Write your review within 14 days of checkout, directly in the Airbnb app or website
You can leave a review on Airbnb up to 14 days after you check out. After that window closes, the option disappears and you cannot add a review later. Open the Airbnb app or go to airbnb.com, find the listing in your booking history, and select "Write a review." You will see fields for a star rating, a written review, and photos if you want to add them.
Both you and your host can see each other's reviews once they are posted. Hosts can also see your review before they write theirs, so your words may influence what they say about you. The review becomes public on the listing page and appears in your profile.
Key Takeaways
- You have exactly 14 days after checkout to write a review; after that, the option is no longer available.
- Your review appears publicly on the listing page and in your profile, so hosts and future guests will read it.
- Star ratings and written reviews are separate — you can give five stars but write a detailed note about what could improve.
- Airbnb removes reviews that contain contact information, threats, discrimination, or false claims about illegal activity.
- You can edit or delete your review at any time, even after the 14-day window closes.
How to give a star rating and write the text
The star rating is the first thing you choose. Click the number of stars (one through five) that matches your overall experience. This rating affects the listing's average score, which appears prominently on the listing page and in search results.
Next, write your review in the text box. You can write as little as a single sentence or as much as several paragraphs. Be specific: instead of "Great place," say "The kitchen had everything we needed for cooking, the bed was very comfortable, and the host left clear instructions for the WiFi password." Specific details help future guests decide if the listing matches what they are looking for, and they help the host understand what worked well.
You can also upload photos from your stay. These appear alongside your review and give other guests a real sense of the space. Photos are optional, but they often make your review more useful to people reading it.
What to include and what Airbnb will remove
Write honestly about your experience. Mention cleanliness, noise levels, how accurately the listing matched the photos, whether the host responded quickly, and whether the location was as described. If something did not work — a broken appliance, a missing item, a noisy street — say so. Hosts use reviews to improve, and future guests need to know what to expect.
Airbnb removes reviews that contain your phone number, email address, or other contact information. The platform also removes reviews that include threats, slurs, or language targeting someone's race, religion, gender, or other protected characteristic. Reviews claiming illegal activity happened at the property are removed unless you report the activity to Airbnb separately through their safety tools.
Do not use your review to settle a dispute with the host. If something went wrong during your stay, contact Airbnb's support team before or instead of posting a negative review. Airbnb can sometimes resolve issues or offer refunds if you report them within the right timeframe. A review is for sharing your experience with future guests, not for negotiating with the host.
How your review affects the host and the listing
Your review becomes part of the listing's public record. The average star rating appears on the listing page, in search results, and in the host's profile. A single one-star review does not destroy a listing, but a pattern of low ratings affects how often Airbnb shows it to searchers. Hosts with ratings below 4.6 stars may be suspended or removed from the platform.
Hosts also see your review and may respond to it publicly. A host's response appears directly below your review and is visible to all future guests. Hosts sometimes use responses to clarify misunderstandings or explain circumstances — for example, if you complained about noise and the host notes that construction was happening that week. You can reply to the host's response if you want to add more information.
Edit or delete your review anytime
You can change your review at any point, even years after you posted it. Open your profile, find the review under "Reviews I've written," and select "Edit" or "Delete." If you delete it, the review disappears from the listing page and your profile. If you edit it, the updated version replaces the old one when ready.
Hosts cannot delete your review, and Airbnb will not remove a review just because the host asks. Airbnb only removes reviews that violate its content policy — reviews containing contact information, threats, discrimination, or false claims about illegal activity.
What happens if the host leaves a review first
The host can write their review of you before you write yours. When they do, you will see a notification. You can still write your review within the 14-day window, and your review will not be affected by what the host said about you. However, you will be able to see their review before you write yours, which may influence what you choose to say.
If a host's review of you is unfair or violates Airbnb's policies, you can report it. Open the review, select "Report," and explain why it violates the community standards. Airbnb reviews the report and may remove the review if it breaks the rules.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I write a review if I did not stay the full booking?
Yes. If you checked out early or cancelled, you can still write a review of the time you spent there. Your review should reflect your actual experience, not what you imagine the full stay would have been.
What if I forgot to write a review within 14 days?
Once the 14-day window closes, you cannot add a new review. The option disappears from your booking. You can still see the listing and leave a comment on the host's profile if you want to share feedback, but it will not appear as an official review on the listing page.
Can the host see my review before I post it?
No. Your review is private until you click "Post" or "Submit." Once you post it, the host and all other users can see it. You can edit or delete it afterward if you change your mind.
Do I have to write a review?
No. Writing a review is optional. If you do not write one within 14 days, the booking straightforward closes without a review from you. The host may still write a review of you.
What if I want to complain about something that happened during my stay?
Contact Airbnb support directly through the Resolution Center in the app or website. Explain the issue and what happened. Airbnb can sometimes offer refunds or credits if you report problems within a certain timeframe. Your review should describe your experience honestly, but disputes are best handled through support, not through the review itself.