How Do I Change the Currency on Airbnb UK: Complete Guide

Last checked against Airbnb’s Help Centre: 23 October 2026

What you can and can’t change at a glance

 

What you want to change	Possible?	Where
Default display currency	✅ Yes, any time	Menu → Languages & currency
Currency for a new booking	✅ Yes, before paying	Checkout → Price details
Currency of a payment already made	❌ No	—
Currency of upcoming payments on an existing reservation	❌ No	—
Host listing (base price) currency	✅ Yes	Hosting view → Base price → currency link
Currency of an existing payout method	❌ No — add a new payout method instead	Payments & payouts

 

If Airbnb is showing prices in dollars or euros when you’re in the UK, it takes under a minute to switch to pounds. This guide covers the exact steps on desktop and app, what you can’t change after booking, how currency conversion fees work, and — because we host on Airbnb ourselves across Leeds, Harrogate, Brighton and Greater London — how currency works on the host side too.

New to the platform? Start with our guide to how Airbnb works in the UK.

How to Change the Currency on Airbnb UK

You can change your currency settings through your account preferences on desktop, in the mobile app, or during the booking process. Each method lets you view prices and pay in British pounds or your preferred currency.

On Desktop 

1. Go to airbnb.co.uk and sign in.
2. Click Menu in the top-right corner.
3. Select Languages & currency.
4. Click Currency and choose GBP – British Pound (£).
5. Refresh any listing to confirm prices now show in pounds.

Airbnb only lists currencies it can process payments in, so if a currency isn’t on the list, it isn’t supported. See Airbnb’s full list of supported currencies and currency fees. Your choice becomes your default for future browsing and new bookings.

In the Airbnb App (iPhone and Android) 

1. Open the Airbnb app and tap Profile (bottom-right).
2. Open your account settings.
3. Tap Currency — depending on your app version, it sits under Translation & currency or Languages & currency.
4. Select GBP (£).

Can’t find it? Airbnb renames app menus regularly. Make sure you’re in guest mode (not host mode), update the app, or use the desktop site — the setting syncs to your account.

At Checkout (One Booking Only) 

If you only want a different currency for one reservation, change it when booking a reservation instead of changing your default:

1. Continue to the payment page.
2. Under Price details, click or tap the currency next to your total.
3. Pick your currency. The total recalculates instantly.

Check your card supports it. If your payment method doesn’t support the currency you picked, Airbnb will ask you to change either the payment method or the currency.

Can You Change the Currency After Booking?

No. Airbnb’s Help Centre states that once a payment has been made, its currency can’t be changed — and the currency of upcoming payments on the same reservation can’t be changed either.

This matters most if you’ve booked a long stay with a payment plan: the currency you choose at checkout is the currency for every instalment on that reservation. If you need a different currency, the only route is cancelling and rebooking — which may cost you under the listing’s cancellation policy, so check that first.

Why Is Airbnb Showing Prices in the Wrong Currency?

Airbnb guesses your currency from your account country, device region, browser language or IP address. In the UK, you’ll usually see USD or EUR because:

• Your account was created abroad
• You’re using a VPN
• Your phone or browser region isn’t set to the UK
• You picked another currency earlier and it saved as your default

If it keeps switching back 

• Change the currency while logged in — changes made while logged out don’t save to your account
• Log out, log back in and check again
• Turn off your VPN
• Fully close and reopen the app

Does Airbnb Charge a Currency Conversion Fee?

There can be up to three separate costs. Here’s how they differ:

Fee	Who charges it	When it applies
Cross-currency fee	Airbnb	You pay in a currency different from the host’s listing currency. Airbnb doesn’t publish a fixed rate; it’s widely reported at around 3%. It’s built into the checkout total.
Foreign exchange fee	Your bank or card	You pay in a currency that differs from your card’s currency
Cross-border fee	Your bank or card	Your bank treats Airbnb’s payment processor as overseas — this can happen even when you pay in GBP

 

UK guest booking a UK property in GBP with a UK card: no Airbnb cross-currency fee. Check your card terms for cross-border charges.

UK guest booking abroad (e.g. Spain): compare two options at checkout — pay in EUR with a no-FX-fee card, or pay in GBP and accept Airbnb’s conversion. Screenshot both totals and compare them against your card’s rate before confirming.

Tips to keep costs down

• Use a card with no foreign transaction fees for overseas stays
• Match your Airbnb currency to your card’s currency when booking in the UK
• Tell your bank before booking abroad to avoid a fraud block on the payment

For UK Hosts: Listing Currency and Payout Currency 

Guests and hosts use separate currency settings. If you’re becoming an Airbnb host in the UK, two settings matter:

Change Your Listing (Base Price) Currency

1. Switch to your Hosting view.
2. Open your listing’s pricing.
3. Next to Base price, click the currency link.
4. Choose GBP and confirm.

