Choosing cancellation policies

Travelers want flexibility. In fact, 44% of Airbnb guests say free cancellation is one of their top needs when choosing a place to stay.* That’s why listings with free cancellation periods longer than 48 hours after booking are highlighted in search results.  

The right cancellation policy can support your goals while still attracting bookings. Select the standard and long-term cancellation policies that work best for you. You can update your policy at any time.**

Your standard cancellation policy applies to reservations of 27 or fewer consecutive nights.

• Flexible: Guests can cancel up to 24 hours before check-in for a full refund, and you won’t be paid. If they cancel less than 24 hours before check-in and never check in, you’ll be paid for the first night. If they cancel after check-in, you’ll be paid for each night they stay, plus 1 additional night.
• Moderate: Guests can cancel up to 5 days before check-in for a full refund, and you won’t be paid. If they cancel after that, you’ll be paid for each night they stay, plus 1 additional night and 50% for all unspent nights.
• Limited: Guests can cancel up to 14 days before check-in for a full refund, and you won’t be paid. If they cancel between 7 and 14 days before check-in, you’ll be paid 50% for all nights. If they cancel less than 7 days before check-in, you’ll be paid 100% for all nights.
• Firm: Guests can cancel up to 30 days before check-in, and you won’t be paid. If they cancel between 7 and 30 days before check-in, you’ll be paid 50% for all nights. If they cancel less than 7 days before check-in, you’ll be paid 100% for all nights.

For all standard policies, guests receive a full refund within 24 hours of booking if the cancellation occurs at least 7 days before check-in.

Some hosts earn more money by adding a non-refundable option to their standard cancellation policy. This allows guests to choose a stricter policy for a discounted price, typically 10% off your base price. If they cancel the reservation, you keep your entire payout for all nights booked.

Your long-term cancellation policy applies to monthly stays, which are reservations of 28 or more consecutive nights.

• Firm: Guests can cancel up to 30 days before check-in for a full refund. If a guest cancels after that, you’ll be paid 100% for all nights spent, plus 30 additional nights. If fewer than 30 nights remain on the reservation when the guest cancels, you’ll be paid 100% for all remaining nights.
• Strict: Guests can cancel within 48 hours of booking and at least 28 days before check-in for a full refund. If a guest cancels after that, you’ll be 100% paid for all nights spent, plus 30 additional nights from the date of the reservation. If fewer than 30 nights remain on the reservation when the guest cancels, you’ll be paid 100% for all remaining nights.

Cleaning fees are fully refunded if a guest cancels during the free cancellation period. If they cancel after that, the cleaning fee is considered part of the nightly price, and any refund is based on your cancellation policy.***

Think about your needs, goals, and ideal guests, and choose the policy that works best. To attract guests, consider starting with the most flexible cancellation policy that supports your hosting business.

A flexible policy may be right if:

• It’s the low season and you want to attract guests with flexible travel plans.
• It’s the high season and you feel confident your space will get rebooked if a guest cancels.
• Your listing is in a competitive location and you aren’t concerned about late cancellations.

A moderate policy may be right if:

• You want to discourage last-minute cancellations.
• You prefer some time to get another booking if a guest cancels.
• You want to attract business travelers and other guests who need to make refundable reservations.

A limited policy may be right if:

• You want to avoid cancellations but can handle them with at least 2 weeks’ notice. 
• You like having some time to get another booking if a guest cancels.
• Your space is in demand, but you want to attract guests looking for some flexibility.

A firm policy may be right if:

• You want to avoid cancellations but can handle them with at least 30 days’ notice. 
• You need more time to get another booking if a guest cancels.
• Your space is in demand year-round.

*Based on an Airbnb survey of travelers from 11 global markets in 2024.

**There may be special cases in which different cancellation policies apply to your  listing. Learn more

***For reservations booked before April 21, 2025, cleaning fees are fully refunded if a guest cancels before check-in, regardless of your cancellation policy.

Information contained in this article may have changed since publication.