Airbnb Instant Book vs request-to-book EV calculator
Compare expected monthly net contribution under Instant Book vs request-to-book using your conversion rates and optional problem-guest costs. Uses payout after the host fee for stay economics. Free, no signup, runs in your browser. Instant Book facts last checked against Airbnb Help on 2026-10-03.
1 · Stay economics (one typical booking)
Contribution per confirmed stay = payout after host fee − true turnover. Default host fee 15.5% single fee. Used as the dollar weight on each expected booking.
2 · Funnel volume (your listing)
Use one consistent definition for both settings (e.g. booking requests + Instant Book button starts, or inquiries that could become a reservation). This is your count from Host insights / messages — not a market average.
3 · Conversion you estimate (host inputs — not Airbnb defaults)
No third-party uplift % is baked in. Enter rates from your own history or a conservative what-if. Airbnb Help 1510 lists Instant Book pros (guest interest, search placement via response rate, Superhost response help) but does not publish conversion percentages — do not treat the defaults above as Airbnb data.
4 · Optional: problem-guest & time costs
Problem-stay rate = share of confirmed stays that cost you extra cleaning, partial refunds, or replacement nights. Cost is your estimate. Time cost applies only to the request-to-book column (Instant Book skips the approve/decline loop for eligible guests — Help 1510).
5 · Side-by-side expected monthly EV
6 · Break-even conversion (Instant Book)
Lowest Instant Book conversion % that still matches request-to-book net EV after problem and time costs on these inputs. Host arithmetic only.
Expected bookings = monthly attempts × your conversion % for that setting.
Gross expected contribution = expected bookings × contribution per stay.
Expected problem cost = expected bookings × problem-stay rate × cost per problem stay.
Time cost (RTB) = hours/month × your $/hour (0 if ignored).
Net EV = gross expected contribution − problem cost − time cost. Arithmetic on your inputs — not a booking or income forecast.
Airbnb qualitative facts (Help 1510): Instant Book can increase guest interest (filter), help response rate / search placement, and support Superhost response-rate requirements. Guests who miss your requirements fall back to request-to-book.
Not modelled: search-rank impression boosts from third-party studies, calendar-sync double bookings, Superhost score math beyond response rate, taxes, channel mix, or seasonality. No invented market sizes.
Not tax, legal, or listing-optimization advice. No income or earnings are promised.
Questions
Does Airbnb publish Instant Book conversion rates?
No. Help Center article 1510 lists Instant Book benefits qualitatively (convenience, guest interest via Instant Book filter, search placement via response rate, Superhost response help). It does not publish “X% more bookings.” Third-party blogs sometimes quote uplift ranges — this tool never hardcodes those; you enter your own conversion estimates.
Can I use Instant Book with guest requirements?
Yes. Airbnb lets you require a good track record and/or a pre-booking message. Guests who do not meet requirements are routed to request-to-book. Requirements are a host setting, not modelled as a separate conversion path here — fold their effect into the Instant Book conversion % you enter.
Is the break-even conversion a recommendation to turn Instant Book on?
No. It is the conversion rate at which Instant Book’s net EV matches request-to-book on the dollars and rates you typed. Shared spaces, fragile properties, and hosts without calendar sync may still prefer request-to-book for non-dollar reasons (see Hostfully and Airbnb Resource Center write-ups).
Is my data sent anywhere?
No. The arithmetic runs in your browser; nothing you type is transmitted or stored.
Sources
Airbnb Help Center — Instant Book (pros: convenience, guest interest / filter, search placement via response rate, Superhost response help; guest requirements; read 2026-10-03)