Airbnb Market Analytics, Statistics and Data in Kirkwall, Scotland, United Kingdom

Last updated: 2025-01-31

Looking to make more money with hosting or rental arbitraging Airbnbs, short-term rentals, vacation rentals in Kirkwall? AirROI have just the data insights! Over the last twelve months from February 2024 to January 2025, we've uncovered key trends and opportunities that successful hosts are leveraging in Kirkwall:

Average Daily Rate

$160

Occupancy Rate

54.85%

Annual Revenue

$25,524

Revenue Growth YoY

7.70%

Best Month

August

Worst Month

January

Regulation

Moderate

Active Listings

118

How much do Airbnb hosts make on average per month in Kirkwall?

The short-term rental market in Kirkwall shows distinct revenue patterns across different property tiers. Our analysis reveals that successful properties combine strategic pricing with quality management to maximize earnings potential. Market data demonstrates clear revenue differentiation among properties:

Typical properties (median) earn $2,382 per month
Strong performing properties (top 25%) make $3,416 or more
Best-in-class properties (top 10%) achieve $4,423+ monthly
Entry-level properties (bottom 25%) typically earn around $1,507

Revenue Variations by Month

Occupancy Rates Throughout the Year in Kirkwall

The market in Kirkwall shows distinct occupancy patterns influenced by seasonal trends and local dynamics. Properties that maintain high guest satisfaction scores and implement strategic pricing consistently achieve stronger occupancy rates. Current market data shows:

Typical properties (median) maintain 53% occupancy rates
Strong performing properties (top 25%) achieve 68% or higher
Best-in-class properties (top 10%) reach 79%+occupancy
Entry-level properties (bottom 25%) average around 38%

Occupancy Variations by Month

Average Daily Rates Seasonal Trends in Kirkwall

Daily rates in Kirkwall vary based on seasonality, property quality, and market dynamics. Properties that effectively balance competitive pricing with strong amenities typically command higher rates. Market analysis shows the following rate structure:

Typical properties (median) generate $140 per night
Strong performing properties (top 25%) secure $181 or more
Best-in-class properties (top 10%) pull in $222+ per night
Entry-level properties (bottom 25%) earn around $111

Daily Rate Variations by Month

Get Live Kirkwall Market Intelligence 👇

🏠

Explore Real-time Analytics

Seasonality patterns in Kirkwall

Peak Season (August, July, June)

Revenue peaks at $4204.85 per month
Occupancy rates reach 80.44%
Daily rates average $164.52

Shoulder Season

Revenue averages $2626.88 per month
Occupancy maintains 51.84%
Daily rates hold at $152.39

Low Season (December, February, January)

Revenue drops to $1094.87 per month
Occupancy decreases to 24.12%
Daily rates adjust to $137.67

Is it still profitable to do Airbnb in Kirkwall in 2025?

Yes! Kirkwall demonstrates highly seasonal trends requiring strategic adaptation, featuring a healthy occupancy rate of 52% and strong monthly revenue averaging $2627 and The market's 118 active listings indicate growing demand with plenty of opportunity for new properties. There's also room for profit through rental arbitrage strategies, if you can identify competitively priced properties. To maximize your return on investment, consider employing the following strategies:

Peak Season Strategy

Implement premium seasonal pricing strategies
Set longer minimum stay requirements during high-demand periods
Enforce stricter cancellation policies

Shoulder Season Strategy

Maintain competitive market-based pricing
Offer moderate-length stay incentives
Target a mix of leisure and business travelers with flexible booking terms
Focus on weekend getaway packages and mid-week business traveler promotions

Low Season Strategy

Adjust pricing to remain competitive in the market
Target different guest segments (business travelers, long-term stays, holiday visitors, event attendees, remote workers)
Create targeted promotional campaigns to drive occupancy

