When you want to start hosting guests on Airbnb, it’s important to have an understanding of how much it will cost to fully furnish your brand-new Airbnb.
Developing a budget at the beginning can help you avoid surprises later, especially if you need to replace any of your furniture at some point. It will also help you set your prices and maximize your profit.
Of course, prices can vary significantly depending on the size of your property, location, the quality of the furniture you want to buy and the type of guest you hope to target, such as budget travellers, luxury seekers or anyone in between.
While there will be some differences depending on your situation, this guide should help you get started.
How Much Does a 4-Bedroom House Cost to Furnish for Airbnb?
If you’re starting from scratch, a 4-bedroom house will typically cost between $12,000 and $14,000 to furnish. This includes the furniture, labor, supplies and decor.
Here is a breakdown to help you understand the specifics:
Living Room Furniture: This room can vary a lot depending on how much you want to put into it, but we recommend budgeting $2,000 for a coffee table, couch, lamps and any decorative art you want to include. If you want to have a TV in the living room, that would increase this number as well.
Bedroom Furniture: Typically you should budget between $1,000 and $2,000 per bedroom. Each bedroom should include at least a bed frame, mattress, nightstand, lighting and perhaps a desk and chair.
Kitchen: For a dining table and chairs, we recommend budgeting between $500 and $1,000, depending on how many chairs you want to include. For a larger property, you may want to have 6-8 chairs so that guests can eat together.
Supplies: Overall, this category will be around $1,500 to $2,000. Each bedroom will cost about $300 for three sets of sheets, several towels for each person, two to four pillows, one or two blankets and a throw. You’ll also need to include kitchen supplies and other useful items to have around the house. Don’t forget about the bathrooms as well, including things like toilet paper, a trash bin and potentially shower curtains.
Appliances: Hopefully your property already has a washer and dryer, but if you need to buy these, it will be about $1,000 to $1,500.
Security: Depending on the brand you choose, it will cost about $500 to $1,000 for outdoor cameras, digital locks for the main entrances and perhaps keyed locks for the bedrooms if you intend to rent to people from different traveling parties at the same time.
Labour: If you need help with moving or assembling furniture to get the property set up, this will cost roughly $500.
As you can see, the costs add up quickly. This is how we reach the $12,000 to $14,000 total mentioned above for a 4-bedroom house.
How Much Does A 3-Bedroom House Cost to Furnish for Airbnb?
Using the breakdown above and adjusting for the number of rooms, we recommend budgeting about $10,000 to $12,000 for a 3-bedroom house.
How Much Does A 2-Bedroom House Cost to Furnish for Airbnb?
Again using the breakdown above regarding supplies, living room, etc., a 2-bedroom house will likely cost about $8,000 to $10,000 from start to finish.
How Much Does A 1-Bedroom House Cost to Furnish for Airbnb?
With a 1-bedroom property, your costs will likely decrease to about $6,000 to $8,000. If there is also only one bathroom, that will save you some money on supplies, and you probably won’t need as much living room furniture as a larger property.
Where To Buy Furniture for Airbnb?
If you live in a place with good local options, you can furnish your property from a store, but keep in mind that you will also have to think about moving the furniture and possibly assembling it. I’ve purchased furniture for my Airbnb from Big Lots, Target, Lowes, Home Depot, Costco, Sam’s Club, and even Walmart. It really just depends on what type of furniture you are looking for, what your budget is and what kind of transportation you have available.
In general, it is probably easiest to order from an online retailer such as Amazon or Walmart.com because they will have more variety, oftentimes cheaper prices, and the delivery is very convenient. Time is money and waiting around for a mom-and-pop store to deliver your furniture could cost you multiple days of income.
I personally sold my pick-up truck, so having large furniture and appliances delivered directly to my new Airbnb was a lifesaver. It beats having to rent a U-Haul and add that expense just to get the furniture to our Airbnb.
With that being said, if you do have a pick-up truck, you can find really good deals on Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist or Estate Sales. I know an investor who recently bought an entire estate sale to furnish her Airbnb. She received a huge discount on an entire house full of designer furniture. So definitely check out Estate sales if you have the means to transport the furniture!
Final Thoughts
We hope this budget breakdown is helpful for you on your Airbnb hosting journey! If you have experienced any hidden costs not mentioned here, let us know and we can include that information for future readers. Happy hosting!
