How Airbnb reviews are posted and rated
Airbnb reviews are written by guests after they check out and by hosts after guests leave. Both sides rate each other on a scale of one to five stars, and both can write a written comment of up to 1,200 characters. The review does not appear on the listing or host profile until both the guest and host have submitted their reviews, or until 14 days have passed since checkout — whichever comes first. If only one person writes a review within that 14-day window, it publishes automatically.
A guest can review the host and the listing itself. A host can review only the guest. Neither side can see what the other wrote before they submit their own review, which means you cannot read a guest's words and then respond to them in your review. This delay exists to prevent retaliation and to encourage honest feedback on both sides.
Once a review is published, it stays on the platform permanently unless Airbnb removes it for violating the review policy. Guests and hosts cannot delete their own reviews, though they can contact Airbnb support to request removal if the review contains false information or breaks the community standards.
Key Takeaways
- Reviews appear only after both guest and host have submitted theirs, or 14 days after checkout, so you cannot see what the other person wrote before you write your own.
- Guests rate the host, the listing, and the cleanliness, communication, and accuracy of the property; hosts rate only the guest.
- A single low star rating without a written comment still counts as a review and affects the overall rating, even if no explanation is given.
- Airbnb removes reviews that contain false claims, threats, discrimination, or personal information, but hosts and guests cannot delete their own reviews.
- The overall star rating shown on a listing is the average of all reviews, weighted to show recent reviews more prominently than older ones.
What guests rate when they review a host
When a guest submits a review, they rate five separate categories: cleanliness, communication, accuracy, value, and check-in. Each category gets its own one-to-five-star score. The guest also gives an overall star rating for the entire stay. These category ratings appear on the host's profile and on the listing page, so potential guests can see exactly where a host is strong and where they might have problems.
Accuracy means the listing description, photos, and amenities matched what the guest actually found. Communication refers to how quickly and helpfully the host responded to messages before and during the stay. Value is whether the guest felt the price was fair for what they received. Check-in covers the ease of getting into the property and any instructions the host provided.
A guest does not have to rate all five categories — they can leave some blank. However, the overall star rating is required. If a guest gives one star overall but leaves all five category ratings blank, that one-star review still counts toward the host's average rating and is visible to other potential guests.
What hosts rate when they review guests
Hosts see a simpler form. They rate the guest on a single one-to-five-star scale and can write a comment. Hosts cannot break down their rating into categories the way guests do. The host's review of the guest appears on the guest's profile, visible to other hosts considering whether to accept a future booking from that person.
Hosts often use their review to note whether the guest followed house rules, kept the property clean, communicated well, and respected quiet hours or other policies. A low rating from a host can make it harder for a guest to book future stays, because many hosts check guest reviews before accepting a reservation.
How the overall star rating is calculated
The star rating shown on a listing — the one that appears in search results and at the top of the listing page — is the average of all guest reviews. If a listing has 100 reviews and 80 are five-star, 15 are four-star, and 5 are three-star, the overall rating will be approximately 4.7 stars.
Airbnb weights recent reviews more heavily than old ones, so a listing's rating can shift if the quality of recent stays has changed. A host who had excellent reviews two years ago but has received mostly three-star reviews in the last month will see their overall rating drop. This system encourages hosts to maintain quality over time rather than relying on a strong rating from years past.
The category ratings that guests assign — cleanliness, communication, accuracy, value, and check-in — are also averaged separately and displayed on the listing page. A host might have a 4.8 overall rating but a 4.2 in cleanliness, which tells potential guests exactly where the property may fall short.
What happens if a review violates Airbnb's policy
Airbnb has a review policy that prohibits certain types of content. Reviews cannot contain threats, discrimination based on protected characteristics, hate speech, or personal information like phone numbers or email addresses. Reviews also cannot make false claims designed to damage the other person's reputation, and they cannot reference disputes that should be handled through Airbnb's resolution center.
If a guest or host reports a review as violating the policy, Airbnb's support team investigates. If the review breaks the rules, Airbnb removes it entirely — it does not stay on the profile or listing. The person who wrote the review is notified that it was removed and why. Repeated violations can result in account suspension or removal from the platform.
Disagreeing with a review or feeling it is unfair is not the same as a policy violation. A host cannot have a negative review removed straightforward because they think it is inaccurate or harsh. The review must actually violate one of Airbnb's stated rules — false information, threats, discrimination, or personal details — to be taken down.
How to respond to a review after it publishes
Once a review is published, the person being reviewed can write a public response. Hosts can respond to guest reviews, and guests can respond to host reviews. The response appears directly below the original review, visible to anyone reading the listing or profile.
Hosts often use responses to clarify misunderstandings, explain circumstances, or thank guests for positive feedback. A guest might respond to a host review to address an accusation or provide context. These responses are permanent and public, so they should be professional and factual. Airbnb's policy prohibits using responses to retaliate, threaten, or make false claims, just as it does for the original reviews.
A response does not change the star rating or remove the original review. It is straightforward a chance to add your side of the story after the fact. Many potential guests read both the review and the response when deciding whether to book.
How reviews affect your booking chances and host standing
For guests, a low rating makes it harder to book. Many hosts filter out guests with ratings below 4.5 or 4.8 stars, and some require a minimum number of reviews before they will accept a booking. A guest with only one three-star review and no other history may be rejected by hosts who want to see a track record of positive stays.
For hosts, the overall star rating is one of the most important factors in how often their listing appears in search results. Airbnb's search algorithm favors listings with higher ratings, more recent bookings, and strong reviews in the cleanliness and communication categories. A host with a 4.2 rating will be shown lower in search results than a host with a 4.8 rating, all else being equal. This means fewer potential guests see the listing, which leads to fewer bookings.
Hosts with consistently high ratings and a large number of reviews may earn Superhost status, which appears as a badge on their profile and listing. Superhosts typically have a 4.8 or higher rating, a response rate above 90 percent, and fewer than one cancellation per 100 bookings. The Superhost badge can increase booking rates because many guests specifically search for Superhosts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I see a guest's review of me before I write my review of them?
No. Airbnb hides both reviews from each other until both are submitted or 14 days have passed. This prevents either side from retaliating or copying the other's words. Once both reviews are published, you can read what they wrote and respond publicly if you choose.
What if a guest leaves a one-star review with no written comment?
It still counts. A one-star rating without any explanation affects your overall rating the same way a one-star review with a detailed comment does. Other potential guests will see the low rating, though they will not know why it was given. You can respond publicly to ask for clarification or explain your side.
Can I ask a guest to remove or change their review?
You can ask, but Airbnb does not require guests to change or delete reviews. Guests cannot delete their own reviews, and Airbnb will not remove a review just because the host disagrees with it. The review must violate Airbnb's policy — containing false claims, threats, discrimination, or personal information — to be taken down.
How long does it take for a review to appear?
A review appears as soon as both the guest and host have submitted their reviews, or 14 days after checkout, whichever comes first. If only one person writes a review within 14 days, it publishes automatically at the 14-day mark. If neither person writes a review, no review appears.
Do old reviews matter as much as recent ones?
No. Airbnb's algorithm weights recent reviews more heavily when calculating the overall star rating and when ranking listings in search results. A host with excellent reviews from two years ago but poor reviews in the last month will see their rating drop and their search visibility decrease.