How to cancel your Airbnb booking

You can cancel an Airbnb reservation through the Airbnb app or website by going to your reservations, selecting the booking you want to cancel, and clicking the "Cancel reservation" button. The amount of money you receive back depends on the host's cancellation policy and how close you are to your check-in date. Airbnb will show you the refund amount before you confirm the cancellation.

The cancellation takes effect when ready once you confirm it. The host will be notified right away. Your refund will be processed to your original payment method within 5 to 10 business days, though some banks take longer to display the credit in your account.

Key Takeaways

  • Cancellation policies range from fully refundable to non-refundable, and the refund you receive depends on when you cancel relative to your check-in date.
  • You can cancel through the Airbnb app or website by finding your reservation and selecting "Cancel reservation"—no phone call or email to support is required.
  • The refund amount appears on screen before you confirm, so you will know exactly what you are getting back before you proceed.
  • Refunds process to your original payment method in 5 to 10 business days, but your bank may take additional time to post the credit.
  • If your host cancels instead, Airbnb offers a full refund plus a credit toward a future booking, regardless of their cancellation policy.

Understanding Airbnb cancellation policies

Airbnb hosts set their own cancellation policies, and the policy determines how much money you get back if you cancel. The most common policies are flexible, moderate, strict, and non-refundable. A flexible policy usually refunds most or all of your money if you cancel up to one day before check-in. A moderate policy typically refunds your full amount if you cancel 5 or more days before check-in, but gives you less if you cancel closer to your arrival date.

A strict policy refunds your full amount only if you cancel 30 or more days before check-in. If you cancel within 30 days, you lose your money. Non-refundable policies do not return any of your payment if you cancel, no matter when you cancel. The host's policy is listed on the listing page before you book, usually under a heading like "Cancellation policy" or in the reservation details.

Some hosts also offer a "super strict" policy, which refunds nothing if you cancel within 60 days of check-in. Always read the policy before you book so you understand what happens if your plans change.

Step-by-step cancellation process

Open the Airbnb app or go to airbnb.com and sign into your account. Click on the menu icon (three horizontal lines on mobile, or your profile picture on desktop) and select "Trips" or "Reservations." Find the booking you want to cancel and tap or click on it to open the reservation details.

Look for a button or link that says "Cancel reservation." Click it. Airbnb will show you a summary of the cancellation, including the refund amount you will receive and the date the refund will be processed. Review this information carefully. If you agree, click "Cancel reservation" again to confirm. The cancellation is now complete, and the host will receive a notification when ready.

If you do not see a "Cancel reservation" button, the cancellation window may have closed. Some policies do not allow cancellations within a certain number of days of check-in. In that case, you can contact the host directly through the Airbnb messaging system to ask if they will make an exception, but they are not required to do so.

What happens to your refund

Your refund goes back to the original payment method you used to book—usually a credit card, debit card, or PayPal account. Airbnb processes the refund within 5 to 10 business days. However, your bank or payment provider may take additional time to post the credit to your account, sometimes up to 10 more business days depending on your financial institution.

If you paid with a credit card, the refund will appear as a credit on your next statement or as a pending credit that your bank will process. If you paid with a debit card, the refund may take longer because debit transactions are handled differently than credit transactions. If you paid with PayPal, the money will return to your PayPal balance first, and you can then transfer it to your bank account if you wish.

Keep your confirmation email from Airbnb as proof of the cancellation and refund. If the refund does not appear within the timeframe Airbnb stated, you can contact Airbnb support with your reservation number and ask them to investigate.

Canceling when the host has already canceled

If the host cancels on you, you do not need to cancel yourself. Airbnb will automatically issue a full refund of your payment, regardless of the host's cancellation policy. You will also receive a credit toward a future booking, usually equal to the amount you paid. This credit is separate from your refund and can be used on any Airbnb reservation within one year.

Airbnb will notify you by email and in the app when the host has canceled. The refund and credit will be processed on the same timeline as a regular cancellation—5 to 10 business days for the refund, plus time for your bank to post it.

When you cannot cancel through the app

If you are within a non-refundable cancellation window or a strict policy window with no refund available, the "Cancel reservation" button may still appear, but you will see that the refund amount is zero. You can still click it to cancel, but you will lose your entire payment. Before you do, consider whether contacting the host directly might help.

Some hosts will make exceptions to their cancellation policy if you reach out and explain your situation. Send a message through the Airbnb app explaining why you need to cancel and ask if the host would consider a partial or full refund. The host is under no obligation to agree, but many will work with you if the reason is genuine. If the host agrees, they can issue a refund manually through Airbnb, and you can then cancel the reservation.

If you have a serious issue—such as a health emergency, a natural disaster affecting your travel, or a safety concern with the listing—contact Airbnb support directly. Airbnb has a process for extenuating circumstances and may issue a refund or credit even if the policy would normally deny it.

Disputing a refund or cancellation issue

If you canceled but did not receive the refund amount Airbnb promised, or if your refund has not arrived after 15 business days, contact Airbnb support. Go to the Help Center on the Airbnb website or app, search for "cancellation refund," and select "Contact us." Describe the issue and provide your reservation number. Airbnb support will investigate and either process the missing refund or explain why the amount was different than expected.

Keep records of your cancellation confirmation email, screenshots of the refund amount shown at cancellation, and your bank or payment provider statements showing when (or if) the refund posted. These documents help Airbnb support resolve the issue faster. If Airbnb support does not resolve it, you can dispute the charge with your credit card company or bank, though this should be a last resort.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I cancel an Airbnb reservation after check-in has started?

No, you cannot cancel a reservation once you have checked in. If you need to leave early, contact the host directly through the app and ask if they will issue a partial refund. Airbnb does not process cancellations for active stays, so any refund would come from the host's goodwill, not from Airbnb's system.

What if I cancel but the host refuses to accept it?

Once you click "Cancel reservation" and confirm it in the app, the cancellation is final on Airbnb's end. The host cannot refuse it. The host will be notified and your refund will be processed according to their policy. The host's only option is to contact you and ask you to rebook, but they cannot force you to keep the reservation.

Do I lose my money if I cancel a non-refundable reservation?

Yes, non-refundable policies mean you will not receive any refund if you cancel. However, you can still cancel through the app—you will just see that the refund amount is zero. Before you confirm, consider contacting the host to ask if they will make an exception, though they are not required to do so.

How long does it take to see the refund in my bank account?

Airbnb processes refunds within 5 to 10 business days, but your bank may take an additional 5 to 10 business days to post the credit. The total time is often 10 to 20 business days from the cancellation date. Debit cards typically take longer than credit cards. If it has been more than 20 business days, contact Airbnb support with your reservation number.

Can I cancel an Airbnb reservation and rebook a different date with the same host?

Yes, you can cancel and rebook separately. Cancel your current reservation through the app, receive your refund, and then search for the same listing on a different date and book it again. The host's cancellation policy will explore to the new reservation as well. Some hosts offer a discount if you contact them directly to rebook, so you can try messaging the host before you cancel to ask if they will offer a rate adjustment.