Updated October 2026
The cost to furnish an Airbnb in 2026 is roughly USD 3,500–7,000 for a one-bedroom at budget level, USD 8,000–18,000 mid-range and USD 18,000–40,000+ premium, according to property manager Awning. A two-bedroom runs about USD 5,000–50,000+ across the same tiers. Awning recommends budgeting 8–12% of your expected first-year gross revenue.
Those are averages for typical US rentals. For a studio or a small one-bed, the layout decisions matter as much as the budget, so this guide covers both.
How much does it cost to furnish an Airbnb in 2026?
Awning's April 2026 guide gives three tiers by unit size. Each extra bedroom adds roughly USD 2,500–6,000 depending on the tier. The figures cover furniture and the items guests use, and assume you're starting from an empty unit.
From Awning's 2026 furnishing cost breakdown:
1 bedroom: USD 3,500–7,000 budget; USD 8,000–18,000 mid-range; USD 18,000–40,000+ premium
2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom: USD 5,000–10,000 budget; USD 12,000–25,000 mid-range; USD 25,000–50,000+ premium
Each extra bedroom: about USD 2,500–6,000
Awning doesn't publish a studio figure. Our view from planning small units: a studio's costs track the one-bedroom ranges minus a door and some floor area. You still need a full bed, seating, a dining or work surface and a complete kitchen kit, so don't expect the budget to halve.
Awning is a property-management company, so treat its ranges as a well-informed industry estimate, not a survey.
How much does each room cost to furnish?
The living room and the main bedroom take most of the budget. In Awning's mid-range tier, the living room costs USD 2,300–5,500, the primary bedroom USD 1,800–4,200, the kitchen USD 720–1,800 and the bathroom USD 255–650. Kitchen and bathroom kits are cheaper, but they're the items guests check most closely.
Awning's room-by-room ranges across all three tiers:
Living room: USD 1,100–2,200 budget; 2,300–5,500 mid-range; 5,700–13,200 premium
Primary bedroom: USD 800–1,700 budget; 1,800–4,200 mid-range; 4,200–10,000 premium
Kitchen: USD 285–720 budget; 720–1,800 mid-range; 1,800–4,000 premium
Bathroom: USD 110–255 budget; 255–650 mid-range; 650–1,650 premium
Don't forget the extras. Awning prices a smart lock at USD 150–350 and a fire extinguisher at USD 20–40, and recommends white hotel-style sheets of 300+ thread count. Add professional photos, spare linen sets (three per bed in total), and spare small items that tend to break or go missing.
What percentage of revenue should go to furnishing?
Awning recommends spending 8–12% of your expected first-year gross revenue on furnishing. If you expect USD 40,000 in gross bookings in year one, that suggests a furnishing budget of about USD 3,200–4,800. Use a realistic revenue forecast for your market, not a best case.
Notice how that example lands at the budget end of Awning's one-bed range. That's the useful tension in this rule: a percentage keeps you from overspending on a unit that can't earn it back, but a very low budget can leave you competing on price. If your market's top listings are clearly mid-range, plan to match them on the pieces guests see in photos.
Does better furnishing increase your nightly rate?
According to Awning, a well-furnished property can command USD 15–40 more per night than a minimally furnished one in the same market. At 65% occupancy, that is about USD 3,555–9,480 a year in extra revenue. Awning estimates the payback on moving from budget to mid-range, roughly USD 8,000 more, at 10–27 months.
The premium comes from what guests can see and feel:
Photos that show a clear, finished layout, not a room of mismatched pieces.
A bed that feels like a hotel bed, with good linens.
A real place to eat or work, which longer-stay guests look for.
A kitchen that is fully equipped, so reviews don't mention missing basics.
These are Awning's estimates, not guaranteed results. Your own market, location and reviews will decide the real number.
How do you make a studio or one-bed Airbnb photograph bigger?
Give each zone a clear purpose, keep floor visible, and plan the main photo angle before you buy furniture. In a small rental, guests judge space from one wide shot taken from the door, so the layout has to read in that frame. Low, leggy furniture, one large rug and a clear path to the window all help.
What works in small short-term rentals:
Choose the bed first. A queen is about 60 × 80 inches (152 × 203 cm) per Homestyler. In a studio, decide whether it gets its own zone or a sofa bed does the sleeping.
Add sleeping without adding beds. A good sofa bed lets a studio or one-bed sleep more guests, but buy a model with a proper mattress, because guests notice.