Top Places to Start Airbnb in Kirkwall

Area	Why Choose This Area	Key Attractions
St. Magnus Cathedral	A stunning example of Norman architecture and Orkney's most famous landmark. Attracts tourists interested in history, architecture, and culture.	St. Magnus Cathedral, Orkney Museum, The Earl's Palace, Orkneying Tours, Scapa Flow Museum
The Highland Park Distillery	Famous for its whisky production, it draws visitors interested in distillery tours and tasting experiences.	Highland Park Distillery, Orkney Distilling, Scapa Distillery, Whisky tasting experiences
Kirkwall Harbour	The bustling hub of Kirkwall, with scenic views and easy access to ferry services. Popular with those looking to explore more of the Orkney Islands.	Kirkwall Harbour, The Drill Hall, St. Magnus Cathedral, shops and cafes by the waterfront
Kirkdale	A charming historic area with cobbled streets and local shops, perfect for a cozy Airbnb experience.	Local shops, Historic buildings, Cafes and eateries
The Orkney Museum	Offers insights into Orkney's history and culture, attracting visitors year-round.	Orkney Museum, Local historical exhibits, Community events
Scapa Flow	A famous body of water with historical significance, attracting history buffs and nature lovers.	Historical shipwreck sites, Scenic landscapes, Diving and water activities
Eday	A nearby island with beautiful landscapes, great for those seeking a peaceful and rural retreat.	Beautiful beaches, Nature walks, Wildlife watching
Birsay	A small village known for its rich history and archaeological sites, appealing to those interested in Orkney's past.	Birsay Heritage Trail, Birsay Castle, Local rock formations

Do you need a license for Airbnb in Kirkwall?

$235.73

Daily Rate

Top Performing Professional Hosts in Kirkwall

Host Name	Properties	Grossing Revenue	Stay Reviews	Avg Rating
Kerry And Tara	12	$305,735	589	4.90/5.0
Allison	10	$235,938	195	4.41/5.0
Amanda	3	$131,556	233	4.90/5.0
Hazel	6	$129,885	367	4.89/5.0
Sammy	4	$100,803	20	1.24/5.0
Robert	3	$100,171	190	4.98/5.0
Kathleen	1	$92,605	102	5.00/5.0
Volvio	4	$78,927	40	3.69/5.0
Christine	2	$76,737	134	4.95/5.0
Malcolm	5	$74,457	872	4.49/5.0

Additional analytics on vacation rental, real estate, short term rental data in Kirkwall

AirROI also have other key metrics and comprehensive data for your vacation rental, real estate needs. Go explore the advanced metrics that can help you make informed decisions:

Show Advanced Metrics

Room Type Distribution

Property Type Distribution

Key Insights

Market dominated by entire home listings (83.9%), with house and apartment & condo properties comprising 93.2% of inventory
Untapped potential in boutique & hotels, others, outdoor & mobile segments (6.8% combined)

Room Capacity Distribution

Analysis of 118 properties in Kirkwall shows that 2 bedrooms properties are most prevalent, making up 40.7% of the market. The market tends to favor smaller properties, with 2 bedrooms and 1 bedroom together representing 67.8% of all listings.

Key Insights

Most common: 2 bedrooms (40.7%)
Least common: 4 bedrooms (2.5%)
Market concentration: 67.8% in top 2 sizes
Market skew: Favors smaller properties

Guest Capacity Distribution

Analysis of 118 properties in Kirkwall reveals that 4 guests properties dominate the market, representing 43.2% of all listings. The average property accommodates 3.7 guests, with a clear trend towards larger guest capacities. Properties accommodating 4 guests and 2 guests make up 60.2% of the market.

Key Insights

Most common capacity: 4 guests (43.2% of market)
Least common capacity: 3 guests (0.8% of market)
Average guest capacity: 3.7 guests per property
Market concentration: 60.2% in top 2 capacity sizes
Market segmentation: Predominantly larger guest capacities

Booking and Availability Patterns

Available Days Distribution

Booked Days Distribution

Among 118 properties in Kirkwall, the most common availability pattern is 181-270 days (45.8% of properties). For actual bookings, properties most frequently secure bookings for 91-180 days (41.5% of properties).

