How do hosts get their Airbnb payout?

Airbnb is an enormous organisation with a global reach. For hosts, that's both good and bad news. On the one hand, you can rely on the platform to offer trustworthy digital payment systems. But, on the other, you have to adhere to a strict Airbnb payout process when waiting for your earnings to hit your bank. To get the most from Airbnb as a host, you should take the time to understand how payment works and ensure it works for you.

The Airbnb payout process is robust and responsive, with Airbnb typically releasing most payouts about 24 hours after a guest checks in. The time it then takes for the money to reach you depends on your chosen payout method. To find out more about how this process works, let's delve into Airbnb's payout options and see how hosts can best optimise the way they get paid.

What is the payout process on Airbnb?

Airbnb has an established payout system that follows a five-step approach:

1. Select your payout method.

2. The guest pays Airbnb when booking.

3. Airbnb calculates your payout amount minus fees.

4. Airbnb typically releases your payout about 24 hours after a guest checks in.

5. Your payment processes according to the method you've chosen. Some methods are far quicker than others.

To get started, you'll need to select your payment method, which means picking from the options listed below. All you need to do to choose your payment method is log in to your Airbnb account and go to Menu > Account settings > Payments > Payouts > Add payout method.

You may also need to add taxpayer information against your account, depending on your circumstances and local tax requirements.

Note that we've omitted methods only available in specific countries. Instead, these are some of the methods available to UK hosts:

Bank transfer/direct deposit

A bank transfer is the most common approach for many UK hosts due to the prevalence of bank transfers in other areas of our lives. Airbnb estimates that bank account payouts typically take 3-5 business days after the payout is released.

PayPal

As long as you have an active PayPal account set up to allow incoming payments, you may enjoy speedier payouts from Airbnb. The platform estimates a wait of up to one business day. For UK hosts, income via PayPal is tracked by HMRC. This may be subject to tax once you're over the earnings threshold.

Hosts with multiple properties or unique payout requirements

You can set up routing rules on your payout methods if required, which enable you to split your Airbnb earnings between different payout methods. If you have multiple properties listed on Airbnb, you can also choose to route specific payouts from each to a specific payment method.

To do this, you'll need to navigate back to account settings and then add another payout method in addition to your normal one. Once you've done that, go to Payments > Payouts and use Add routing rule to set up how you'd like your payouts to be split.

This can be especially useful for hosts with more than one listing who want to keep earnings from each separate. Airbnb also allows eligible hosts to share a percentage or fixed amount of earnings with co-hosts, although regional limitations may apply.

When do you get paid after a booking?

Airbnb automatically calculates your pay-out amount by subtracting fees depending on which fee arrangement applies to your booking.

As a host, you should receive payments based on the number of nights a guest stays, the cleaning fee you set, as well as any additional guests or pets you charge for.

Airbnb is currently transitioning home hosts from its split-fee structure to a single service fee structure. Under the single-fee structure, the entire service fee is deducted from the host's payout.

Once you accept a guest's reservation, Airbnb will charge the guest's account. For most shorter stays, Airbnb typically releases your payout about 24 hours after the guest checks in. However, if a guest stays for 28 nights or more, payouts are generally released monthly after the initial payout. Host multiple properties? Airbnb may bundle payouts that are processed at the same time.

In most cases, you'll only need to wait around 24 hours after a guest checks in before Airbnb releases your funds, but remember, you'll then need to wait for your chosen payment method to process the transfer.

Common Airbnb payout problems

Whilst Airbnb has a strong reputation and robust payment systems, you may face issues on occasion. Hosts often turn to the internet to ask about delayed payments, so we've tried our best to answer some of these below.

Why haven't I received my Airbnb payout?

Provided you have set up your payment details correctly in your account, Airbnb should usually release funds after a guest has checked in. If you've waited over 24 hours without any update, it may be worth checking your Earnings dashboard. However, there's still a longer wait to account for before the funds actually arrive in your bank. You should be mindful of that, as it may explain any delays.

For example, if you choose a bank transfer to a UK account, Airbnb states that it typically takes 3-5 business days to process after release. In addition, weekends and bank holidays may slow the process down. This may make a payment take longer than you expected.

It's also worth noting that Airbnb may review or delay a transaction in order to prevent fraud. In some cases, reviews can delay funds after guest check-in. Before contacting Airbnb, however, make sure you've waited for the normal processing period for your chosen payout method.

Where is my payout information?

You'll see payout information whenever a guest sets their reservation. This will also show the fees you'll be paying and the final balance you'll be sent by Airbnb once they deduct their costs.

As a reminder, your payout will be your nightly rate and any added costs you set, such as a cleaning fee or extra-guest fees, minus the Airbnb host fee. You can see payout information in your Earnings dashboard.

Can I update my payment method?

Yes, you can easily update your payment method through Airbnb's account settings. You can also set up more than one payout method and, where available, use routing rules to split payouts.

Getting paid through Airbnb should be a straightforward process for most UK hosts. Thanks to the UK's banking system and increasingly digital-friendly culture, you hopefully won't have to wait long for any released payouts to be processed by your bank. Airbnb states that bank account payouts typically take 3-5 business days after release.

However, one important factor that may dampen your payouts is not having appropriate insurance cover in the event of a claim. If you would like to get a quote, have a look at Pikl's specialist Airbnb insurance page.