Keep walkways clear. Designers work to 30–36 inches (76–91 cm) between major pieces, per Homes & Gardens. Cramped rooms photograph cramped.
Build in storage. Guests need somewhere to put a suitcase and hang clothes. Owners need a lockable cupboard for spares.
Use one strong color story. A consistent palette makes a small unit look intentional and memorable in search results.
Our studio apartment layout ideas show six floor plans that work for small rentals as well as homes.
Where should you spend and where should you save?
Spend on what guests touch and sleep on: the mattress, the sofa, linens and towels. Save on decor, side tables and accessories you can replace cheaply. Durable, easy-to-clean fabrics and finishes cost more upfront but cut replacement costs, which add up quickly with frequent turnovers.
Spend:
Mattress and bed base
Sofa or sofa bed, in a performance fabric
Linens and towels, with three full sets per bed (par 3)
Blackout curtains in the bedroom
A smart lock for self check-in
Save:
Art and decorative objects
Side tables and accent chairs
Kitchen accessories beyond the essentials
Trend pieces you'll want to change in two years
What furniture and supplies do you need for an Airbnb?
Every short-term rental needs a bed with quality linens, seating for every guest it sleeps, a table, a fully equipped kitchen, bathroom essentials, and safety items such as a smoke alarm and fire extinguisher. Check your local short-term rental rules too, since some cities and platforms require specific safety equipment or permits.
The core list:
Bedroom: bed, mattress protector, three sets of linens, blackout curtains, bedside lamps, hanging space
Living: sofa or sofa bed, coffee table, rug, lighting, TV and Wi-Fi
Dining or work: table and chairs for every guest
Kitchen: cookware, plates, glasses, cutlery, kettle or coffee maker, basics
Bathroom: towels, bath mat, hair dryer, toiletries
Safety and access: smoke alarm, fire extinguisher, first-aid kit, smart lock
Want the full, item-by-item version? Our Short-Term Rental Furnishing Kit (USD 29) is built for small rentals and goes further than this list.
How do you furnish a rental you can't visit?
Furnishing remotely works when you start with an accurate floor plan, buy from a full sourcing list with exact dimensions, and have one trusted person on site to receive deliveries and assemble. Without dimensions, remote buying turns into returns. With them, you can furnish a unit in another city or country without flying in.
Get a to-scale floor plan, or have someone measure every wall, window and door.
Decide the layout before you buy anything.
Build a sourcing list with product names, dimensions and prices, from retailers that deliver locally.
Book a local handyman or property manager to receive, assemble and place.
Ask for photos from the photo angles you planned, before the professional shoot.
Investing in Dubai? Rules and costs differ there. Read our guides to Dubai holiday home licences, furnished vs unfurnished rentals in Dubai and furniture packages vs a designer in Dubai, or see how we take a unit from empty shell to move-in ready.
FAQ
How much does it cost to furnish a one-bedroom Airbnb?
Awning puts it at about USD 3,500–7,000 at budget level, USD 8,000–18,000 mid-range and USD 18,000–40,000+ premium in 2026. Your market and the guests you target decide which tier makes sense.
How long does it take to recoup Airbnb furnishing costs?
Awning estimates that upgrading from budget to mid-range furnishing pays back in about 10–27 months, based on USD 15–40 more per night at 65% occupancy. Actual payback depends on your local rates, occupancy and reviews.
Does design increase Airbnb bookings?
Better furnishing can raise your nightly rate. Awning reports well-furnished properties command USD 15–40 more per night than minimally furnished ones in the same market. Good design also tends to produce stronger photos, which are what guests see first.
How much should I spend furnishing a studio Airbnb?
Awning doesn't publish a studio figure, so start from its 8–12% of expected first-year gross revenue rule. A studio still needs a full bed, seating, a table and a complete kitchen, so budget close to the one-bedroom ranges rather than half.
Can I furnish an Airbnb remotely?
Yes, with an accurate floor plan, a sourcing list with exact dimensions and someone local to receive deliveries. A remote designer can produce the plan and list so your on-site helper only has to place what arrives.
How Desynte can help
Desynte specializes in small apartments and rental properties, designing since 2020 for clients in the US, Latin America, the EU and the UAE. Our full-apartment Remote Design gives you a layout, a photoreal render and a sourcing list with product names, dimensions and price bands, so you can furnish a rental from anywhere.
Book Remote Design for a full apartment (USD 1,650, up to three rooms)
