How Airbnb reviews are posted and become visible

After a guest checks out, Airbnb sends them a review request via email or the app. 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 before they go live. The host can see the review right away, but the guest cannot see what the host wrote about them until after the host submits their own review, or until 48 hours have passed, whichever comes first.

This timing rule exists to prevent guests and hosts from writing retaliatory reviews. If a host leaves a negative review, the guest will eventually see it, but not when ready. The same protection applies in reverse: a guest's negative review is visible to the host and to other potential guests when ready, but the guest won't know what the host said until the host's review window closes.

Key Takeaways

  • Guests have 14 days after checkout to write a review, and it appears publicly as soon as they submit it.
  • Hosts cannot see what guests wrote about them until they submit their own review or 48 hours pass, whichever is sooner.
  • Airbnb removes reviews that violate its policies, including those containing profanity, personal information, or claims unrelated to the stay itself.
  • A listing's overall rating is the average of all reviews left in the past year, and this number affects how often the listing appears in search results.
  • Both guests and hosts can flag a review as inappropriate, and Airbnb staff will investigate whether it breaks the review policy.

What makes a review visible or hidden on Airbnb

Not every review that is submitted stays public. Airbnb removes reviews that contain profanity, slurs, or threats. Reviews that include the guest's or host's real name, phone number, email, or address are also taken down, because Airbnb wants to keep personal information off the platform. Reviews that describe something completely unrelated to the stay — a political rant, a complaint about Airbnb's policies rather than the listing itself — may be removed as well.

If a review stays up but you believe it violates Airbnb's rules, you can flag it. Click the three dots next to the review and select "Report this review." Airbnb staff will read it and decide whether to remove it. This process can take several days. You cannot delete a review you wrote yourself after 48 hours have passed, so if you spot a typo or want to change your mind, you need to act quickly.

How the overall rating is calculated

The star rating you see on a listing — 4.8 stars, 4.5 stars, and so on — is the average of all reviews left in the past 12 months. If a listing has 50 reviews averaging 4.9 stars, that is the number shown. Airbnb includes only reviews from completed stays, not from cancelled bookings.

The overall rating matters because it affects search ranking. Listings with higher ratings appear higher in search results when guests filter by "top rated" or sort by rating. A listing that drops below 4.6 stars may be flagged by Airbnb as needing improvement, and hosts receive a notification. A very low rating — below 4.0 — can eventually lead to the listing being removed from the platform, though Airbnb gives hosts time to improve before taking that step.

The five-point review scale and what each star means

Guests and hosts both rate each other on a scale of 1 to 5 stars. A 5-star review means the reviewer is satisfied and would recommend the stay. A 4-star review typically means the stay was good but had minor issues — perhaps the bed was comfortable but the wifi was slow. A 3-star review signals that the stay was acceptable but had noticeable problems. A 2-star review means significant issues occurred. A 1-star review indicates the stay was poor or the reviewer had a serious problem.

Guests also rate specific categories: cleanliness, communication, accuracy (whether the listing matched the photos and description), location, and value. Hosts see these category ratings separately from the overall star rating. If a listing consistently scores low on cleanliness, for example, the host knows exactly what to improve. These category ratings do not appear publicly on the listing page, but they inform Airbnb's internal ranking system.

What hosts and guests can see in reviews

When you read a review on a listing, you see the reviewer's first name and the first letter of their last name (for example, "Sarah M."), their profile photo, the date they stayed, the number of nights they booked, and their written comment. You also see the star rating they gave. If the reviewer is a "Superhost" — a host with consistently high ratings — that badge appears next to their name.

You do not see the reviewer's full name, email, or location. You also cannot see the detailed category ratings (cleanliness, communication, etc.) unless you are the host of that listing. Guests can see the overall star rating and read all the reviews, but the detailed breakdown is private information between the host and Airbnb.

How reviews affect your standing on Airbnb

For hosts, reviews directly influence whether Airbnb designates them as a Superhost. To earn Superhost status, a host must maintain an average rating of at least 4.8 stars, have a response rate of 90 percent or higher, have a cancellation rate below 1 percent, and have completed at least 10 stays in the past year. Superhosts get a badge on their listing, appear higher in search results, and may receive a discount on Airbnb's service fees.

For guests, reviews do not affect their standing in the same way, but a guest with many low ratings or reviews mentioning rule-breaking may find their future bookings declined by hosts. Hosts can read guest reviews before accepting a booking request, and some hosts decline guests with poor review histories. A guest with a pattern of complaints or damage claims may eventually be removed from the platform.

Responding to reviews you receive

Both hosts and guests can write a response to a review left about them. A host might respond to a guest's review by thanking them for the feedback or addressing a complaint. A guest might respond to a host's review by clarifying something or apologizing for an issue. Responses appear directly below the original review and are visible to everyone.

Responses are useful for showing future guests or hosts that you take feedback seriously. If a guest left a 3-star review mentioning that the shower was broken, and the host responds explaining that it has since been fixed, that response helps other guests make an informed decision. Keep responses professional and factual — avoid arguing or making excuses, as defensive responses often make you look worse to people reading the listing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I ask a guest to remove or change their review?

You can ask, but Airbnb does not require guests to change their review, and most will not. If you believe the review violates Airbnb's policies — it contains profanity, personal information, or is completely unrelated to your listing — you can flag it for Airbnb to investigate. Otherwise, your best response is to reply professionally to the review and focus on improving the issues mentioned.

What happens if I leave a review and then change my mind?

You can edit or delete your review within 48 hours of submitting it. After 48 hours, it becomes permanent and cannot be removed by you. If you believe your review violates Airbnb's policies, you can contact Airbnb support, but they will only remove it if it actually breaks the rules.

Do fake reviews happen on Airbnb, and how does the platform prevent them?

Airbnb uses automated systems to detect suspicious review patterns — for example, if many reviews appear in a short time or come from the same location. The platform also requires that reviews come from guests who completed an actual booking. Hosts cannot review themselves, and guests cannot review a listing they did not stay at. If Airbnb suspects fake reviews, it may remove them and investigate the account.

How long does it take for a flagged review to be removed?

Airbnb typically investigates flagged reviews within a few days, though the timeline can vary. If the review clearly violates the policy, it is usually removed within a week. During busy periods, it may take longer. You will receive a notification once Airbnb has made a decision.

Does my review rating affect how much I can charge for my listing?

Your rating does not directly set your price, but it affects how visible your listing is in search results. A higher-rated listing appears more often when guests search, which typically leads to more bookings. This indirect effect can influence your earning potential, but Airbnb does not automatically adjust your nightly rate based on reviews.