How Much Do Airbnbs Make in Arizona?

If you've ever searched how much do Airbnbs make, you've probably found vague ranges that don't tell you much. The real answer depends enormously on location, property type, and how well the listing is set up.

Arizona — specifically Phoenix and Scottsdale — offers some of the most striking examples of short-term rental income potential anywhere in the country, from modest unique stays earning $74,000 annually to luxury estates pushing toward $900,000.

Watch the full video above or keep reading for the complete breakdown.

What Airbnbs Actually Make: The Real Numbers

The average Airbnb host earns somewhere between $10,000 and $50,000 per year, depending on location, property size, and how actively the listing is managed. But that average masks an enormous range. A spare bedroom in a mid-tier market might generate $15,000 annually, while a well-positioned luxury property in a high-demand market can clear $500,000 or more.

The data pulled from AirDNA — one of the most widely used short-term rental analytics platforms — makes this range crystal clear. AirDNA aggregates revenue, occupancy, and average daily rate (ADR) data from STR listings worldwide, giving investors and hosts a reliable window into what properties actually earn.

For anyone trying to answer the question of how much do Airbnbs make in a specific market, looking at top-performer data is one of the smartest starting points. It shows the ceiling. It also reveals what kinds of properties and amenities push listings to the top.

For a broader look at earnings potential across property types, this breakdown of what Airbnb hosts actually make is worth reading alongside the Arizona-specific numbers below.

Phoenix's Top-Performing Airbnbs

Phoenix is home to some of the highest-grossing short-term rentals in the United States. The top-performing property in the market earns just shy of $900,000 per year in gross STR revenue. That's not a typo.

Multiple Phoenix properties clear the $800,000 mark annually, and several others fall in the $500,000–$800,000 range — which the data cheekily describes as "only" making half a million. The sheer concentration of high earners in one metro is striking.

What do these properties look like? The top Phoenix listing is a luxury estate with jaw-dropping amenities. The second-place property — earning around $860,000 — features a waterfall in the backyard and sweeping views that are genuinely hard to replicate. These aren't just houses. They're experiences.

Are the Returns Actually Good?

These properties cost a significant amount to acquire. A Phoenix luxury estate capable of generating $800,000+ annually isn't priced like a starter home. But the ROI conversation is more nuanced than purchase price alone.

One host in BNB Mastery's private mastermind owns a high-end luxury property in Scottsdale. According to BNB Mastery, the returns on that property have been exceptional — even factoring in the higher acquisition cost.

For certain investors, particularly those who also want personal use or business use of the property (like hosting retreats), a luxury STR can function as both a lifestyle asset and a high-performing investment simultaneously.

luxury STRs carry more risk in economic downturns. Discretionary travel budgets tend to shrink when recessions hit, and high-end bookings can soften faster than mid-market ones. That's a real consideration for anyone evaluating this end of the market.

Investors who want a structured way to evaluate whether a high-end STR deal actually pencils out can use the BNB Investing Blueprint — it includes an ROI analysis framework designed specifically for short-term rental properties at any price point.

Scottsdale STR Revenue: How It Compares

Scottsdale is often grouped with Phoenix in STR conversations, but the data shows a slight difference at the very top. The highest-earning Scottsdale listing pulls in approximately $809,000 per year — impressive by any measure, but trailing Phoenix's top three properties.

What Scottsdale lacks in raw peak revenue, it partly makes up for in consistency. The market attracts a reliable mix of golf tourists, corporate retreats, bachelorette parties, and snowbirds — creating demand across multiple seasons rather than a single peak window.

One standout Scottsdale listing markets itself as a "luxury five-star celebrity estate" and earns $721,000 annually. The aerial view tells the story: the outdoor space is packed from edge to edge with amenities — mini putt, a basketball court, a pool, and a children's playground. Not a single square foot is wasted.

For a deeper look at what the Arizona market specifically offers STR investors, this breakdown of Arizona Airbnb earnings covers both Phoenix and Scottsdale data in more detail.

Geodesic Domes, Shipping Containers, and Tiny Cabins: A Real Comparison

One of the most useful real-world comparisons in Arizona STR data involves three unique properties hosted by the same couple — Stan and Bree — on what appears to be the same plot of land.

Because they share the same host, same general location, and similar guest demographics, the revenue differences between them are almost purely attributable to property type and listing platform.

Here's how the three properties performed:

• Shipping container home: ~$80,000 in annual revenue, available 363 days of the year
• Tiny cabin: ~$74,000 in annual revenue (on pace with the shipping container when adjusted for availability)
• Geodesic dome: ~$122,000 in annual revenue, 94% occupancy rate, $413 average daily rate

The geodesic dome didn't just beat the others — it outperformed them by 50% or more. The ADR of $413 is substantially higher than the other two, and the 94% occupancy rate suggests demand is consistently strong. Notably, the geodesic dome was listed only on VRBO, while the other two used Airbnb (or both platforms).

