Airbnb is one of the most commonly used booking applications in Canada. In 2024 alone, Canada accounted for more than 9 million guest arrivals on the platform, marking a staggering 40% increase since 2009.
If you’re planning to become an Airbnb host in Canada, you need to understand the basic principles of Airbnb occupancy to maximize your bookings. This article covers Airbnb occupancy rates in Canada, along with useful tips to help you run a successful short-term rental.
What Is An Airbnb Occupancy Rate?
Airbnb occupancy rate shows how often a listing gets booked among the nights it’s available for guests. Property owners can find this figure by dividing the number of booked nights by the total number of available nights, then multiplying by 100 to get a percentage.
Hosts can view their occupancy rate by logging into their Airbnb account and navigating to the “Performance” section. This section offers insights into how often their property is booked over time.
Hosts can also analyze the performance of their occupancy rate in a specific neighborhood by using tools like AirDNA, Airbtics, Mashvisor, and PriceLabs, which offer detailed breakdowns of the occupancy rate in an area. Homeowners can use this information to make informed decisions about pricing, amenities, and marketing strategies.
Airbnb Occupancy Rate in Canada 2025
The table below summarizes the most recent Airbnb occupancy rates in Canada, alongside their Average Daily Rate (average revenue earned per booked night at the property):
| Location | Airbnb Occupancy Rate | ADR (Average Daily Rate) |
| Canmore | 77% | CA$274 |
| Vancouver | 77% | CA$178 |
| Quebec city | 70% | CA$171 |
| Toronto | 69% | CA$154 |
| Montreal | 69% | CA$131 |
| Calgary | 68% | CA$110 |
| Edmonton | 67% | CA$93 |
| Winnipeg | 65% | CA$95 |
| Ottawa-gatineau | 65% | CA$108 |
| Mississauga | 64% | CA$101 |
| Ottawa | 64% | CA$113 |
| Richmond | 62% | CA$145 |
| Whistler | 61% | CA$290 |
| Hamilton | 60% | CA$108 |
| Richmond hill | 59% | CA$109 |
| Bruce | 56% | CA$227 |
| Brampton | 54% | CA$93 |
| Mont-tremblant | 52% | CA$231 |
| Matawinie | 50% | CA$216 |
| Niagara falls | 50% | CA$154 |
Canmore has the highest Airbnb occupancy rate in Canada as of 2025, with an average occupancy rate of 77%. Canmore’s daily rate is also among the highest in Canada at $274 per night, up there with Whistler ($290/night), Bruce ($227/night), and Mont-Tremblant ($231/night).
Why Do Airbnb Occupancy Rates Matter?
Airbnb occupancy rates directly influence a property’s revenue potential. It helps property owners and investors determine whether short-term renting is financially viable in a specific area.
Airbnb occupancy rates also directly impact a property owner’s rental income and overall profitability. Higher occupancy means booked nights, which translates to increased rental income.
Additionally, occupancy rates can be used to calculate useful metrics like return on investment (ROI), cash-on-cash return, and cap rate. These metrics help owners determine whether reinvesting, upgrading, or expanding is a viable long-term strategy.
How to Calculate the Airbnb Occupancy Rate
Calculating your Airbnb occupancy rate is relatively straightforward. Here’s how:
- Count the nights your property was booked in a specific period (i.e., one month, 6 months, etc.)
- Divide that number by the total number of available nights in the same period.
- Multiply the result by 100.
For example, if a property is available for 30 days in a month and is booked for 21 of those days, its occupancy rate would be 70%. (21/30) x 100 = 70%
Average Occupancy Rate for Airbnb
The average occupancy rate for Airbnb varies from location to location.
In the United States, for example, the national average Airbnb occupancy rate falls between 50% and 65%, with cities like San Diego, Miami, and Nashville exceeding the national figure by 10% to 15%.
In Canada, national averages fall between 45% and 60%. Major Canadian cities often perform on the higher end, with places like Canmore, Vancouver, and Quebec City achieving occupancy rates closer to or above 70%.
What Is a Good Occupancy Rate for Airbnb?
To answer this question, we need to look at metrics such as location, seasonality, property type, and competition.
Some cities consistently perform well year-round due to strong tourism and business travel, such as Vancouver or Toronto, while others see sharp fluctuations depending on the season, like Halifax or Niagara Falls.
The same is said with property types. Single-family homes with multiple bedrooms tend to attract longer stays and families, while private rooms or studios appeal more to solo travelers and short-term guests.