If you use a channel manager or PMS, check that your Airbnb and Vrbo listings use the same currency — some tools won’t merge listings that don’t match.

Change Your Payout Currency

Your payout currency is set by the country and method you chose when you added your bank details. You can’t change an existing payout method’s currency, but you can add a new payout method in another currency at any time under Payments & payouts.

Running a short let is more than getting the settings right. If you’d rather hand it over, see our Airbnb management and short let management services, or learn the ropes yourself through our Airbnb coaching.

Payment Currency vs Payout Currency 

	Payment currency	Payout currency
Applies to	Guests	Hosts
Controls	How prices show and what you’re charged	What currency you receive
Where to change	Menu → Languages & currency, or at checkout	Payments & payouts → add payout method
Change after booking?	No — not for paid or upcoming payments on that reservation	Existing method’s currency is fixed; add a new method
More than one?	One default at a time	Yes, multiple payout methods

 

A guest can pay in pounds while the host receives euros — the two systems work independently.

Key Benefits of Customising Currency on Airbnb

Changing your currency settings on Airbnb provides clear pricing. You will see costs in your local currency from the start, making budget planning easier.

Transparent Pricing and Budgeting

When you set your local currency as the default, you know exactly what you will pay. This prevents surprises from exchange rate changes on your bank statement.

You can track your travel spending more accurately. Instead of converting prices from other currencies, you see costs in pounds immediately.

Your payment method processes transactions in the currency you selected. This often reduces foreign exchange fees banks charge when converting currencies automatically.

The default currency setting applies to all future searches and bookings. You do not need to change it each time you browse properties.

Enhanced Booking Clarity

Clear pricing in your chosen currency removes guesswork during checkout. You see the final amount before confirming your booking.

Multiple payment schedules are easier to understand in a familiar currency. If you are paying in instalments, you will know exactly when each payment will be taken and for what amount.

Your booking confirmations and receipts show amounts in your selected currency. This makes it simpler to reconcile expenses with your bank statements later.

Conclusion

Set your Airbnb currency to GBP in Languages & currency before you book, because once you’ve paid, the currency for that reservation is locked. If you’re booking abroad, compare paying in the local currency with a no-fee card against Airbnb’s conversion before confirming.

If you manage properties on Airbnb and want guidance on maximising your rental income, JF Property Partners can help. Our team understands short-term rental management and currency considerations.

Contact us at info@jfpropertypartners.com or call +44 7457 427143 for professional property investment advice.

Whether you are a guest booking a holiday or a host managing listings, the right currency settings ensure smooth transactions. Visit our contact page to learn how we can support your property investment journey.

We help you navigate the world of short-term rentals effectively.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I change Airbnb to pounds (GBP)?

On desktop, click Menu → Languages & currency → Currency → GBP. In the app, go to Profile → account settings → Currency → GBP. Make the change while logged in so it saves to your account.

Can I change the currency on Airbnb after booking?

No. Once a payment is made, its currency is fixed, and Airbnb doesn’t let you change the currency of upcoming payments on the same reservation. Choose your currency at checkout before paying.

Why is Airbnb showing prices in USD instead of GBP?

Airbnb has detected a non-UK location — usually from your account country, a VPN, or your device region. Switch to GBP in Languages & currency while logged in.

Does Airbnb charge a currency conversion fee?

Yes, when you pay in a currency different from the host’s listing currency. Airbnb includes it in the checkout total; it’s widely reported at around 3%. Your bank may add its own foreign exchange or cross-border fees on top.

Why was I charged a foreign transaction fee when I paid in GBP? 

Some UK banks treat Airbnb’s payment processor as an overseas merchant and apply a cross-border fee even on GBP payments. Check your card’s terms or use a card with no foreign transaction fees.

What if my currency isn’t listed?

Airbnb only shows currencies it can process. Pick the closest supported currency, ideally one that matches your card, to avoid double conversion.

How do I change the currency on my Airbnb listing as a host? 

Switch to Hosting view, open your listing’s pricing, click the currency link next to Base price, and select your currency.

Can I change my Airbnb payout currency?

Not on an existing payout method. Add a new payout method in the currency you want under Payments & payouts.

Related Articles

• What Is an Airbnb? How It Works and Why Travellers Use It
• How Does Airbnb Work in the UK? Booking, Fees & Rules
• How to Become an Airbnb Host in the UK
• How to Start an Airbnb Business Without Owning Property UK