What Airbnb says a description should do
Airbnb's guides on writing an effective listing description and how to write a great description boil down to a few habits:
- Lead with what makes your place stand out. The first lines are what guests see before they tap "show more", so put your best feature there.
- Be specific. "A 5 minute walk to the beach" beats "close to the beach". Name the porch, the desk, the view.
- Set honest expectations. Airbnb's setting clear expectations page asks hosts to mention things that might matter to guests, like stairs, street noise or a shared wall, and not to exaggerate.
- Do not paste your whole amenity list. The amenities section already does that job. Mention two or three standouts instead.
The template
The Listing editor splits the description into parts such as The space, Guest access and Other things to note. Names can vary, so match the template to the fields you see.
Opening (2 to 3 sentences): [Type of place] with [best feature], [distance] to [main draw]. [One sentence on who it suits: couples, families, remote workers, groups of friends]. [One sentence on the feel: quiet street, lots of light, renovated kitchen].
The space: [Number] bedrooms: [bed type in each]. [Number] bathrooms: [shower or tub]. Living area with [sofa, TV with streaming, books]. Kitchen with [the items guests ask about: coffee maker, dishwasher, oven]. Outside: [porch, yard, grill, fire pit]. Workspace: [desk, chair, wifi speed if you have tested it].
Guest access: Guests have [the whole home | a private suite with its own entrance | a private room and shared kitchen]. Parking: [where and how many cars]. Check-in is [self check-in with keypad | lockbox | meet in person].
Getting around: [Distance and travel mode to 2 or 3 places guests go: beach, downtown, airport, grocery store].
Other things to note: [Stairs to the entrance or bedrooms]. [Noise: street, neighbors, trains]. [Anything shared]. [Pets on site]. [Local rules guests should know, like parking permits].
A filled-in example (fictional)
Marsh view cottage with a screened porch, 10 minutes by bike to the beach. Best for couples or a small family who want a quiet base with room to spread out. Two bikes are in the shed for guests.
The space: 2 bedrooms, one queen and one with two twins. 1 bathroom with a walk-in shower. The living room has a sofa, a TV with streaming apps and a shelf of local guidebooks. The kitchen has a drip coffee maker, a dishwasher and a full oven.
Other things to note: 6 steps up to the front door. The road out front is quiet at night but has some morning traffic.
Common mistakes
- All caps and exclamation marks. A calm tone reads as more trustworthy.
- Vague claims like "close to everything" or "has everything you need". Replace each with a fact.
- Hiding limitations. A guest who is surprised by stairs or noise is more likely to be disappointed, and Airbnb's guidance stresses accuracy.
- Contradicting the rest of the listing. If the description says "sleeps 8" but your guest maximum is 6, fix one of them.
- Repeating the title word for word. Use the description to add new detail.
Check your description
The free score looks for a feature in your opening line, specific distances, coverage of the space, guest access, getting around and check-in, any limitations, and a calm tone. Pair this with the title tips so your title and opening line work together.
Score your listing free
Paste your title, description, amenities and photo count and get your top 3 fixes, ranked by points. Nothing leaves your browser.
Airbnb updates its guidance, so check the linked pages for the current wording.