Open the Airbnb App and Find Your Past Booking
To leave a review, you must first open the Airbnb app on your phone or tablet and navigate to your account. Tap the profile icon (usually in the bottom right corner), then select Trips. This shows all your past and upcoming reservations.
Scroll through your trips until you find the stay you want to review. The listing must be a completed booking — you cannot review a trip that is still in progress or scheduled for the future. Once you locate the correct stay, tap on it to open the booking details.
Key Takeaways
- You can only leave a review after your checkout date has passed, and Airbnb gives you 30 days from checkout to submit one.
- The review form asks you to rate the host, cleanliness, communication, and accuracy of the listing, then write a written comment if you choose.
- You can include up to five photos in your review to show what the space actually looked like during your stay.
- Once you submit a review, you cannot edit or delete it, so read it over carefully before posting.
- Your review becomes visible to other users and to the host when ready after you submit it.
Tap the Review Button and Rate Your Experience
On the booking details page, look for a button labeled Review or Leave a Review. Tap it to open the review form. Airbnb will ask you to rate several categories on a scale, typically one to five stars or a similar scale depending on the app version.
You will rate the host, the cleanliness of the space, how well the host communicated with you, and how accurately the listing photos and description matched the real property. Take your time with these ratings — they directly affect the host's overall score and help future guests make decisions.
Write Your Written Comment
After the star ratings, Airbnb offers a text field where you can write a longer comment about your stay. This section is optional, but it is where you provide the most useful information to other guests. Write honestly about what you experienced: what worked well, what surprised you, whether the neighborhood was as described, and whether you would stay there again.
Keep your comment factual and specific. Instead of "great place," write "the kitchen had everything we needed and the host left clear instructions for the WiFi password." Instead of "dirty," describe what you found: "the bathroom tiles had mold in the corners" or "we found hair on the sheets." Specific details help other guests and give the host actionable feedback.
Add Photos to Your Review
The Airbnb app lets you attach up to five photos to your review. Tap the photo icon in the review form and select images from your phone's camera roll. Choose photos that show the actual condition of the space — a messy kitchen, a broken lamp, or a beautiful view all tell the story of your stay more clearly than words alone.
Photos are especially useful if you are pointing out a problem or praising a feature. If you are writing about cleanliness, a photo of the space as you found it carries more weight than a description. Make sure the photos are clear and taken in good lighting so other guests can see what you are referring to.
Review Your Text Before Submitting
Before you tap the submit button, read your entire review from start to finish. Check that your star ratings match what you wrote — if you gave five stars but your comment says the place was disappointing, that mismatch will confuse readers. Make sure your tone is fair and that you have not made claims you cannot back up.
Remember that your review is permanent once you submit it. Airbnb does not allow you to edit or delete reviews after posting. If you realize you made a mistake or want to change your wording, you cannot do so. This is why reading carefully before submitting is important.
Submit Your Review and Understand What Happens Next
Once you are satisfied with your review, tap the Submit button. Your review will post when ready and become visible to other users and to the host. The host will receive a notification that you have left a review and can read it right away.
Your review will appear on the listing's page under the host's other reviews. It will also be stored in your own profile under your past trips. Other guests can see your review when they are considering whether to book that property, so your honest feedback helps shape their decisions.
What to Do If You Cannot Find the Review Button
If you do not see a review option on your booking details, it may be because the checkout date has not yet passed. Airbnb only allows reviews after your stay is complete. Check the booking dates to confirm your checkout was at least one day ago.
Another reason the review button might not appear is if you have already left a review for that booking. Each booking can only have one review per guest. If you want to change what you wrote, you will need to contact Airbnb support, though they may not be able to remove or edit the review for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I have to leave a review after checkout?
Airbnb gives you 30 days from your checkout date to leave a review. After 30 days, the review button disappears and you can no longer post one. If you miss the window, you cannot go back and add a review later.
Can the host see my review before other guests do?
No. Your review becomes public when ready when you submit it. The host is notified that a review has been posted, but they cannot see it before other guests can. Both the host and the public see your review at the same time.
What if I want to change my review after I posted it?
You cannot edit or delete your review through the app once it is submitted. If you made a factual error or want to remove it for another reason, you can contact Airbnb support through the app's help section, but they may decline to remove it. Always proofread before submitting.
Do I have to write a comment, or can I just leave star ratings?
The written comment is optional. You can submit a review with only star ratings and no text. However, detailed written reviews are more helpful to other guests and to the host, so they are encouraged.
Can I leave a review if I had a problem with my stay?
Yes. You can and should leave an honest review if something went wrong. Describe the problem clearly and specifically. If the issue was serious, you can also contact Airbnb support separately to report it and ask about a refund or resolution.