Airbnb income calculator for Sydney properties

Work out what your Sydney property could earn on Airbnb before you commit to anything. Choose your suburb and the size of the property, and the calculator below shows a nightly rate, a typical occupancy rate and an annual figure based on what comparable properties in that suburb are achieving.

It is an estimate, not a quote. What you earn depends on the property itself, how it is presented, and how much of the year you make it available.

How the estimate is worked out

The numbers come from average nightly rates and occupancy for comparable properties in each Sydney suburb, by bedroom count, rather than a national average. A two-bedroom in Bondi and a two-bedroom in Parramatta are different businesses, and a calculator that treats them the same is guessing.

The estimate assumes a property that is well presented, priced through the year rather than set once, and available for most of it. Subtract from it if any of those is not true.

What the figure does not include

The annual number is gross booking revenue, before the costs that come out of every booking. For a realistic picture, take off:

• Airbnb's host service fee, charged on the booking subtotal including your cleaning fee
• Cleaning and linen between every stay
• Management, if you are not running it yourself
• Set-up costs in year one: photography, furnishing where needed, and the NSW compliance items
• Insurance, which is usually a short-stay policy rather than your existing cover
• Income tax, on what is left

What moves the number most

• The 180-day cap. A non-hosted property in most of Greater Sydney can be let for up to 180 days a year. That is the biggest single constraint on the annual figure. See NSW STRA compliance.
• Suburb and the guests it draws. Beachside demand peaks in summer; suburbs closer to the CBD run steadier through the year.
• Presentation. Styling and photography move the nightly rate more than almost anything else an owner controls.
• Availability. Blocking school holidays and long weekends for your own use takes the best nights out of the year.

Questions owners ask

How accurate is the estimate?

It reflects what comparable properties of that size in that suburb are achieving, so it is a reasonable planning number rather than a promise. Your result depends on condition, styling, pricing and availability. Nobody can guarantee an occupancy rate or a nightly rate.

Does it include Airbnb's fees?

No. It shows gross booking revenue. Airbnb's host service fee, cleaning, management and compliance costs come out of that.

Does the 180-day cap affect my number?

It does if your property is non-hosted in Greater Sydney, because the cap limits how much of the year it can be let.

Is short-term letting better than a long lease?

Sometimes, and not always. Short-term letting earns more per night, costs more to run and is more work. Run both numbers before you decide.

What if my suburb is not listed?

HomeHost covers Sydney. If your suburb is not in the list, book a call and we will tell you honestly whether the property suits short-term letting.