.0%	$116.00
5	Atlantic City	New Jersey	38.0%	70.0%	$170.00
7	Minneapolis	Minnesota	54.4%	72.0%	$111.00
8	Philadelphia	Pennsylvania	48.3%	74.0%	$84.00
8	Rochester	New York	52.5%	74.0%	$96.00
10	Hartford	Connecticut	48.2%	75.0%	$81.00
10	Cleveland	Ohio	53.7%	75.0%	$91.00
10	Ann Arbour	Michigan	36.2%	75.0%	$99.00
10	Milwaukee	Wisconsin	44.5%	75.0%	$99.00
10	Syracuse	New York	46.4%	75.0%	$101.00
10	Atlanta	Georgia	56.6%	75.0%	$110.00

‍

Average cleaning fees by property size

Across the US, the average cleaning fee for a short-term rental is $145. However, this fee varies depending on the size of the property and the number of bedrooms.

The national averages for the destinations analyzed in our study revealed that guests can expect to pay $83 for a studio booking, and those booking a one-bedroom rental will pay an average of $93. Meanwhile, two- and three-bed properties charge an average of $132 and $180, respectively.

At the higher end, people looking to rent a four-bedroom accommodation will pay an average of $238, while five-bedroom booking charge an average of $302, and properties with six or more bedrooms typically charge $410 per booking.

‍

Average cleaning fees based on property sizes.

Shared	Studio	1 Bed	2 Bed	3 Bed	4 Bed	5 Bed	6+ Bed
$47	$83	$93	$132	$180	$238	$302	$410

‍

Methodology:

We reviewed the top cities for domestic and international tourists, reviewing the average cleaning fees charged, the percentage of short-term rentals that charge cleaning fees, and the average daily rates charged (including cleaning fees).

We then analyzed the average daily rate against the average cleaning fees to reveal the cities where short-terms hosts charge the highest percentage of cleaning fees, as well as the destinations that charge the most to guests.

‍

Sources:

Airdna - Airbnb cleaning fees, what hosts need to know

Airdna (via Tableau) - Airbnb cleaning fees cities search

Britannica - US cities by population

Trade.gov - US cities that are most visited by overseas travelers

Houston First - America's best cities for living, tourism, and culture