How Airbnb reviews are posted and become visible
After a guest checks out, Airbnb sends them a review request. The guest has 14 days to write and submit their review. Once submitted, the review appears on the listing when ready — Airbnb does not hold reviews for approval or hide them while they wait for the host to respond.
The host receives a notification that a review was posted and can read it right away. The host then has 14 days to write a response to the guest's review. This response appears directly below the guest's review on the listing page, so future guests see both the original review and the host's reply together.
If a guest leaves a review, the host is prompted to leave one in return, but the host is not required to do so. A listing can have reviews from guests without corresponding host reviews, and that is normal.
Key Takeaways
- Guest reviews post when ready after submission and are visible to all future guests within minutes.
- Hosts have 14 days to write a response to any guest review, and that response appears directly below the guest's words.
- Airbnb removes reviews that violate its content policy, such as reviews containing hate speech, threats, or personal information like phone numbers or email addresses.
- Both guests and hosts can report a review as inappropriate, and Airbnb investigates reports before deciding whether to remove it.
- Review ratings are averaged into an overall listing score that appears on the search results page and affects how often the listing is shown to potential guests.
What gets removed from reviews
Airbnb has a content policy that covers what can and cannot stay in a review. Reviews that contain hate speech, slurs, threats, or harassment are removed. Reviews that include personal information — such as a guest's or host's phone number, email address, home address, or social media handle — are also removed, even if the person who posted them intended to share it.
Reviews that make accusations of illegal activity are handled differently. Airbnb does not remove them automatically, but either party can report the review, and Airbnb will investigate. If the accusation appears to be false or made in bad faith, the review may be removed. If the accusation is serious — such as a claim of theft or assault — Airbnb may also contact law enforcement.
A review can be removed if it is off-topic. For example, a guest review that is really a complaint about Airbnb's customer service rather than about the listing itself may be removed. Similarly, a host review that discusses the guest's behavior outside the rental (such as what they did after checkout) rather than their conduct during the stay is off-topic.
How to report a review you think is unfair
If you are a host and a guest review contains false information or violates Airbnb's policy, you can report it. Open the review, click the three-dot menu icon, and select "Report this review." Describe why you believe the review should be removed and provide any evidence — such as messages from the guest, photos, or receipts — that support your case.
Airbnb reviews the report and decides whether the review meets the grounds for removal. The company does not remove reviews straightforward because a host disagrees with the rating or finds the feedback harsh. The review must actually violate the content policy or contain false accusations that Airbnb can verify are untrue.
If you are a guest and a host's response to your review is inappropriate, you can report that response the same way. Host responses are held to the same content standards as guest reviews.
How review ratings affect your listing or guest profile
Every review includes a rating from 1 to 5 stars. Airbnb calculates an average of all ratings on a listing and displays that average as the listing's overall score. A listing with an average of 4.8 stars will appear higher in search results than a listing with 4.5 stars, all else being equal. This means that a single low review can slightly lower a listing's visibility to future guests.
Guests also receive ratings from hosts. A guest's average rating appears on their profile, and hosts can see it before accepting a booking request. Guests with lower ratings may find it harder to book certain listings, especially in competitive markets or during peak seasons.
Airbnb does not publicly disclose the exact algorithm that determines search ranking, but the company has stated that review score is one of several factors. Response rate, cancellation history, and how recently the listing was booked also play a role.
Why a review might not appear right away
In most cases, a review appears within minutes of submission. However, there are situations where a review may be delayed or may not appear at all.
If Airbnb's automated systems flag a review as potentially violating the content policy, it may be held for manual review before posting. This process usually takes a few hours to a day. You will see a message saying the review is "pending" during this time.
If a guest submits a review but then deletes their Airbnb account before the 14-day window closes, the review is removed from the listing. This is rare but does happen. Similarly, if Airbnb closes an account for violating its terms of service, all reviews posted by that account are deleted.
How to write a review that will stay visible
To write a review that Airbnb will not remove, focus on your actual experience at the listing. Describe the cleanliness, the accuracy of the photos, the host's communication, and whether the listing matched the description. Be specific: instead of "great place," write "the kitchen had all the tools we needed for cooking, and the bed was very comfortable."
Avoid including contact information, even if you want to recommend the host to friends. Do not post phone numbers, email addresses, or links to social media. If you want to stay in touch with a host, use Airbnb's messaging system instead.
Do not make accusations you cannot back up. If you claim something was broken or missing, mention it in your review, but understand that the host will see your words and may dispute them. If the issue is serious — such as a safety hazard or a health concern — report it to Airbnb directly through the Resolution Center rather than only posting it in a review.
How hosts can respond to reviews effectively
A host's response to a review is visible to all future guests, so it is worth taking time to write one that is professional and helpful. If a guest left a positive review, a straightforward thank-you is appropriate. If a guest left a negative review, the host should address the specific complaint without being defensive.
For example, if a guest complained that the Wi-Fi was slow, the host might respond: "Thank you for letting us know. We have since upgraded our router and tested the speed. We would love to welcome you back." This shows future guests that the host listens and takes action.
Avoid arguing with the guest or making excuses. Avoid repeating the negative comment word-for-word in your response, as this makes the complaint more prominent. Instead, acknowledge the issue and explain what you have done or will do differently.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a host delete a guest review?
No. Hosts cannot delete guest reviews. A host can only report a review if it violates Airbnb's content policy or contains false accusations. Airbnb then decides whether to remove it. A host cannot remove a review straightforward because it is negative or because the host disagrees with it.
What happens if a guest and host leave reviews for each other at the same time?
Both reviews post independently. There is no rule that a host's review must match or respond to a guest's review. If a guest leaves a 5-star review and a host leaves a 1-star review, both will appear on their respective profiles. This is uncommon but does happen when the two parties had very different experiences.
Can I see who left a negative review before I accept their next booking?
No. Guest reviews are anonymous to other guests. You will not see the guest's name attached to a review on the listing page. However, if you are a host considering a booking request, you can see the guest's profile, which includes their average rating and any reviews they have received from other hosts.
How long do reviews stay on a listing?
Reviews remain on a listing indefinitely unless they are removed by Airbnb for violating the content policy. A listing's entire review history is visible to guests browsing it, so a negative review from years ago will still be there. Hosts cannot archive or hide old reviews.
What if I made a typo or said something wrong in my review?
You can edit your review within 48 hours of posting it. After 48 hours, you cannot edit it. If you need to correct something after that window, you can contact Airbnb support and explain the situation, but there is no may provide they will allow you to edit it. For this reason, it is worth reading your review carefully before submitting.