How Airbnb Co Hosting Works
Airbnb co hosting lets a listing owner add up to 10 people to a listing, each with their own login and a chosen permission level, to help with the home, the guests or both. The listing owner decides what each co host can do and can set up a payout so Airbnb pays the co host a share of each booking directly.
Co hosts range from a neighbor who handles key exchanges to a professional managing dozens of homes. The mechanics are the same either way, and getting them right at the start saves a lot of awkward conversations later.
What a co host does
Airbnb's introduction to co hosts describes a co host as someone who "can help a host with their space, their guests, or both," and says co hosts are usually a family member, neighbor, trusted friend or hired help.
Typical co host work includes:
- Messaging guests and answering booking requests
- Managing the calendar and pricing
- Coordinating cleaners and restocking
- Handling check in problems and onsite issues
- Arranging repairs and maintenance
- Listing setup and photos
The split depends entirely on what you agree. Some co hosts do everything, others cover only the onsite piece.
Co host permission levels
Airbnb's article on what co hosts can do sets out three levels:
| Permission level | What the co host can do |
|---|---|
| Full access | Message guests and update the calendar, manage the listing including pricing, manage reservations including accepting and declining requests, view their earnings dashboard, add, remove or update other co hosts' permissions |
| Calendar and messaging | Message guests, view but not edit the calendar, contact support about reservation or guest issues, receive co host payouts |
| Calendar only | View but not edit the calendar, contact support about account issues, receive payouts |
Only the listing owner can set up or edit a co host's payouts, and co hosts cannot see or change the owner's or other co hosts' payout method or taxpayer information.
My advice: give the lowest level that lets the person do their job. A cleaner who needs to see turnover dates needs calendar access, not full access.
How to add a co host
Per Airbnb's steps for adding co hosts, on desktop:
- Go to Listings and select the listing
- In the Listing editor, click Co hosts
- Under Invite a co host, click Get started
- Add their country or region and phone number or email
- Choose permissions
- Review and send
A listing owner or a full access co host can invite a co host to a single listing. Only the listing owner can invite a co host to several listings at once, and the permissions must be the same across those listings.
How co host payouts work
Airbnb's co host payouts article lets the listing owner choose one of four payout types:
- Cleaning fee: the co host receives the cleaning fee set in the listing
- Cleaning fee plus percentage: the cleaning fee plus a percentage per booking, calculated excluding the cleaning fee
- Percentage: a percentage per booking, with the option to include or exclude the cleaning fee in the calculation
- Fixed amount: a set amount per booking
Key points from the same article:
- Payouts are calculated from the host's potential earnings for each booking and come out of the host's share
- Only the listing owner can set up payouts; co hosts cannot set up their own
- Both people need a payout method, verified identity and any required taxpayer information
- There are some regional limitations depending on where the owner, co host and listing are located (regional limitations)
For typical stays, Airbnb says host and co host payouts are sent by the end of the business day after the guest's scheduled check in, with some exceptions for newer hosts.
To decide what to pay, see how much do Airbnb co hosts charge.
The Co Host Network
If you do not have someone in mind, Airbnb's Co Host Network lets you browse local co hosts or submit a request for help. Co hosts on the network choose their own services and pricing. It is available in Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Puerto Rico, South Korea, Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States.
To join, co hosts must meet requirements that include an average guest rating of 4.8 or higher, 10 or more stays (or 3 or more stays totaling 100 or more nights) in the past 12 months, a cancellation rate under 3 percent and a verified identity.
If you want to be the co host, read how to become an Airbnb co host.
What to agree on before you start
Airbnb's co host introduction recommends agreeing on hosting responsibilities, earnings and how expenses are reimbursed. I would put these in writing:
- Scope. Who handles messaging, pricing, cleaning coordination, restocking, repairs and emergencies.
- Pay. Payout type and amount, and what happens with cleaning fees.
- Expenses. Who buys supplies and how they are reimbursed.
- Spending limits. The amount a co host can spend on a repair without asking.
- Standards. Your cleaning checklist, photo expectations and response times.
- Damage and claims. Who documents and files Resolution Center requests.
- Ending the arrangement. Notice period and handover.
How owners keep an eye on quality
The hardest part of co hosting for owners is trusting what you cannot see. The co host may be excellent, but you still want to know the home is ready for each guest.
A photo record helps both sides. With Clyn, the cleaner takes photos in the Clyn app after each turnover, the AI checks each photo against your property's standard and flags anything missed, and both owner and co host can see the pass or fix list. That keeps quality conversations based on photos instead of memory. For more on this, see how to manage Airbnb cleaners when you live far away.
FAQ
How many co hosts can an Airbnb listing have?
Airbnb says you can add up to 10 co hosts to a listing. See co hosts: an introduction.
Does Airbnb pay co hosts directly?
Yes, if the listing owner sets up a co host payout. The payout is taken from the host's earnings for each booking, and both people need a payout method and verified identity.
Can a co host change the listing's pricing?
Only with full access. Calendar and messaging co hosts can view but not edit the calendar, according to Airbnb's permissions article.
If you want every turnover checked before check in, you can try Clyn free on one property at clyn.com.