Where to Find the Review Option and When You Can Write One

You can write a review on Airbnb starting the day after your checkout. Open the Airbnb app or website, go to your account menu, and select Trips. Find the listing you stayed at and tap or click Write a review. The button appears only after checkout is complete, and you have 30 days from your checkout date to submit one. After 30 days, the option disappears and you cannot add a review.

If you do not see the review button, check that you are logged into the correct account — the one you used to book the stay. Some listings may not allow reviews if the host has closed their account or if Airbnb has removed the listing. In those cases, the review option will not appear at all.

Key Takeaways

  • Reviews open the day after checkout and must be submitted within 30 days or the option closes permanently.
  • You rate the listing on five categories — cleanliness, communication, accuracy, location, and value — using a star scale from one to five stars.
  • Written comments are optional, but hosts and future guests can see only the stars and your written text, not your draft or edits.
  • Once you submit a review, you cannot edit or delete it, so read it carefully before you click submit.
  • Hosts can see your review when ready after you post it, and they may write a response that appears below your review.

The Five Rating Categories and What Each One Means

Airbnb asks you to rate five separate things, each on a scale of one to five stars. Cleanliness covers whether the space was clean when you arrived and whether bathrooms, kitchen, and bedrooms met basic hygiene standards. CommunicationAccuracyLocationValue

You do not have to give the same star rating to all five categories. A listing can be spotlessly clean but in a noisy area, or perfectly described but overpriced. Rate each one independently based on your actual experience. One star means poor or unacceptable; two stars means below average; three stars means acceptable or average; four stars means good; five stars means excellent.

Writing Your Written Review

After you rate the five categories, Airbnb shows a text box where you can write additional comments. This is optional — you can submit a review with only star ratings and no written text. If you do write comments, keep them factual and specific. Instead of "The place was great," write "The kitchen had all the tools we needed and the host left clear instructions for the coffee maker." Instead of "Avoid this place," write "The bedroom window faces a busy street and traffic noise was loud until 11 p.m."

Mention problems you encountered so future guests know what to expect and hosts can make improvements. If the listing said it had air conditioning but did not, say so. If the neighborhood was louder than the photos suggested, describe what you heard and when. Hosts read these reviews and often use them to fix real issues. At the same time, avoid personal attacks or language that is hostile or abusive — Airbnb may remove reviews that cross that line.

What Happens After You Submit

Once you click the submit button, your review is live when ready. The host can see it right away, and it appears on the listing page for all future guests to read. You cannot edit, change, or delete your review after submission, so read it one more time before you click submit. Check for typos, make sure your star ratings match what you meant to give, and confirm that your written comments are fair and accurate.

The host may respond to your review with their own written reply. Their response appears directly below your review and is visible to everyone. Hosts sometimes use this space to thank guests, explain a problem, or offer context. You cannot respond to the host's reply, so if you want to discuss something further, send them a direct message instead.

Reviews That Airbnb May Remove or Hide

Airbnb removes reviews that contain hate speech, slurs, or language targeting someone's identity. Reviews that make accusations without evidence — such as claiming the host stole from you without describing what or when — may also be removed. Personal information like the host's real name, address, or phone number should not appear in a review; if it does, Airbnb will edit it out or take the review down.

Reviews that are purely about a guest's personal preferences rather than the listing itself sometimes get flagged. For example, "I do not like modern furniture" is a preference, not a review of accuracy or condition. "The listing said mid-century modern but the furniture was IKEA flat-pack" is a review of accuracy. Stick to what the listing promised versus what you found, and what a reasonable guest would want to know.

How Your Review Affects the Host and Listing

Airbnb calculates the host's overall rating by averaging all the reviews they receive. A single five-star review helps; a single one-star review hurts. Hosts with ratings below 4.6 stars may lose visibility in search results, and those below 4.0 may be suspended. This means your honest review — whether positive or critical — shapes whether the host stays active on the platform and whether future guests find them easily.

If you had a genuinely poor experience, your review is important feedback. Hosts use low ratings to identify problems: a pattern of one-star cleanliness reviews might prompt them to hire a cleaner or replace bedding. At the same time, if you had a minor inconvenience or personal preference, consider whether a three-star or four-star rating is more fair than a one-star. Hosts depend on their ratings to stay in business.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can the host see my review before I submit it?

No. Your review is private while you are writing it. The host sees it only after you click submit. Once it is live, you cannot change it, so proofread carefully before you submit.

What if I forgot to leave a review and it has been more than 30 days?

The review option closes after 30 days and does not reopen. You cannot add a review after that important date. If you are within the 30-day window, go to your Trips page and look for the Write a review button on that listing.

Can I leave a review if the host canceled my booking?

No. Airbnb only allows reviews after a completed stay. If the host canceled before you arrived, or if you canceled, no review option appears. You can only review stays you actually completed.

What if the host left me a bad review first?

Host reviews and guest reviews are separate. A negative host review does not prevent you from leaving your own honest guest review. Write your review based on your actual experience with the listing and host, not in response to what they said about you.

Can I ask the host to remove a bad review I left?

You cannot remove your own review after submission. If you believe you made a factual error, you can contact Airbnb support and explain the mistake, but they rarely remove reviews. The better approach is to be careful and thorough before you click submit.