The basics of hosting on Airbnb

People start hosting on Airbnb for many reasons, like earning money and meeting folks from around the world.

“I’ve been able to do three years of textiles at Morley College,” says Tessa, a Host in London. “I’ve been able to travel, and hosting has helped me pay for a new kitchen.”

Whatever your goals, hosting on Airbnb can help you reach them. Here’s how to get started.

You can host any space you have available, whether it’s an entire home, a spare room, or a comfy sofa bed. The key is to create a listing that accurately lets guests know what to expect.

You also need to provide your guests with warm hospitality. In general, that means:

• Communicating promptly and clearly
• Providing a safe and clean space
• Offering the basic amenities needed for a comfortable stay
• Adding extra touches to make your place special

Your listing page is your opportunity to entice guests to book your place. When you set up your listing, share what’s unique about your space and set clear expectations for guests.

You’ll need at least five photos to get started. We recommend adding photos of each room from different angles to give guests a virtual tour of your space. Pay extra attention to the first photo you add, because it’s what shows up in guests’ search results.

In your listing title and description, try to capture what guests should know about your space. For example, a Host who has a cozy space by the sea might write “Cozy beachside getaway” as their listing title. Be sure to note all the amenities you offer, as well as helpful details, like whether your place has stairs or a step-free entrance.

Finally, consider how many people your space can accommodate comfortably, given the number of rooms and beds available. Set your maximum number of guests accordingly.

Your nightly price is entirely your choice. You can set custom prices for weekends, longer stays, and seasonality, as well as for other reasons that make sense for your listing.

When you’re deciding how much to charge, we encourage you to consider what other Hosts are charging for similar spaces in your area. Keep in mind that guests will pay fees and taxes in addition to your nightly price.

Starting next month, guests will have the option to display the total price they’re paying up front, including all fees before taxes, in Airbnb search results. In countries and regions where local rules already require total prices, the sum of your nightly price, fees, and taxes will be displayed up front.

You can also try our Smart Pricing tool, which automatically updates your nightly price based on local demand.

Airbnb charges each guest before they check-in, so you never have to handle money directly or worry about not getting paid. Most Hosts pay a flat service fee of 3% of their booking totals.

We send the money you earn from hosting to you about 24 hours after each guest’s scheduled check-in time. Exactly when the funds arrive in your account depends on the payout method you choose.

Payout methods—bank transfers, PayPal, Western Union, and Fast Pay, to name a few—vary based on your location. You can set up your payout method now and change it at any time.