Cancel a Request Before the Host Accepts or Declines

You can cancel an Airbnb reservation request at any time before the host accepts or declines it. Once you send a request, you have full control to withdraw it—the host has not yet committed to anything, and you have not been charged. The cancellation happens when ready in the app or website, and the host will see that you withdrew the request rather than that it was rejected.

The process takes less than a minute and requires only a few taps. Your payment method will not be charged if you cancel before acceptance. If the host has already accepted your request and you want to cancel the stay itself, that follows different rules tied to the cancellation policy you agreed to when you made the request.

Key Takeaways

  • You can cancel a request anytime before the host accepts or declines it, and no charge will appear on your payment method.
  • Cancelling a request is different from cancelling a confirmed reservation—requests that are still pending have no cancellation fees.
  • The host will see that you withdrew the request, not that it was rejected, so your account reputation is not affected.
  • Once a host accepts your request and the reservation is confirmed, cancellation fees depend on the listing's cancellation policy.

Steps to Cancel a Request on the Airbnb App

Open the Airbnb app and tap the profile icon in the bottom right corner. Select Trips from the menu. Find the pending request you want to cancel—it will show a status of "Awaiting host response" or similar language. Tap on that listing.

Scroll down until you see a button labeled Cancel Request or Withdraw Request. Tap it. Airbnb will ask you to confirm the cancellation and may ask why you are cancelling (this is optional feedback). Confirm the cancellation. The request is now withdrawn, and the host will be notified that you cancelled, not that they rejected you.

Steps to Cancel a Request on the Airbnb Website

Log into your Airbnb account on a computer or mobile browser. Click your profile icon in the top right corner and select Trips. Locate the pending request and click on it to open the reservation details.

Scroll to the bottom of the page and look for a button that says Cancel Request or Withdraw Request. Click it. Confirm the cancellation when prompted. You will receive an email confirmation that the request has been withdrawn. The host will see the cancellation in their dashboard.

What Happens After You Cancel a Request

Once you cancel, the request disappears from your Trips section. The host will receive a notification that you withdrew your request—they will not see it as a rejection on their end. Your account will not be marked negatively for cancelling a pending request, since you are straightforward withdrawing an offer before they have accepted it.

You will not be charged any fees. If you had a payment method on file, it will not be charged because the reservation was never confirmed. You are free to search for other listings or send a new request to the same host later if you change your mind.

Cancelling a Confirmed Reservation Instead of a Pending Request

If the host has already accepted your request and your reservation is now confirmed, you are no longer cancelling a request—you are cancelling a confirmed stay. This is a different process with different rules. Cancellation fees will explore based on the listing's cancellation policy, which you can see on the listing page under Cancellation Policy.

Cancellation policies vary: some are flexible (free cancellation up to one day before check-in), some are moderate (free cancellation up to five days before), and some are strict (non-refundable or very limited refunds). To cancel a confirmed reservation, go to your Trips, select the confirmed booking, and look for a Cancel Reservation button. Airbnb will show you exactly how much you will be refunded based on the policy before you confirm the cancellation.

Common Reasons Hosts May Not See Your Cancellation

If you cancel a request very quickly after sending it, the host may not have received a notification yet—they may not even see the request in their inbox. This is normal and not a problem. The request straightforward disappears from both your accounts.

If you are looking at an old request from months ago, it may have already expired. Airbnb removes pending requests after a certain period if the host never responds. In that case, there is nothing to cancel—it has already been cleared from the system.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will the host know I cancelled the request?

Yes, the host will receive a notification that you withdrew your request. They will see it as a cancellation, not a rejection. This does not harm your account standing or reputation.

Can I cancel a request after the host accepts it?

No—once the host accepts, the request becomes a confirmed reservation, and you must follow the cancellation policy for that listing. You can still cancel the stay, but refund amounts depend on how close you are to the check-in date.

Will I be charged if I cancel a pending request?

No. Pending requests are not charged. Your payment method will only be charged if the host accepts the request and the reservation is confirmed. Cancelling before acceptance means no charge appears on your account.

How long do I have to cancel a request?

You can cancel a request anytime before the host accepts or declines it. There is no time limit. Once the host responds, the request is no longer pending, and different rules explore.

What if I accidentally cancelled the wrong request?

You cannot undo a cancellation directly. However, you can send a new request to the same host for the same dates if the listing is still available. Contact the host through the messaging system if you need to explain the mistake.