How to set up a compelling listing page

Your first opportunity to grab potential guests’ attention is your listing page, which includes your title, description, photos, amenities, and more. When you set up your listing, it’s important to carefully choose your calendar and pricing settings, which helps ensure you only receive the bookings you want, when you want, and at the right price.

As a Host, you can decide when and how guests reserve your place. A few features to consider:

• Calendar settings: Set the minimum and maximum number of nights a guest can book, avoid same-day requests, and more—all within your calendar settings. Don’t forget to keep your calendar current by blocking dates when you’ll be away or unable to host.
• Request to book: This feature lets you review a booking request before you accept it. Just make sure you respond to the guest within 24 hours.
• Instant Book: Guests often search for listings with Instant Book, which allows guests to book your listing without pre-approval. This also signals you’re willing to host anyone who fits your booking criteria, a critical part of being an inclusive Host.

These tips can help make your listings stand out to potential guests in Airbnb search results.

• Craft a detailed description. In your title and description, try to capture anything guests should know about your space, like proximity to local outdoor attractions. For example, a Host who has a cozy space by the sea might write “Cozy beachside getaway” as their listing title.
• Add inclusive language. Make it clear in your listing description that you welcome people of all backgrounds.
• List your amenities. Popular amenities include wifi, self check-in, a laptop-friendly workspace, free parking, and a pet-friendly space, so make sure to list any that you offer.
• Share your house rules. These set expectations for guests and give them a preview of your hosting style. Use your house rules to share essential info—like a no-smoking policy—with potential guests.

Attractive images help showcase your personality and style, so it’s smart to update your photos often and remember to feature certain details. 

• Pay attention to your first photo. Along with your listing title, this is the first thing guests will notice in search results. “When I look for an Airbnb, I always go straight to the photos. So think about what sets your place apart from others,” says Candida, a Host in Joshua Tree, California.
• Use images of your whole space. Adding about three photos of each room from different angles gives guests a virtual tour of your space.
• Write descriptive captions. Your captions are a great place to tell your guests about noteworthy details. For example, don’t forget to point out the pool table or the soaking tub.
• Highlight accessibility features. Many guests search for accessibility features, so it’s important to add these to your listing details and photos.

How much you charge for your space is completely up to you. A few things to keep in mind:

• Guests often prioritize price when searching for a space, so it’s important to make sure your space is a good value for the location and amenities you offer. To find out what your place is worth, you can try our tool.
• When setting your nightly rate, it’s helpful to consider additional fees—like cleaning fees, extra guest fees, service fees, and local taxes—and how they’ll impact the total price your guests will pay.
• As a new Host, you may want to start with an introductory nightly rate until you have a positive review or two.
• The Smart Pricing feature helps you set a competitive price by automatically adjusting your rate based on demand for listings like yours.

Ready to make the most of your listing? Here’s a short checklist to help you get started:

• Are your calendar settings up to date?
• Have you turned on Instant Book?
• Are your description and title clear and engaging?
• Is it clear in your description that you welcome people of all backgrounds?
• Have you added all of your amenities?
• Do you have a variety of high-quality photos and captions?
• Did you set a competitive nightly price?

Once you’ve started hosting and receiving feedback from guests, it’s a good idea to update your listing regularly, making sure your description and photos truly highlight what’s unique about your place.

Discover more in our guide to setting up a successful listing

Information contained in this article may have changed since publication.