The average Birmingham short let takes about £19,100 a year in bookings, according to BNBCalc's Birmingham market data, based on 12-month averages to September 2026. Larger homes earn far more: the average 4+ bedroom listing takes £34,000. Here's what Birmingham short lets earn by size, and how that compares with renting to a tenant.
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Key takeaways
- The average Birmingham short let takes about £19,100 a year in bookings.
- Listings are booked on about 41% of nights, at an average of £124 a night.
- 4+ bedroom homes average about £34,000 a year in bookings.
- The ONS average Birmingham rent is £1,099 a month, with the tenant paying bills.
- Compare what's left after every cost, not the headline figures.
Contents
- What does the average Birmingham short let earn?
- What do Birmingham short lets earn by size?
- How does that compare with renting to a tenant?
- Why do Birmingham guests stay longer?
- What drives Birmingham bookings?
- Who runs Birmingham short lets?
- What do guests pay more for?
- Check the numbers for your home
- Frequently asked questions
What does the average Birmingham short let earn?
BNBCalc's figures for the 12 months to September 2026:
- Average bookings of about £19,100 a year per listing, down 7% on the year before.
- Listings booked on about 41% of available nights, down 9%.
- An average nightly rate of £124, up 14%.
- Guests booking about 23 days ahead.
What do Birmingham short lets earn by size?
| Size | Bookings a year | About a month | Average cleaning fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | £8,000 | £670 | £25 |
| 1 bedroom | £12,200 | £1,020 | £41 |
| 2 bedrooms | £18,800 | £1,570 | £56 |
| 3 bedrooms | £23,900 | £1,990 | £72 |
| 4+ bedrooms | £34,000 | £2,830 | £109 |
These are booking figures before platform fees, management and running costs. Source: BNBCalc Birmingham market data.
How does that compare with renting to a tenant?
The ONS puts the average Birmingham private rent at £1,099 a month in August 2026. By size, the ONS gives £830 for one bedroom, two bedrooms £1,003, three bedrooms £1,134, and four or more bedrooms £1,578.
The gap looks biggest for larger homes: a 4+ bedroom short let averages about £2,830 a month in bookings, against about £1,578 in rent. But the honest comparison is what's left after costs. With a tenant, they pay the bills. With a short let, you pay management, cleaning, bills, council tax and insurance. Our short-let vs long-let calculator does the sum for your home.
Why do Birmingham guests stay longer?
BNBCalc's data shows Birmingham guests stay longer than in most cities we cover: about 5.9 nights on average in a 1-bedroom home, and 6.2 nights in a studio. Longer stays fit the exhibition, conference and contractor demand covered in our events guide. Homes set up for working guests, with fast Wi-Fi, a desk and parking, suit this market best. Parking alone is linked with about 25% more revenue in BNBCalc's data.
The average is lower than in other cities, and bookings fell this year. For a smaller home, compare the numbers carefully against a tenancy before you switch.
What drives Birmingham bookings?
Birmingham fills homes with NEC exhibitions, city-centre conferences, concerts, cricket and football, and much of that demand is midweek. Read our Birmingham events calendar.
Who runs Birmingham short lets?
Most are professionally run. BNBCalc's data shows Professionally managed (71%) of Birmingham listings, with the rest run by independent hosts. Airbnb carries most listings, at 83%, with 16% on Vrbo and 1% on Booking.com.
What do guests pay more for?
BNBCalc compares what listings earn with and without certain features. In Birmingham, listings with a barbecue earned about 38% more, and listings with parking about 25% more. Bigger homes are more likely to have these features, so part of the difference comes from size, not the feature alone.
Check the numbers for your home
Our Birmingham short-let management team will show you likely earnings after fees, based on homes like yours. Get your free valuation and see whether the numbers work for your home.
Frequently asked questions
How much can you earn on Airbnb in Birmingham?
The average Birmingham short let takes about £19,100 a year in bookings, according to BNBCalc's 12-month averages to September 2026.
What occupancy do Birmingham short lets get?
About 41% of available nights, at an average of £124 a night.
How much does a 2-bed short let earn in Birmingham?
About £18,800 a year in bookings, or roughly £1,570 a month, before fees and costs.
Is a short let better than renting in Birmingham?
Often, for larger homes, but compare what's left after costs. The ONS average Birmingham rent is £1,099 a month.
Which platforms do Birmingham hosts use?
Mostly Airbnb, with 83% of listings, followed by Vrbo at 16% and Booking.com at 1%.
Related guides
Sources
This is general information, not legal or tax advice. It is our own interpretation of the rules and figures as they stand on the date shown above, and they can change. Speak to a qualified solicitor or accountant before you act on anything here.