Key Insights

Most common availability window: 181-270 days (45.8%)
Most common booking duration: 91-180 days (41.5%)
Properties with high availability (180+ days): 62.7%
Properties with long-term bookings (180+ days): 43.2%

Minimum Stay Distributions

1 Night (7.2%)

1 Night

8 listings

7.2% of total

2 Nights (15.3%)

2 Nights

17 listings

15.3% of total

3 Nights (37.8%)

3 Nights

42 listings

37.8% of total

4-6 Nights (27%)

4-6 Nights

30 listings

27% of total

7-29 Nights (9%)

7-29 Nights

10 listings

9% of total

30+ Nights (3.6%)

30+ Nights

4 listings

3.6% of total

Key Insights

Short stays (1-2 nights) dominate the market at 22.5%
Mid-length stays (4-6 nights) represent 27% of listings
Monthly+ stays (3.6%) suggest a stable extended-stay market
High market flexibility with 60.3% accepting 3 nights or less

Recommendations

Set minimum stays between 2-3 nights to align with market standards
Adjust minimum stays seasonally based on demand patterns
Implement different minimum stays for weekends vs. weekdays

Cancellation Policy Distribution

Flexible (19.4%)

Flexible

21 listings

19.4% of total

Moderate (29.6%)

Moderate

32 listings

29.6% of total

Firm (19.4%)

Firm

21 listings

19.4% of total

Strict (31.5%)

Strict

34 listings

31.5% of total

Key Insights

Strict is the preferred policy at 31.5% of listings
The market shows a balanced distribution between guest-friendly (49.0%) and strict (50.9%) policies
Firm policies are least common at 19.4% of listings

Recommendations

Market supports various policies - choose based on your property type and target guests
Diverse policy distribution indicates an opportunity to differentiate through policy choice

Booking Lead Time Trends

Key Insights

Peak booking lead times occur in Jul, Jun, Aug, averaging 148 days
Shortest booking windows are in Nov, Mar, Feb, averaging 45 days
Summer shows the longest average booking window at 148 days, while Winter has the shortest at 63 days

Recommendations

Implement dynamic pricing strategies for Summer bookings at least 148 days in advance
Consider early bird discounts during Winter to encourage longer lead times
Focus on last-minute booking promotions during Nov-Feb when lead times are shortest

Popular Airbnb Amenities in Kirkwall

Every property in Kirkwall comes standard with Wifi. Below shows the distribution of other amenities:

Traveler Demographics

Guest Origin Distribution

Top 5 Cities of Origin

Top 5 Countries of Origin

Top 5 Languages Spoken

Age Distribution

Key Insights

Domestic travelers make up 61.6% of total guests, indicating a significant local market share.
Primary international markets: United States (16.3%) and Australia (7.9%)
English is the top language at 68.4%, followed by French (11.7%)
Notable demographic segment in <=1950s (Pre-1950s (Silent Gen)) at 12.9%

Recommendations

Target marketing campaigns for England and Scotland markets
Develop localized content for United States and Australia
Prioritize English and French language support
Tailor experiences for Pre-1950s (Silent Gen) while maintaining broad age appeal
Implement seasonal promotions aligned with key market travel patterns

Nearby Markets

Explore short-term rental performance in markets surrounding Kirkwall. These nearby markets offer diverse opportunities for property investors and hosts:

Market	Properties	Monthly Revenue	Daily Rate	Occupancy
Insh	12	$4,049	$235.95	63%
Nethy Bridge	48	$3,812	$253.12	54%
Dulnain Bridge	15	$3,675	$292.20	47%
Fochabers	14	$3,520	$306.21	48%
Cruden Bay	11	$3,506	$289.49	50%
Inverurie	16	$3,494	$380.45	49%
Aberlour	22	$3,369	$193.26	59%
Ballindalloch	12	$3,303	$159.73	70%
Aviemore	218	$3,284	$250.79	50%
Banchory	18	$3,103	$279.83	50%

How is your STR performing?

Your vacation rental may be amazing, but is it better than your competition? Enjoy the best-in-class AI-powered analytics for free!

Discover Insights