Why the Geodesic Dome Wins

The setup is smart. Guests sleep inside the geodesic dome — which delivers the unique, Instagram-worthy experience they're paying a premium for — but have access to a separate small cabin with a kitchen, bathroom, and running water. That combination of novelty and creature comforts is hard to beat.

Pure glamping setups often struggle with practical concerns (no real bathroom, no kitchen). This property solves both problems without sacrificing the "wow" factor of the dome itself. It's a blueprint other hosts could reasonably replicate in the right location.

Curious how geodesic domes compare to other alternative property types? This comparison of geodesic domes, treehouses, yurts, and tiny homes breaks down the earning potential of each. And if the shipping container model caught your eye, this post on shipping container Airbnb earnings goes deeper on what to expect from that format.

Pro tip: BNB Mastery estimates that $80,000–$100,000 is a reasonable baseline expectation for a well-located, well-run shipping container STR in 2026. Underperforming locations can fall well short; high-end execution can push significantly higher.

What Makes Arizona Airbnbs Earn More

Look at any of Arizona's top-grossing Airbnbs and a pattern emerges immediately: outdoor amenities are everything. The state's year-round sunshine and warm temperatures mean guests actively choose properties based on what's in the backyard.

The highest earners consistently feature combinations of:

• Resort-style pools (one property reportedly invested $500,000 in a pool with a lazy river)
• Mini golf / putting greens
• Lit basketball courts for evening play
• Golf simulators
• Outdoor movie setups
• Game rooms that extend the entertainment indoors

The pattern isn't accidental. Arizona hosts have clearly discovered that guests in this market are willing to pay a significant premium for properties that feel like a private resort. A standard house with a pool is expected. A house with a pool, lazy river, basketball court, mini putt, and a golf simulator is a destination.

This principle applies beyond Arizona. Any STR market where guests are choosing between properties competing on experience — rather than just price and location — rewards hosts who invest in memorable amenities. For practical ideas on boosting revenue without a $500,000 pool budget, these three affordable ways to make more money on Airbnb are worth reviewing.

Airbnb Luxe: The High-End Tier

Several top Arizona properties are strong candidates for Airbnb Luxe — a curated section of the platform reserved for exceptional luxury listings. Luxe properties come with verified quality standards and allow hosts to offer premium add-ons: private chefs, in-home massages, airport transfers, and more.

Getting onto Airbnb Luxe can meaningfully increase both ADR and visibility. Some of Arizona's top earners may not even be listed there yet, suggesting upside still exists for properties that qualify and apply.

How to Research Airbnb Income Before You Invest

The data in this article comes from AirDNA's Market Minder tool. AirDNA aggregates listing data from Airbnb and VRBO, allowing users to look up revenue, occupancy, and ADR for any market — and, crucially, to view top-performing properties individually.

For investors and hosts evaluating a new market, this kind of data is genuinely invaluable. Guessing what a property might earn is how people make bad investments. Running the actual numbers — against real comps in the target market — is how good investments get made.

Key metrics to analyze before committing to any STR purchase or lease:

1. Annual gross revenue for comparable properties in the market
2. Average daily rate (ADR) for your property type and size
3. Occupancy rate across seasons, not just the peak window
4. Revenue per available room (RevPAR) to normalize across different property sizes
5. Market seasonality — how much does demand drop in the off-season?

AirDNA's enterprise-level access lets users see individual property performance, which is the most direct way to understand what a specific property type can earn in a specific neighborhood. Most investors start with a basic subscription and upgrade as their portfolio grows.

Connecting with other hosts who are actively analyzing markets in real time can sharpen your research process significantly. The BNB Tribe community is a good place to ask market-specific questions and get perspectives from people who have already done the legwork in markets you're considering.

For newer investors still building their analytical foundation, grabbing a free copy of "Airbnb Unlocked" covers the core framework for evaluating STR investments before committing capital.

The Bottom Line on Airbnb Earnings

The question of how much do Airbnbs make doesn't have a single answer — but real market data gives you something far more useful than averages. Arizona's top performers show that the ceiling is extraordinarily high for the right property in the right market.

A geodesic dome pulling $122,000 at 94% occupancy on the same plot of land as a shipping container earning $80,000 tells you something concrete about the power of property differentiation. A Phoenix luxury estate approaching $900,000 per year tells you something about what's possible when location, amenities, and execution align.

Most hosts won't operate at those extremes. But the analytical approach — using real data, studying top performers, understanding what drives ADR and occupancy — applies at every level of the market. Whether you're evaluating a $300,000 cabin or a $3 million estate, the framework is the same.

Markets like Hawaii, North Carolina, and others have properties that reportedly push into the millions annually. The data is out there. The key is knowing how to find it and what to do with it once you do.

"