How to get started on Airbnb

It’s easy to list your home on Airbnb. Set up a listing in just a few steps, update it anytime, and prepare your space at your own pace.

Airbnb guides you through the process.

• Tell us about your place. Add your property type, location, number of bedrooms and bathrooms, and how many guests you can host.
• Make your listing stand out. Upload high-quality photos, write a title and description that capture what makes your place unique, and select amenities you offer.
• Finish up and publish. Set your weekday and weekend prices, and decide whether to add a new listing promotion to attract your first guests and build reviews.

Great photos help guests imagine themselves in your home and can improve your listing’s visibility in search results. 

• Tidy up. Guests are attracted to decluttered and staged rooms. Photograph from angles that show the full space.
• Find the best light. Soft, natural light gives photos a warm tone. 
• Hire a professional. Airbnb pro photography is available in select cities worldwide. Hosts who used Airbnb pro photography saw a 21% increase in earnings, on average, over the next year compared to those who did not.* 

Choosing a competitive price can help your listing stand out and attract bookings. Your nightly price is up to you, and you can always adjust it. 

• View price tips. You’ll see a suggested price based on your location, amenities, and similar listings nearby. You can use it as a starting point or set your own. 
• Check similar listings. Once you publish your listing, Airbnb offers tools to easily compare similar listings in the area. 
• Choose how to get paid. Airbnb collects payment from guests before check-in and usually sends your payout about 24 hours after each guest’s scheduled arrival. Select your preferred payout method, which varies by location, and change it anytime.

With a few considerations, you can help your guests feel more welcome. 

• Stock essentials. Provide fresh linens, towels, toilet paper, soap, and shampoo.
• Make check-in simple. You could install a smart lock or clear signage to make sure guests can easily get inside. 
• Establish a cleaning routine. Decide whether you’ll handle cleaning or hire a professional. Cleanliness is one of the most important factors in guest reviews.
• Store valuables. For safekeeping, put your jewelry, passports, and other personal items in a locked closet or off-site.

*This value was calculated by evaluating the difference in dollar value of host earnings of homes listings with Airbnb Professional Photography for over 14,700 global listings over 1 year from 2024 to 2025, as compared to those without.

Information contained in this article may have changed since publication.