Two different fields: how many people fit, and how many the nightly rate already covers. Mixing them up is the most common mistake.

They are two fields, and they are not the same thing

Maximum guests — the most people who can stay. Above that, the booking is refused.

Guests included in the rate — how many people the nightly rate already covers. Above that, each person pays a surcharge per night.

Both live in Settings → Properties, on the property you are editing. Capacity is the Guests field; the included amounts appear once you choose the Per property / night + extra guest surcharge charging mode.

The trap: capacity equal to the included amount

If the two numbers match, the surcharge will never be charged. The public link's counter will not let a guest pick more people than the capacity, so nobody ever exceeds the included amount.

To sell extra guests, capacity has to be greater than the included amount.

Example. A house with 15 included and capacity 20:

1 to 15 guests: the rate only;

16 to 20 guests: the rate plus the surcharge for each person above 15;

21 guests: the link refuses before any charge.

The "the rate includes a total number of people" checkbox

Without that box, the included amounts are separate quotas: one for adults and one for children. A leftover child slot does not become an adult slot.

Example of the problem. With 10 adults and 5 children included, a group of 12 adults pays for 2 extra adults — even though that is 12 people against 15 included.

Tick the box when your house includes a total number of people, without splitting adults and children. You then enter a single number.

With 15 included in total: 10 adults + 5 children, 12 adults, or 5 adults + 10 children all stay within the allowance. Sixteen people, in any split, means one extra guest.

Mixed group above the allowance

When the group goes over and adults and children have different rates, the surcharge is charged starting with the cheapest category.

Example. 15 included, adult surcharge 50, child surcharge 20. A group of 18 adults and 2 children — 20 people, 5 over:

2 children × 20 = 40

3 adults × 50 = 150

surcharge per night: 190

Infants stay out

An infant does not take a capacity slot and does not count towards the included amount. They have their own included quantity and their own surcharge, which can be 0 — the way to say "infants are free" without removing them from the headcount.

You decide the age at which someone stops being an infant: see age brackets.

Full example, with what the guest sees

A house with a 500 nightly rate, capacity 20, 15 included in total, 50 per extra adult and 20 per extra child, infant 0.

A family of 16 adults, 1 child and 1 infant books 2 nights:

17 people count (the infant does not), 2 above the 15 included;

cheapest category first: 1 child × 20 + 1 adult × 50 = 70 per night;

each night: 500 + 70 = 570;

nightly total: 1,140.

On the public link the guest sees the summary with the nightly rate and a separate line for the surcharge, with the number of extra people in each category.