After years of complaints, Airbnb is finally making things right by showing the total price of a stay upfront. No toggles, no fine print—just the full cost, including fees, right from the start.
The update is rolling out now across Airbnb’s site and app in the U.S. By default, search results will reflect the total price of a stay, including service and cleaning fees. It’s a shift from the often-misleading nightly rate that used to dominate listings. That rate didn’t reflect the full cost until you checked out.
This isn’t just Airbnb doing a good deed, however. New federal regulations banning hidden "junk fees" are set to go into effect on May 12. The Federal Trade Commission’s rule doesn’t cap prices, but it does require companies—including hotels, ticketing platforms and short-term rental companies—to show the real price up front.
Airbnb’s move lines up with that mandate, but also addresses what it says is a top concern for users: affordability and transparency. With economic uncertainty still clouding travel plans, it’s a practical step. And according to Airbnb, it works: Since rolling out a total price display toggle in Canada, Australia and Europe, hosts have cut back on cleaning fees. The company reported nearly 300,000 listings with lowered or removed fees in 2023.
The displayed price still doesn’t include taxes in the U.S., so the number you see won’t quite be the number you pay. But it’s still a big improvement that will allow travelers to see what they're in for right from the start. Read the full details here.