TL;DR:
Airbnb offers five main short-term cancellation policies (flexible, moderate, firm, strict, and non-refundable), plus separate rules for long-term stays (28+ nights). Super Strict policies are invitation-only. Rule of thumb: the stronger your market demand, the stricter you can afford to be.
Congratulations! You have a property listed on Airbnb. As you customize your listing, you’ll need to choose one of several cancellation options — and many hosts feel overwhelmed by Airbnb’s policy options. This guide turns that complexity into a simple framework you can act on.
Finding the right policy means balancing two competing forces: flexible policies attract more bookings but carry higher cancellation risk, while stricter policies protect your revenue but may deter spontaneous travelers. Cancellation policies also influence your visibility in search results — guests scrutinize these as much as they do price.
Striking the right balance protects your earnings while keeping your listing enticing. This guide breaks down each option, highlights the trade-offs, and helps you choose with confidence.
Airbnb’s cancellation policies for short-term bookings (28 days or less)
Airbnb offers five standard cancellation policies for short-term bookings (28 days or less). Here’s how they compare:
| Policy | Guest refund window | Host payout if canceled late | Guest appeal |
| Flexible | Full refund up to 24 hours before check-in | Nights stayed + 1 extra night | Very high—attracts spontaneous bookers |
| Moderate | Full refund up to 5 days before check-in | Nights stayed + 1 night + 50% of remaining nights | High—good balance for guests |
| Firm | Full refund up to 30 days before check-in | 50% if canceled 30-7 days out; 100% if under 7 days | Moderate—deters last-minute bookers |
| Strict | Full refund only within 48 hrs of booking (14+ days before check-in) | 50% if canceled 14-7 days out; 100% if under 7 days | Lower—committed travelers only |
| Non-refundable | No refund (guest chooses this for a discount) | 100% minus cleaning fee | Attracts budget-conscious guests |
Airbnb’s flexible cancellation policy
How it works: Guests receive a full refund if they cancel up to 24 hours before check-in. If they cancel after that, you’re paid for nights stayed plus one additional night.
Best for: High-demand markets where you can quickly rebook, new hosts building reviews, properties competing against hotels.
Trade-offs: Maximum guest appeal but highest income risk. You won’t know if you’re getting paid until 24 hours before check-in—often too late to fill the slot.
Strategies for hosts using flexible policies
When cancellations hit, have a plan:
- Offer last-minute deals to fill vacant nights quickly (Platforms like Airbnb or Booking.com allow you to adjust pricing swiftly)
- Use dynamic pricing tools like Guesty’s PriceOptimizer, Beyond Pricing, or PriceLabs to automate competitive rates
- Set minimum stay requirements during peak seasons to secure more stable bookings
- Reach out to previous guests with special return rates
- Leverage local partnerships with event planners or travel agencies for referrals
By implementing these strategies, you can mitigate the negative financial effects of cancellations and maintain steady bookings.
Airbnb’s moderate cancellation policy
The moderate policy gives guests relative flexibility to change their plans while also giving you, the host, time to accept a replacement booking should they cancel. Of all the policies, this is the closest to a win-win situation.
How it works: Guests can cancel up to 5 days before check-in for a full refund. After that, you’re paid for nights stayed, plus one extra night, plus 50% of all remaining nights.
Best for: Urban markets with solid demand, hosts wanting balance between bookings and protection.
Trade-offs: Closest to a win-win—guests get reasonable flexibility while you have time to find replacement bookings if they cancel.
Airbnb’s firm cancellation policy
The firm cancellation policy gives you, as the host, more security than the flexible and moderate policies.
How it works: Guests must cancel at least 30 days before check-in for a full refund. Cancellations between 30-7 days out pay you 50%; under 7 days pays you 100%. Exception: guests who cancel within 48 hours of booking (and 14+ days before check-in) still get a full refund.
Best for: Properties in remote or less-trafficked areas, seasonal rentals, hosts with lower risk tolerance.
Trade-offs: Strong protection in the 30-7 day window—you keep 50% AND can potentially rebook. But the lack of flexibility may deter some guests from booking in the first place.
Airbnb’s strict cancellation policy
One step above the firm policy is the strict cancellation policy.
How it works: Full refund only if canceled within 48 hours of booking AND at least 14 days before check-in. Cancellations 14-7 days out get 50% refund (you keep 50%); under 7 days means you keep 100%.