In highly competitive areas, even well-located listings may experience less-than-ideal occupancy rates. This is often due to market saturation, where the sheer number of available properties makes it harder for individual listings to stand out.
In general, hosts should aim for an occupancy rate of around 50% at the very least. This means that on average, the property is booked half the days in a given month. Successful Airbnb properties have an occupancy rate of 70% to 75%, though achieving this number can be quite challenging. Common factors that affect occupancy rates include:
- Seasonality: Peak seasons normally see higher occupancy rates. For example, beach destinations see higher occupancy rates during the summer months, while ski destinations witness higher rates during the winter months.
- Local events: Major events like sporting events, conferences, and festivals see an increased demand in occupancy rates.
- Location: Listings in desirable or central locations (i.e., attractions, malls, seaside views) have higher occupancy rates than those in remote or less desirable locations.
- Pricing: Listings priced too high compared to competitors may deter potential guests, resulting in lower occupancy. Meanwhile, overly low prices can raise doubts about quality or amenities, deterring guests from booking the property.
- Reviews and ratings: Listings with a higher number of positive reviews tend to rank better in search results and attract more bookings. Negative reviews, particularly in relation to the property’s amenities, cleanliness, or the host’s attitude, can drastically reduce occupancy rates.
- Amenities: Amenities like Wi-Fi, air conditioning, free parking, etc., increase a listing’s desirability. Extra amenities like pools, hot tubs, or in-house theaters can boost occupancy rates even higher.
- Listing description and photos: Listings with well-written and high-quality photos are more likely to attract guests.
How to Improve Occupancy Rates
There are several ways to improve your Airbnb occupancy rate, including:
Set Competitive Pricing
When booking Airbnb, one of the first things a guest looks at is the pricing.
To stay competitive, frequently monitor similar listings in your area and adjust your rates based on demand, events, and seasonality.
For example, if you operate a property in Toronto, you may want to increase your nightly rate during peak tourism months like July and August, or during major events such as the Toronto International Film Festival in September.
During slower seasons, offer slightly reduced prices or promotions to attract budget-conscious travelers and fill gaps in your calendar.
To help with pricing, consider using Airbnb’s Smart Pricing or third-party tools like PriceLabs, Beyond, and Wheelhouse. These tools give you an easy-to-read look at your area’s market trends.
Optimize Your Listing
Make sure your listing is well-written. Briefly describe the property, as well as the amenities and special features it has. If relevant, write a brief description of the host.
The photos you attach to your listing are just as important. Use proper lighting and high-quality images when presenting your space. Make sure the place is clean and tidy before taking photos, as first impressions directly influence a guest’s decision to book.
On that note, don’t use outdated pictures. Guests may leave a negative review for false advertising.
Provide Excellent Customer Experience
With thousands of listings at their fingertips, guests often choose properties based on reviews and personal interactions with hosts as much as the physical space itself.
Here are some small things to make you a good host:
- Keep the place clean and tidy at all times
- Be friendly and approachable, but also respect guests’ privacy.
- Offer some basic kitchen supplies like cooking oil, spices, and coffee filters.
- Make check-ins and check-outs easy. Invest in a keypad doorknob if possible. If you’re not in, guests don’t need to try to locate a hidden key or wait for you to arrive to enter the property.
- Make your guests feel welcome. For example, you can leave a handwritten note, offer homemade treats, or provide a welcome basket with snacks, local goodies, or travel-sized toiletries.
- Make communication easy. Give your guests your phone number, email address, or other form of communication method so they can reach you at any time of the day.
- Regularly send check-in messages to reassure guests that support is available without being intrusive.
If you receive negative feedback, respond to it promptly. Hosts can’t delete an Airbnb review unless they contact the Airbnb help center, and even then, the process isn’t guaranteed and can take days or even weeks for a decision.
So instead of leaving the negative review for all to read, submit a response clarifying any misunderstanding and explaining what actions you’ve taken to address the issue. This will show future guests that you’re attentive and committed to improving their Airbnb experience.
Become a Superhost
In 2016, Airbnb added an exclusive badge called ‘Superhost’ to acknowledge hosts that go above and beyond for their guests. Hosts who achieve Superhost status earn up to 60% more than regular hosts due to greater visibility, credibility, and other exclusive perks, according to Airbnb. The requirements are strict but not impossible. Qualifications include:
- Maintain a 90% response rate or higher
- Maintain a 1% cancellation rate or lower
- Complete at least 10 trips or 3 reservations with a total of 100 nights
- Have an overall rating of 4.8
Becoming a Superhost takes effort, but the rewards make it worth it. Airbnb clearly displays a Superhost badge on your listing and profile, which tells guests that you’re a reliable host.
