Yes, you can cancel an Airbnb reservation, but the refund depends on the cancellation policy attached to your booking

You can cancel any Airbnb reservation you have made. The moment you press cancel, the booking ends — Airbnb will not force you to stay. What you get back in money depends entirely on which cancellation policy the host chose when they listed the property, and how many days before check-in you cancel.

Airbnb offers hosts five standard cancellation policies: flexible, moderate, firm, strict, and super strict. Each one sets a different refund window. If you cancel within that window, you get a full refund minus the service fee. If you cancel after the window closes, you lose the nightly rate but may keep the cleaning fee refunded, depending on the policy. Some hosts also set their own custom rules.

The cancellation policy is shown on the listing page before you book, and again in your confirmation email. If you have already paid, you can see which policy applies by opening your reservation in the Airbnb app or website and looking for the cancellation details.

Key Takeaways

  • Cancellation refunds are determined by the host's policy, not by Airbnb's rules — flexible policies refund more than strict ones.
  • The Airbnb service fee is never refunded, even if you cancel within the full-refund window.
  • You cancel a reservation through the Airbnb app or website by opening the booking and selecting the cancel option.
  • If the host cancels instead, you receive a full refund including the service fee, plus Airbnb credit for rebooking.

The five standard cancellation policies and their refund windows

Flexible allows a full refund if you cancel up to one day before check-in. After that, you lose the entire nightly rate. The cleaning fee is refunded.

Moderate gives a full refund if you cancel up to five days before check-in. Between five days and one day before check-in, you lose 50 percent of the nightly rate. Within one day of check-in, you lose the full nightly rate. The cleaning fee is refunded in all cases.

Firm refunds fully if you cancel up to 30 days before check-in. Between 30 and 14 days before, you lose 50 percent of the nightly rate. Within 14 days of check-in, you lose the full nightly rate. The cleaning fee is refunded.

Strict refunds fully only if you cancel more than 30 days before check-in. Between 30 and 7 days before, you lose 50 percent of the nightly rate. Within 7 days of check-in, you lose the full nightly rate. The cleaning fee is refunded.

Super strict refunds fully only if you cancel more than 60 days before check-in. Between 60 and 30 days before, you lose 50 percent of the nightly rate. Within 30 days of check-in, you lose the full nightly rate. The cleaning fee is refunded.

How to cancel your reservation

Open the Airbnb app or go to airbnb.com and sign in. Tap or click "Trips" in the menu, then find the reservation you want to cancel. Select the reservation to open its details page.

Look for a button or link that says "Cancel reservation" or "Cancel stay." Tap or click it. Airbnb will show you the cancellation policy for that listing and tell you exactly how much you will receive back. Review the amount, then confirm the cancellation. The booking is now cancelled, and your refund will process according to the policy timeline — usually within five to seven business days.

If you do not see a cancel button, the reservation may have already started (check-in has passed) or the cancellation window has closed. In those cases, you cannot cancel through the standard process. You can contact the host directly to ask if they will make an exception, though they are not required to.

What happens if the host cancels instead

If the host cancels your reservation, you receive a full refund of the nightly rate and the cleaning fee, plus the service fee is refunded as well. You also receive Airbnb credit equal to the full booking amount, which you can use toward a future reservation within one year.

Hosts are required to provide a reason for the cancellation. If the cancellation happens within 30 days of check-in, Airbnb may also offer you a discount code for your next booking as additional compensation.

Cancellations within 48 hours of check-in

If you cancel within 48 hours of your check-in time, most policies treat this as a late cancellation and you lose the full nightly rate, regardless of which policy the host selected. The cleaning fee is still refunded in most cases, but the nightly charges are gone.

The one exception is the flexible policy, which allows cancellation up to one day (24 hours) before check-in. If you cancel after that point, you lose everything except the cleaning fee.

Extenuating circumstances and exceptions

Airbnb has a program called Extenuating Circumstances that may refund you even if you cancel outside the normal window. This applies only to situations beyond your control: death in the family, serious illness or injury, natural disaster, or government-ordered evacuation.

To request an exception, open your reservation, select "Cancel reservation," and choose "I have an extenuating circumstance" from the menu. Airbnb will ask you to describe the situation and may request documentation. The company reviews each case individually and decides whether to grant a full refund. There is no may provide, and the process can take several days.

This program does not cover job loss, travel delays, change of plans, or financial hardship. It is limited to genuine emergencies that prevent you from traveling.

The service fee and what is not refunded

Airbnb charges a service fee on top of the nightly rate and cleaning fee. This fee is never refunded, even if you cancel within the full-refund window of the host's policy. The service fee typically ranges from 14 to 16 percent of the subtotal, depending on your location.

If you paid using a coupon or Airbnb credit, those are also not refunded — they are straightforward not used. If you paid partially with credit and partially with a coupon, the credit portion is refunded to your account and the coupon is returned to your account as well.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I cancel an Airbnb reservation the day before check-in?

It depends on the host's cancellation policy. Flexible policies allow cancellation up to one day before check-in for a full refund. Moderate policies also allow this. Firm, strict, and super strict policies charge you the full nightly rate if you cancel within their windows. Check your reservation details to see which policy applies.

Do I get the service fee back if I cancel?

No. The Airbnb service fee is never refunded, regardless of when you cancel or which policy the host has set. Only the nightly rate and cleaning fee are subject to the cancellation policy.

What if I cancel but the host refuses to honor the refund?

Contact Airbnb directly through the Resolution Center in the app or website. Explain the situation and provide your reservation details. Airbnb enforces its cancellation policies and will issue the refund you are owed if the host does not process it. This usually takes a few business days.

Can I cancel an Airbnb after I have already checked in?

Technically yes, but you will lose the full nightly rate for any remaining nights. The cancellation policy applies only to cancellations before check-in. Once you have checked in, cancelling means you are leaving early and forfeiting payment for the nights you do not use. Contact the host directly if you need to leave early — they may offer a partial refund as a courtesy, but they are not required to.

What if I need to cancel but I am outside the refund window?

You can still cancel, but you will not receive a refund of the nightly rate. You can request an exception through the Extenuating Circumstances program if the cancellation is due to a genuine emergency like illness, death in the family, or natural disaster. Otherwise, your only option is to contact the host directly and ask if they will make an exception — some hosts will, but they are not obligated to.