Best for: Unique or highly desirable properties, peak-season bookings, hosts who prioritize predictable revenue over volume.
Trade-offs: Maximum protection, minimal risk—but may reduce overall bookings. Consider your financial situation: if you can afford some flexibility, you may see more reservations.
The strict policy ensures for you, as the host, maximum protection and minimal risk. However, like the firm policy, guests may be deterred from booking with you due to the lack of flexibility. If you’re deciding between a firm and strict cancellation policy, consider your financial circumstances – if you can afford to give guests some room for cancellation, you may see more bookings for your listing.
Airbnb’s non-refundable cancellation policy
The non-refundable cancellation policy is a great way to protect against cancellations while offering guests the value of a discounted booking price.
How it works: Guests choose a non-refundable rate (typically 10% off your base price) in exchange for no cancellation refund. If they cancel, you receive 100% of the payment minus cleaning fee.
Best for: Hosts wanting guaranteed income, properties with consistent demand, and budget-conscious guest markets.
Trade-offs: You set the discount amount. Only eligible when checkout is within 60 days of booking and the reservation isn’t made with pre-approval or special offers.
Understanding Airbnb’s Super Strict cancellation policies
Airbnb offers two specific cancellation policies.
Super Strict 30 Days: Guests get a 50% refund if they cancel 30+ days before check-in. No refund for later cancellations.
Super Strict 60 Days: Guests get a 50% refund if they cancel 60+ days before check-in. No refund for later cancellations.
Important: Super Strict 30 and 60 day policies are invitation-only and usually reserved for specific partners or property types. You cannot simply switch to these policies.
These policies ensure a higher degree of commitment from guests, offering a layer of financial protection for hosts. It’s important for both parties to check the specific cancellation terms before confirming a booking.
Airbnb’s long-term cancellation policies (28+ nights)
Flexible long-term policy
How it works: If guests cancel more than 30 days before check-in, they receive a full refund. After that, you’re paid for all nights stayed PLUS 30 additional nights. If a guest cancels with fewer than 30 days remaining in their reservation, you’re paid in full for all remaining nights.
Example: For a 60-night booking canceled 20 days before check-in, you’re paid for any nights stayed plus 30 nights, even if the guest never arrives.
How to change your cancellation policy
- Sign in to your Airbnb account
- Go to Listings
- Select the property you want to update
- Click Edit and find Cancellation policy
- Choose your new policy and Save
Note: Changes apply only to new reservations. Existing bookings keep their original cancellation terms.
Host cancellation penalties
When you cancel a guest’s booking, Airbnb imposes penalties:
- 7+ days before check-in: $50 deducted from your next payout
- Under 7 days before check-in: $100 deducted
- Calendar impact: Canceled dates remain blocked and unavailable for rebooking
- Public notice: A cancellation notice appears on your profile (you can respond but not remove it)
- Under 24 hours: You must contact Airbnb directly—can’t be handled online
Good news: After 10 consecutive bookings without host cancellations, you’re exempt from financial penalties.
Disclaimer: Penalty amounts and rules can change—always confirm the latest details in Airbnb’s Help Center before relying on this information.
Extenuating circumstances & major disruptions
Airbnb’s extenuating circumstances policy protects guests from cancellation penalties during natural disasters, war, and other major disruptive events. If a guest cancels due to covered circumstances, standard cancellation terms may not apply.
Major Disruptive Events Policy
When significant events (like natural disasters) make hosting impossible, Airbnb activates this policy region-wide:
- Hosts can cancel without penalties if the property becomes uninhabitable
- Canceled dates remain blocked until the property is ready again
- Not covered: Flight disruptions, personal medical issues, jury duty, event date changes, strikes, or transportation interruptions
What isn’t covered: This policy doesn’t apply to routine issues such as flight disruptions or schedule changes, personal medical issues, obligations like jury duty, changes to event dates the guest planned to attend, or strikes and other transportation-related interruptions.
Host protections Under this policy, hosts can cancel bookings without incurring fees or punishments. However, it’s crucial to remember that once a booking is canceled, those dates will be blocked on the calendar, preventing new bookings until the property is ready again.
Disclaimer: Policy terms can change—always verify current details with Airbnb before relying on this information
Custom cancellation policies
While hosts on Airbnb can’t create custom cancellation policies beyond the standard ones offered by the platform, they can set additional terms within their house rules. These terms might include specific conditions for longer reservations or bookings by larger groups, providing some flexibility within the existing framework.