Even if your listing is a bit more expensive than those without a Superhost status, guests may still choose you over others if only for the confidence it brings them. After all, hosts can only earn the Superhost status by providing exceptional service.
Offer Discounts
Offer discounts like early bird discounts, repeat guest discounts, or last-minute deals to attract more bookings. You can also offer discounts for guests who stay longer, e.g., 10% off for weekly stays, 25% off for monthly bookings. Discounts can be a great way to increase your occupancy rates during off-peak seasons.
Promote Your Listing On Social Media
This is particularly helpful if your property is located in a competitive area. Some guests don’t scroll far enough in the listings to come across your property. Promoting your Airbnb on platforms like Instagram, Facebook, or TikTok helps you reach a wider audience, including people who might not even be actively searching yet.
You can make a video of your Airbnb and briefly talk about its amenities. Or, you can share high-quality photos, guest testimonials, and behind-the-scenes content on your profile for potential guests. You can even offer discounts as an incentive for people who find your post to make a booking.
If you have the funds, consider collaborating with an influencer with a decent following. Ideally, the influencer should have a travel niche or live in the same area as your property.
Hire a Property Manager
If you can’t dedicate much time to managing your Airbnb property, whether due to a full-time job or simply because it is a secondary home, consider hiring a property manager from reputable rental management companies like S&T Properties.
A professional property manager can oversee day-to-day operations, including managing your listing, handling guest communication, coordinating check-ins and check-outs, scheduling cleanings, and addressing maintenance or repair.
You don’t need to provide on-site accommodation for the manager. Most work remotely or on a scheduled basis. The manager can establish contact with the guest and visit every other day to ensure everything is performing as expected.
Understand Your Target Guest
Design your property to accommodate the type of guest most likely to book the place.
If your property is located in a central area, you’re likely to attract business travelers or digital nomads. As such, make sure the place has high-speed Wi-Fi, a comfortable desk or workspace, and ample electric outlets.
If your property is near a skiing area, consider having snowboards, skis, or other winter sports equipment for your guests to use. You can let them use it for free as a perk of staying at your Airbnb or rent it at a small fee, cheaper than what guests would pay at a ski park.
Rentals in areas with family-friendly attractions should consider providing extra bedding, entertainment options like board games or streaming services, or child-safe features like corner protectors, outlet covers, and cabinet locks.
These small but thoughtful additions may be the deciding factor in renting your place or a competitor’s.
Invest In Better Amenities
Amenities are a good way to entice guests to your Airbnb. Many avoid places without Wi-Fi, air conditioning, and parking availability, so make sure these basics are covered to meet guest expectations.
Then, consider investing in premium bedding, smart home features, outdoor seating, streaming services, and laundry facilities to encourage more bookings.
If you have enough funds or space, you may even invest in a jacuzzi, fitness equipment, high-end kitchen appliances (espresso machine, wine fridge, etc.). Extra amenities equal higher nightly rates, and with enough guests, the investment might pay for itself.
Use Instant Book
If you haven’t already, enable Instant Book on your listing. Instant Book is a feature Airbnb added in 2014 to streamline the booking process. Guests value efficiency and time, so being able to book an Airbnb at a moment’s notice can increase your chances of securing reservations.
If you’re on the fence about enabling Instant Book, you can turn on special requirements guests should meet before booking, like submitting their government ID and/or having positive reviews from other hosts. However, this may turn away guests who are using Airbnb for the first time and those who are looking for a quick place to rent for a short stay.
Keep the Property Simple and Clean
Needless to say, no one wants to rent an untidy Airbnb. Keep the place clean and well-maintained, and don’t forget corners and under furniture. Some guests are extremely detail-oriented and will notice even small signs of neglect.
Airbnb allows hosts to charge a separate cleaning fee to cover the costs of thorough cleaning between stays. So if costs are a concern, you can add the fee to your listing. Just make sure you’re upfront with the cleaning fee to avoid misunderstandings between you and the guest.
Anticipate Guests’ Needs
Put yourself in your guests’ shoes. What do you want to see in an Airbnb? A fully equipped kitchen is a great start, complete with utensils, cookware, and handy gadgets like a blender, coffee maker, toaster, and microwave.
Another idea is to create a traveler’s guide to nearby restaurants, grocery stores, public transport (costs), and popular attractions to help guests feel at home. You can also leave a list of emergency contacts ready to show guests you care about their safety and experience during their travels.
