Quick answer: BNBCalc's headline 12-month figures, checked on 18 October 2026, show the average UK short let taking from £18,900 a year in bookings in Birmingham to £78,900 in London. These are bookings before fees and costs, so the table also shows each city's ONS average rent to compare.
Booking figures come from BNBCalc, a short-term rental data provider, and rents from the ONS. Guestwise has not adjusted them. Choose a column heading to sort the table.
How much do short lets earn in each UK city?
On a phone, swipe the table sideways to see every column. "Bookings vs rent" is our calculation: average monthly bookings divided by the ONS average monthly rent.
| City | Sources | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| London | £78,900 | 59% | £316 | £2,332 | 2.8x | BNBCalc, ONS |
| Edinburgh | £56,900 | 60% | £240 | £1,415 | 3.4x | BNBCalc, ONS |
| Oxford | £33,000 | 48% | £177 | £1,963 | 1.4x | BNBCalc, ONS |
| York | £32,300 | 46% | £168 | £1,199 | 2.2x | BNBCalc, ONS |
| Bristol | £32,000 | 51% | £154 | £1,883 | 1.4x | BNBCalc, ONS |
| Brighton | £29,900 | 45% | £175 | £1,808 | 1.4x | BNBCalc, ONS |
| Bath | £29,300 | 46% | £153 | £1,885 | 1.3x | BNBCalc, ONS |
| Reading | £28,800 | 44% | £171 | £1,574 | 1.5x | BNBCalc, ONS |
| Chester | £28,500 | 48% | £151 | £991 | 2.4x | BNBCalc, ONS |
| Canterbury | £27,300 | 41% | £160 | £1,280 | 1.8x | BNBCalc, ONS |
| Essex | £25,100 | 44% | £153 | £1,356 | 1.5x | BNBCalc, ONS |
| Newcastle | £24,400 | 45% | £130 | £1,215 | 1.7x | BNBCalc, ONS |
| West London | £24,200 | 42% | £154 | £2,332 | 0.9x | BNBCalc, ONS |
| Manchester | £22,900 | 45% | £130 | £1,373 | 1.4x | BNBCalc, ONS |
| Liverpool | £22,500 | 38% | £145 | £913 | 2.1x | BNBCalc, ONS |
| Sheffield | £19,900 | 43% | £117 | £931 | 1.8x | BNBCalc, ONS |
| Birmingham | £18,900 | 41% | £124 | £1,099 | 1.4x | BNBCalc, ONS |
BNBCalc figures are the 12-month averages on each city's headline stat cards, checked on 18 October 2026, before platform fees, management and running costs. ONS rents are the latest local averages the ONS publishes for each area. West London and London use the London-wide ONS rent, and Essex averages its 14 council areas. "-" means the figure is not published.
Which UK cities earn the most from short lets?
On BNBCalc's averages, London leads at £78,900 a year, then Edinburgh (£56,900) and Oxford (£33,000). Birmingham and Sheffield are lowest of the 17, at £18,900 and £19,900. Occupancy runs from about 38% of nights in Liverpool to 60% in Edinburgh (BNBCalc).
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How do short-let bookings compare with renting?
The "Bookings vs rent" column divides average monthly bookings by the ONS average rent. A figure of 2.0x means bookings are twice the rent before any costs. This comparison is before costs: the owner of a short let pays management, cleaning, bills, platform fees and council tax or business rates, while a tenant usually pays the bills. To compare what is left after costs, use our rental yield calculator or the short-let vs long-let calculator.
Where do these figures come from?
Booking figures are the 12-month averages on BNBCalc's headline stat cards for each city, checked on 18 October 2026 (BNBCalc). Rents are the ONS local averages for each council area (ONS). For Brighton, our own guide also shows how homes Guestwise manages compare with the wider market.
Frequently asked questions
How much can you earn on Airbnb in the UK?
It depends heavily on the city. BNBCalc's 12-month averages to September 2026 put average yearly bookings per listing at £18,900 in Birmingham and £78,900 in London, across the 17 cities in our table. These are bookings before platform fees, management and running costs.
Which UK city earns the most from short lets?
Of the 17 cities compared, London has the highest average bookings at £78,900 a year, followed by Edinburgh at £56,900 and Oxford at £33,000, according to BNBCalc.
Which UK city has the highest Airbnb occupancy?
Edinburgh, with listings booked on about 60% of available nights, followed by London at 59%, according to BNBCalc. Liverpool is lowest of the 17 at 38%.
Is a short let better than renting to a tenant?
These headline figures are bookings before costs. With a tenant, the tenant usually pays the bills. With a short let, the owner pays management, cleaning, bills, council tax or business rates and insurance. Our rental yield calculator and short-let vs long-let calculator work through both on the same costs.
Get short-let earnings updates
BNBCalc and the ONS update their figures through the year. Leave your email and we'll send you a short note when the figures on this page change.
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Sources
This is general information, not financial advice. Booking figures are averages and your home may earn more or less. Check the numbers for your own property before you decide.