Yes, you can cancel most Airbnb bookings, but your refund depends on the cancellation policy attached to your reservation
You can cancel an Airbnb booking through your account at any time before your check-in date. The amount of money you receive back — if any — is set by the cancellation policy the host chose when they listed the property. Airbnb offers several standard policies: flexible (full refund up to one day before arrival), moderate (full refund up to five days before), strict (full refund up to 30 days before), and non-refundable (no refund at all). Some hosts set custom policies. The policy you agreed to appears on your confirmation email and in your booking details.
The refund process is automatic once you cancel. Airbnb returns money to the original payment method — usually your credit card or bank account — within 5 to 10 business days. If you booked through a third-party site like Expedia or Booking.com, you must cancel through that site instead, not through Airbnb directly, because those sites hold the reservation on your behalf.
Key Takeaways
- Your refund amount is determined by the host's cancellation policy, which you can see on your booking confirmation before you pay.
- You cancel through the Airbnb app or website by finding your reservation and selecting the cancel option — no phone call or email to the host is required.
- Refunds process automatically to your original payment method within 5 to 10 business days after you cancel.
- If you booked through Expedia, Booking.com, or another travel site, you must cancel there, not on Airbnb.
- Extenuating circumstances like illness or a death in the family may may have access to for a refund even under a strict or non-refundable policy if you contact Airbnb support.
How to cancel your booking in the app or on the website
Open the Airbnb app or go to airbnb.com and sign into your account. Tap or click "Trips" at the top of the page. Find the reservation you want to cancel and tap or click on it to open the booking details. Scroll down until you see a button labeled "Cancel reservation" and tap or click it. Airbnb will show you the refund amount you will receive based on the host's policy and the current date.
Read the refund amount carefully before you confirm. Once you tap or click the final "Cancel" button, the cancellation is final and the host is notified when ready. You will receive a confirmation email within minutes. Do not contact the host separately to ask them to cancel — the system does not work that way, and the host cannot override the policy or process a refund outside of Airbnb.
Understanding the four standard cancellation policies
Flexible means you get a full refund if you cancel up to one day before your check-in time (usually 4 p.m. on your arrival date). After that point, you lose the entire booking cost.
Moderate gives you a full refund if you cancel up to five days before check-in. If you cancel between one and five days before, you lose 50 percent of the nightly rate for the first night only. If you cancel within one day of check-in, you lose the entire booking.
Strict allows a full refund only if you cancel 30 days or more before check-in. Between 14 and 29 days before, you get 50 percent back. Between one and 13 days before, you get nothing. After check-in has passed, you get nothing.
Non-refundable means you do not get money back no matter when you cancel, except in cases where Airbnb determines that extenuating circumstances explore (see the section below on special circumstances).
What happens if you cancel within the policy window
If your cancellation date falls within the refund window for your policy, Airbnb processes your refund automatically. The money goes back to the card or bank account you used to book. This usually takes 5 to 10 business days, though some banks hold the credit for an additional 1 to 3 days before it appears in your account.
You will see the refund status in your Airbnb account under "Trips" — it will show "Refund in progress" and then "Refund completed" once the money has left Airbnb's system. If you do not see the refund after 10 business days, contact Airbnb support through the app or website and provide your booking confirmation number.
Canceling a booking made through a third-party travel site
If you booked through Expedia, Booking.com, Hotels.com, or another travel platform, you cannot cancel on Airbnb. You must go back to the site where you made the reservation and cancel there. That site holds the booking on your behalf and controls the refund process.
Log into your account on the third-party site, find your Airbnb reservation, and look for a "Cancel booking" or "Manage reservation" button. Follow the steps on that site. The refund policy is the same as what Airbnb offers, but the timeline and payment method may differ slightly depending on the third-party site's processing speed. Contact that site's customer service if you have questions about your refund status.
Requesting a refund for extenuating circumstances
Airbnb has a process called the Extenuating Circumstances Policy that may allow you to receive a refund even if your cancellation falls outside the host's policy window. Extenuating circumstances include serious illness, injury, death in your when ready family, or natural disasters that prevent you from traveling. You must contact Airbnb support within 30 days of your check-in date and provide documentation — such as a death certificate, hospital records, or a government disaster declaration.
Airbnb does not automatically grant these refunds. A support agent reviews your case and decides whether your situation qualifies. The process can take several days to a few weeks. If approved, you receive a full refund or a credit toward a future booking, depending on the circumstances. If denied, you can appeal once with additional documentation, but Airbnb's decision is final after that.
What to do if the host refuses to accept your cancellation
Hosts cannot refuse a cancellation or override Airbnb's system. Once you cancel through the app or website, the reservation is canceled and the host is notified automatically. The host has no power to undo this or demand that you keep the booking.
If a host contacts you after you cancel and asks you to rebook or threatens to charge you anyway, do not respond to their messages. Take a screenshot of the cancellation confirmation from Airbnb and report the host to Airbnb support. Hosts who attempt to circumvent the cancellation system or collect payment outside of Airbnb violate the platform's terms of service and can be removed.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to get my refund after I cancel?
Airbnb processes refunds within 5 to 10 business days after you cancel. The money goes back to your original payment method. Your bank or credit card company may take an additional 1 to 3 business days to post the credit to your account, so the total time from cancellation to seeing the money can be up to two weeks.
Can I cancel an Airbnb booking the day before my trip?
Only if your host's cancellation policy allows it. Flexible policies refund the full amount up to one day before check-in. Moderate, strict, and non-refundable policies do not. Check your booking confirmation to see which policy applies to your reservation before you cancel.
What if I cancel but the refund never shows up in my account?
Wait 10 business days from the cancellation date. If the refund has not appeared, log into Airbnb, go to your booking details, and check the refund status. If it shows "Refund completed" but your bank has not received it, contact your bank — they may be holding the credit. If Airbnb shows no refund status, contact Airbnb support with your booking confirmation number.
Do I lose my entire payment if I cancel a non-refundable booking?
Yes, unless Airbnb determines that extenuating circumstances explore. Non-refundable bookings have no refund window. If you have a serious reason — illness, death, or disaster — contact Airbnb support within 30 days of your check-in date with documentation. Airbnb may grant an exception, but it is not may provide.
Can I get a refund if the host cancels on me?
Yes. If the host cancels, Airbnb automatically refunds your full booking amount, regardless of the cancellation policy. You also receive a credit toward a future booking as compensation for the inconvenience. The refund processes within 5 to 10 business days.