The Ultimate Airbnb Host Guide (2025)

What is Airbnb?

Airbnb is a community network that makes it easy for vacation rental owners to list various types of properties online, such as entire rentals, private rooms, shared spaces, or even unique accommodations (like yurts!). It allows guests to search through more than 8 million listings to find the perfect fit for their needs.

One of the greatest advantages for travelers using Airbnb is the variety of options in types of vacation properties. These listings are not focused on traditional accommodations, such as hotels or motels.

Instead of checking in through a generic lobby, guests get a much more local and authentic experience. From castles to treehouses, more than 5 million hosts are using the platform in over 150,000 cities and 220 countries. Valued at more than $85 billion, Airbnb’s impact on the vacation rental industry continues to grow at a rapid pace.

Additionally, this online marketplace has now expanded from accommodation to experiences. Back in 2016, the company launched Airbnb Experiences. These activities are typically related to tourism and include local tours and classes. As a vacation rental owner, this presents a new opportunity to upsell your property by working together with local businesses.

What does Airbnb stand for?

Airbnb stands for ‘“AirBedandBreakfast.” The groundbreaking idea came from founders Brian Chesky and Joe Gebbia when they first moved to San Francisco and struggled to pay their rent. To make ends meet, they decided to rent out inflatable air mattresses in their living room because hotels were fully booked from a conference being held. Despite breakfast not being included, the name stuck and is now recognized all over the world.

The Airbnb logo, known as the Bélo, has a story behind its design. It symbolizes a head for people, a heart for love, and a sign for places.

How does Airbnb work?

In exchange for using the listing services, Airbnb earns a commission via implementing hosting fees. The company itself doesn’t own any properties. Instead, it allows owners to put all of their property listings in one place and conveniently manage them from there.

Owners don’t need any technical or marketing knowledge to use the site. All the resources needed to effectively list accommodations are readily available to the owner on the platform.

Apart from the high demand for affordable accommodation, Airbnb’s global success can also be attributed to its user experience and use of technology. From their 24/7 customer support to their easy-to-use platform, Airbnb allows anyone to become a host and generate income.

In order to become a successful Airbnb host, there are certain aspects of the platform that you need to master. We’ll cover them in detail in the chapters of this Airbnb host guide, but here’s a brief preview of the most important elements.

Airbnb listings: The key to success

There’s an art to creating a successful Airbnb listing. Despite what people say about not judging a book by its cover, guests will make assumptions based on what they see in your listing, so it’s best to be overprepared.

When creating a listing, you can edit details such as:

• Amenities
• Guest resources
• Location
• Description
• Check-in information
• Photos
• Pricing

First, you’ll have to state what type of property you are renting out. Your options include:

• Entire home
• Private room
• Shared room

Then decide the maximum number of guests you’re willing to host, and the city where it’s located.

Airbnb requires you to upload at least one photograph, but it’s recommended to have a few. The first three pictures are always on display, so be sure to organize them wisely!

How do payments work on Airbnb?

Getting paid on Airbnb is simple. Airbnb will process a host’s payout no later than the end of the business day following a guest’s check-in. However, when the funds will arrive depends on the chosen payout method. It typically takes between 1-7 business days.

Airbnb charges two types of fees: split-fees and host-only fees:

• Split-fees are deducted from the host payout and also charged to guests.
• Host-only fees refer to fees that are charged only to guests and usually range from 14-16%.

What protections do Airbnb hosts have?

It’s always advisable for hosts to have their own vacation rental insurance, but Airbnb also provides additional coverage. This program is called AirCover and helps to protect against some of the damages that can occur when renting a vacation property.

AirCover offers up to $3 million in damage protection and $1 million in liability protection for Airbnb hosts. However, it doesn’t replace standard insurance and comes with some rules and restrictions. Examples of incidents that AirCover would cover include:

• Damage to your home caused by guests
• Damage to parked cars, boats, or other vehicles by your guests
• Extra cleaning costs due to pets or smoke odors
• Lost income due to having to cancel confirmed bookings because of guest damage

There are no extra costs for this program, and it’s available for all hosts. Understanding what is covered by this guarantee ensures that hosts know when they have the right to make a claim. When a claim is justified, the process for submitting the claim is quick and easy.

The importance of Airbnb reviews

Airbnb prioritizes both host and guest reviews. These are equally important and have a big impact on the success of your vacation rental business.

Host reviews

Guests have the chance to post a review about their experience. This helps other travelers make the right decision for themselves based on what they read. It gives guests a chance to share what they liked and didn’t like about their rental experience, mentioning specifics like the location or how much money they spent.

Airbnb prioritizes listings that have more positive reviews. Even if a negative review occurs, hosts can respond to the review and use it as constructive criticism to make improvements.

Guest reviews

The host also gets the chance to leave a review about the guest who rented their home. Unlike with a hotel, this is important for the guests as it testifies to their credibility in the event they want to book rentals again from this platform.

Answering questions with Airbnb customer support

Both owners and guests are able to contact Airbnb representatives by telephone or email. To contact via email, the user must be signed in. Guests will usually receive a contact number when they receive their confirmation email. This is the best number for guests to use if they want to contact Airbnb via telephone.

In most cases, it’s not necessary to contact Airbnb directly, as a comprehensive Help Center is available on the website, organized into main categories. Each category addresses specific commonly asked questions.

How easy is Airbnb to use?

The Airbnb platform is easy for both owners and guests to register on. Once registered, it allows them to utilize all the benefits and features that Airbnb has to offer. It’s simple to navigate and provides all the information a guest needs to make an informed decision.

Conversely, hosts are able to save time managing their properties while maintaining a competitive business. Airbnb gives everyday people, who might not have a background in real estate or property management, a chance to enter the industry at an accessible level.

Is Airbnb safe for hosts?

Yes, Airbnb is safe for hosts. There’s a degree of risk in every business. However, with the right Airbnb vetting process, you can avoid problems like property damage, theft, and house parties.

Airbnb offers safety guidelines and its AirCover program. That being said, consider the following when starting your business:

• Purchase additional vacation rental insurance.
• Read reviews and check the identification of potential guests before accepting them into your house.
• Install home-security systems and alarms (theft, fire, water flood, etc.).
• Add a damage deposit to your nightly rate.
• Be aware of squatters.

Why should you list your property on Airbnb?

Listing your property on Airbnb provides greater visibility and reach for your business, especially if you’re just starting out in the industry. As a host, you’re granted the flexibility to customize your listing and host whenever works best for you. With its easy-to-use platform and simplified payment system, you can start receiving bookings from the very first day.

How profitable your Airbnb is depends on a few factors, like:

• Your property’s location
• How much your nightly rate is
• Hosting fees
• Local taxes

Hosting on Airbnb is usually quite profitable in touristic destination cities with high demand for short-term homestays and living quarters. However, with the recent interest in more rural and isolated accommodations, properties off the beaten path are also thriving. Each rental business is different, so it’s worth it to invest some time in data analysis for your local market to really understand if your Airbnb listing will succeed.

With the help of this guide, you’ll quickly learn how to become the best Airbnb host you can be. These tools will save you time and effort, while also increasing your bookings.