It’s crucial for these additional conditions to be in alignment with Airbnb’s overarching policies. Make sure they’re clearly outlined in your listing description to avoid any confusion. Additionally, you can reinforce these terms by communicating them directly to guests after booking, ensuring full transparency and understanding from the outset.
When can guests request a refund?
Navigating the intricacies of staying in a rented accommodation can sometimes lead to unforeseen issues. Fortunately, Airbnb has outlined specific conditions under which guests can request a refund.
Last-minute cancellations or changes by hosts
Refund eligibility arises if a host cancels the reservation within a day of the scheduled check-in. Similarly, if the host makes alterations to the booking details without obtaining consent from the guest, such as changing the address or number of nights, the guest may seek a refund. Additionally, failure to provide crucial check-in information, like keys or access codes, can also trigger a refund request.
Misleading or inaccurate property descriptions
Guests can ask for refunds if the rental listing contains false or misleading information. This includes inaccuracies regarding the property’s size, location, number of bedrooms, or available amenities. Furthermore, if critical appliances are malfunctioning and impact the experience, this too can warrant a refund.
Health and safety issues
Refunds may be justified if the property raises health and safety concerns. For instance, if the accommodation is found to be inadequately cleaned, has undisclosed pets, or presents any hazards, guests can seek a refund.
Steps for requesting a refund
To pursue a refund, guests should notify Airbnb within 24 hours of encountering any of the above issues. Providing evidence, such as photographs, videos, or other documentation, is essential to support the claim. It’s equally important for guests to demonstrate the effort to resolve the issue directly with the host before escalating to Airbnb for intervention.
Practical tips for managing Airbnb cancellations
1. Monitor your booking patterns: Track when cancellations happen and why. If you’re seeing lots of last-minute drops with a flexible policy, consider switching to moderate.
2. Use dynamic pricing strategically: If you use a flexible policy, combine it with dynamic pricing tools like Guesty PriceOptimzer to resell last-minute cancellations and protect revenue. Guesty’s revenue management features can automate this.
3. Leverage non-refundable rates during low demand: A 10% discount for guaranteed bookings beats an empty calendar. This works especially well for budget-conscious travelers.
4. Plan policy changes carefully: Changes only affect new bookings — time them around your booking cycle, not mid-season.
5. View cancellations as opportunities: A canceled booking might free up dates for a longer stay or higher-paying guest. Dynamic pricing helps you capture last-minute demand.
6. Manage multiple channels efficiently: If you list on Airbnb, Booking.com, and Vrbo, keep cancellation policies consistent to avoid confusion. Guesty’s Multi-Calendar helps sync policies across platforms.
FAQ
In competitive urban markets, you can afford stricter policies. Start with moderate or firm—you’ll still attract bookings while protecting against last-minute cancellations.
Flexible or moderate policies help attract guests who might otherwise choose busier locations. The trade-off is worth it if cancellations are rare anyway.
As often as you like—but changes only apply to new bookings. Frequent changes can confuse repeat guests, so pick a policy and stick with it for at least a few months.
Yes. Flexible policies tend to rank higher in search results because they appeal to more guests. But a stricter policy with great reviews can still perform well.
No—you must choose from Airbnb’s standard options. However, you can add specific terms in your house rules for longer stays or larger groups, as long as they align with Airbnb’s policies.
Nothing—they keep the original cancellation terms. Only new reservations follow the updated policy.
Conclusion: A 3-step framework for choosing your policy
Step 1: Assess your risk tolerance How much income uncertainty can you absorb? If cancellations would significantly hurt your finances, lean stricter. If you can weather occasional gaps, flexibility might bring more bookings.
Step 2: Analyze your market High demand and easy rebooking? You can afford flexibility. Remote location or niche property? Stricter policies protect your revenue.
Step 3: Pick a starting policy and review Choose flexible, moderate, firm, or strict based on steps 1-2. Run it for 1-3 months, then evaluate: Are you getting enough bookings? Too many cancellations? Adjust and repeat.
The travel landscape keeps shifting—guests book closer to travel dates and value flexibility. If a rigid policy isn’t filling your calendar, experiment with something more lenient. The right policy evolves with your market and your goals.
Guesty helps hosts and property managers streamline operations across multiple channels. From dynamic pricing to automated guest communication, we turn complexity into simplicity.