Where to find the review option after checkout
You can leave a review on Airbnb within 14 days after your checkout date. The review window closes automatically after that period, so you'll want to submit your feedback while the stay is still fresh. Airbnb sends you a notification when the review period opens — check your email or log into your account to find the link.
On the Airbnb app or website, go to your account menu and select "Trips" or "Your trips". Find the listing you stayed at and look for a button that says "Leave a review" or "Write a review". This button only appears during the 14-day window after checkout. If you don't see it, either the window has closed or you're looking at a trip that hasn't ended yet.
Key Takeaways
- You have 14 days from your checkout date to leave a review, and Airbnb will send you a notification when the review period opens.
- The review form asks you to rate the listing, the host, and your overall experience on a five-star scale, plus write a written comment.
- Your review becomes visible to other guests and the host when ready after you submit it, so be honest but respectful in your feedback.
- You cannot edit or delete a review once it's posted, so read through your text carefully before clicking submit.
- Hosts can respond to your review publicly, and their response stays attached to your review permanently.
The five-star rating system and what each category measures
Airbnb's review form breaks down your experience into five separate ratings. You'll rate the cleanliness of the space, the accuracy of the listing (whether the photos and description matched reality), communication with the host, location, and value for the price you paid. Each category gets its own one-to-five star scale.
A five-star rating means excellent — the listing was exactly as described, spotless, and the host was responsive. One star means the opposite: the space was dirty, misleading, or the host didn't respond to messages. Most stays fall somewhere in the middle. You don't have to give the same rating to every category. For example, you might rate cleanliness five stars but location three stars if the neighborhood was noisier than expected.
Writing your written review
After you select your star ratings, Airbnb gives you a text box to write a comment. This is optional, but a written review is much more useful to other guests than stars alone. Aim for a few sentences to a short paragraph — you don't need to write an essay. Mention specific things: was the bed comfortable? Did the kitchen have what you needed? Was the neighborhood safe and walkable?
Be honest about problems, but describe them factually rather than angrily. Instead of "The host is terrible," write "The host took 12 hours to respond to my message about the broken shower." Instead of "The place is a dump," write "The bathroom tiles were cracked and the kitchen smelled like mold." Specific details help other guests decide if those issues matter to them, and they help the host understand what to fix.
Mention things that went well too. If the host left snacks, if the location was perfect for your trip, if the bed was exceptionally comfortable — say so. Other guests read these reviews to decide where to book, and hosts read them to know what they're doing right.
What happens after you submit your review
Your review goes live when ready after you click submit. The host and other guests can see your name, your star ratings, and your written comment right away. The host can write a response to your review, which appears directly below your text and stays there permanently. You'll receive a notification if the host responds.
You cannot edit or delete your review once it's posted. Read through your text one more time before submitting — check for typos, make sure your tone is fair, and confirm you've said what you meant to say. If you realize after posting that you made a mistake or want to change something, you'll need to contact Airbnb support to request a removal, and they rarely grant these requests unless the review violates their policies.
Common mistakes to avoid when reviewing
Don't leave a one-star review because of something outside the host's control — bad weather, a noisy neighbor in another unit, or a flight delay that made you arrive late. Rate the listing and host based on what they're responsible for. If the listing description said "quiet neighborhood" but a bar opened next door last month, that's not the host's fault.
Avoid vague complaints like "not worth the price" or "disappointed" without explaining why. A host can't improve if they don't know what went wrong. Also, don't mention the host's personal details, family members, or anything unrelated to your stay — keep your review focused on the accommodation and the hosting experience.
Don't use your review to negotiate or demand a refund. If you had a serious problem during your stay, contact the host or Airbnb support directly while you're still there or when ready after checkout. The review is for feedback, not for resolving disputes.
How your review affects the host and the listing
Hosts depend on reviews to attract future guests. A listing with mostly five-star reviews and detailed positive comments will show up higher in search results and get more bookings. A listing with low ratings or many complaints will rank lower and may struggle to fill dates. Your honest review influences which listings succeed and which ones don't.
Airbnb also uses reviews to identify hosts who consistently provide poor experiences. If a host receives many low ratings or complaints about the same issue, Airbnb may remove them from the platform. On the other hand, hosts with excellent reviews and high ratings can earn "Superhost" status, which comes with a badge on their listing and sometimes higher booking rates.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if I forgot to leave a review and the 14 days have passed?
Once the 14-day window closes, you cannot leave a review. Airbnb enforces this important date strictly. If you want to share feedback about a past stay, you can contact the host directly through the messaging system, but it won't appear as a public review on the listing.
Can the host see my review before other guests do?
No. Your review is published when ready and is visible to everyone at the same time — the host, other potential guests, and Airbnb. The host cannot see your review in advance or ask you to change it before it goes live.
What if the host leaves me a bad review in response?
Hosts can write responses to guest reviews, but they cannot change your stars or remove your review. Their response appears below your review for everyone to read. If a host's response is abusive, contains false information, or violates Airbnb's policies, you can report it to Airbnb support for review.
Can I leave a review if I cancelled my booking before the stay?
No. You can only leave a review for stays you actually completed. Cancelled bookings don't generate a review option, even if you paid for the reservation.
Should I rate the host and the listing separately?
Airbnb's form asks you to rate both, but they're measured together in the overall star average. Your five individual ratings (cleanliness, accuracy, communication, location, value) all contribute to the host's overall score. You don't rate them as completely separate entities — they're all part of one review submission.