How much can you realistically make on Airbnb?
Airbnb host income potential
ARRANGEMENT TYPE | AVERAGE ANNUAL HOST EARNINGS 2021 | AVERAGE ANNUAL HOST EARNINGS 2020 |
---|---|---|
Entire Home | $14,498 | $8,749 |
Hotel Room | $8,452 | $4,885 |
Private Room | $5,260 | $2,994 |
Shared Room | $2,158 | $1,536 |
How much does an Airbnb Host make? As of Oct 3, 2024, the average hourly pay for an Airbnb Host in the United States is $18.25 an hour.
Airbnb annual income: Estimate of the annual revenue a property can generate based on the performance of short-term rental comps in the local market. This is the product of the average daily rate multiplied by the occupancy rate, excluding the Airbnb cleaning fee.
Annual Salary | Hourly Wage | |
---|---|---|
Top Earners | $242,000 | $116 |
75th Percentile | $125,000 | $60 |
Average | $86,197 | $41 |
25th Percentile | $26,500 | $13 |
Airbnb doesn't allow properties to be rented out for more than 90 nights per year. If your limit for bookings is reached, Airbnb will automatically close your property until the end of the calendar year. In addition to 90 consecutive days, the 90-day limit also applies to 90 days spread throughout the year.
Takeaways: Airbnb Full-Apartment Listings
For Airbnb hosts looking to make a living on the hospitality platform, full apartment rentals are the way to go.
Becoming an Airbnb host is most definitely profitable given the industry growth rate. A 2021 study estimated that there are over 2.58 million rental properties in the United States that are seasonally occupied.
While Airbnb can provide higher short-term rental income, this income can be less stable compared to consistent monthly payments from long-term leases. There may be periods of lower demand, impacting overall cash flow.
Traditionally, a cap rate between 4% to 10% is considered good for rental properties, but this varies widely depending on the location and type of property. STR-specific contributing factors to income and risk include: Average Daily Rates (ADR) Occupancy rates.
How long does it take for an Airbnb to be profitable?
It's highly unlikely that you will see a return in revenue instantly on your Airbnb listing. In order to see results, you will have to consistently work hard and refine your management strategies where they might need tweaking. On average, it can take between 1 to 3 years for a business to become profitable.
The Bottom Line: Success Takes Time. Buying an Airbnb property can be a profitable venture that also earns you the long-term investment of owning a residence. But making it work takes a lot of work, even before you buy it.

The average net profit margin for an Airbnb business was -11%. This might seem shocking, but you need to keep in mind a couple of things. Once you add back in depreciation which amounted to 12%, Airbnb businesses are actually breakeven or slightly profitable on average.
To become a full-time Airbnb entrepreneur, you'll almost certainly need to grow beyond offering just one property for rent. It may take three or even 10 rentals, depending on how often you can rent out your properties and for how much, to become financially secure. Growing your property portfolio is not easy.
Airbnb hosts make $1910 on average per month in 2024. Based on our research, you can earn anywhere between $200 and $25000 monthly, depending on your location, listing type, and pricing strategy.
Note that most cities with the highest monthly Airbnb income included on this list are in California. There are also seven cities in Hawaii and one city in Florida. There is a high demand for short-term rentals in these states.
Or the 80/20 rule? It says that 20% of your efforts result in 80% of your outcomes. For Airbnb property managers, 20% of your Airbnb listings result in 80% of your income.
Any Host with (a) US listing(s) who provides Airbnb Form W-8BEN (for individuals) or Form W-8BEN-E (for entities) will be subject to 30% US withholding tax on payouts on their US listing(s).
Registered Hosts are only able to host for up to 120 days per calendar year. You can apply for an extended home-sharing permit (EHS) that allows for short term rentals 365 days per year. It is available for Hosts who have been registered for 6 months or who have hosted for 60 days.
Cities | Revenue |
---|---|
Miami | $4,062 |
Los Angeles | $4,275 |
Las Vegas | $4,368 |
Austin | $4,119 |
Are there Airbnb millionaires?
Chi Ta, for Forbes, discusses how he was initially drawn to the platform as a side hustle, but today, he is one of the top earners on the platform, making millions in profit every year.
- Seattle. ...
- Denver. ...
- Dallas. Average monthly revenue: $2,751. ...
- Tampa, Florida. Average monthly revenue: $2,713. ...
- San Antonio. Average monthly revenue: $2,619. ...
- Atlanta. Average monthly revenue: $2,496. ...
- Houston. Average monthly revenue: $2,349. ...
- Philadelphia. Average monthly revenue: $2,020.
Lack of Quality Control
You can find Airbnb almost anywhere, but there is no standard of quality control. This can create several issues, including a lack of cleanliness and comfort for guests. After all, when guests don't comply with Airbnb guidelines, the host has more to lose than the guest does.
Is Airbnb Down in 2024? According to AirDNA, a short-term rental data and analytics company, US AirBnB listings increased by 8.9% between January 2023 and January 2024. The company also reports that demand is expected to increase by 10.7% due to economic growth and domestic travel recovery.
Hosts are paid out based on guest stays. Guests often find Airbnb is cheaper, has more character, and is homier than hotels. Risks of hosting include renting your place to rude guests, theft or damaged property, complaints from neighbors, and potential regulatory violations depending on your location.