Can you decline Airbnb booking request?

You will have 24 hours to accept or decline the request. After 24 hours the request will be declined automatically. If after 24 hours the request is still Pending, you must approve or decline it manually.



Yes, as a host in 2026, you can absolutely decline an Airbnb booking request, but you must do so within the 24-hour window to maintain your "Response Rate," which is a key metric for becoming or remaining a Superhost. You are not required to accept every guest, especially if their profile has poor reviews, if they haven't shared their trip purpose, or if the request violates your "House Rules" (such as bringing pets to a non-pet-friendly home). However, Airbnb has a strict Nondiscrimination Policy; you cannot decline a guest based on race, religion, sexual orientation, or disability. If a host declines an unusually high percentage of requests, Airbnb's algorithm may lower their listing's visibility in search results or temporarily "snooze" the account, as the platform prioritizes reliable hosts who are likely to confirm bookings. If you find yourself declining often because of scheduling conflicts, Airbnb recommends using the "Instant Book" feature only for guests who meet specific credentials, or keeping your calendar more strictly updated to avoid unnecessary requests.

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Not a problem—here's how to handle it. Decline the request before it expires within 24 hours—your response rate will thank you! It's one of the factors that helps you become a Superhost. Decide whether to keep the dates blocked or open them up for someone else to book.

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First and foremost, be polite! Taking the time to craft a nice message is worth it. Thank the potential Airbnb guest for their inquiry and apologize for not having the property available at their requested time. If you feel that you need to give a reason for your refusal, do so, but keep it short and professional.

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Once a guest sends you a request, you can review the reservation details and decide if you want to accept or deny their request. If you accept the reservation request, the guest will be prompted to complete the booking through a message in their inbox.

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The cities mentioned — which also included San Antonio, Nashville, Denver, New Orleans, Seattle and Orlando — all saw revenues drop at least 34.8% from May 2022 to May 2023, according to Gerli's calculations. The city with the biggest decline was Sevierville, Tennessee, which suffered a drop of 47.6%.

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Can a guest cancel Airbnb reservation? There are a number of reasons why a guest might request a refund: family and health issues that can cause a guest to cancel a trip, weather events that impact a person's travel plans, or even work trips can fall through at the last minute.

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If your reservation request is declined and the listing for the stay shows that it's still available, the host's calendar may not be up-to-date or they may want reservations of a different length or time.

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Send a reservation request
  1. Go to the listing and click Check availability.
  2. Select dates, number of guests, then click Reserve.
  3. If you are shown Confirm and pay, you can book instantly.
  4. If you are shown Request to book, you can add payment info, review the policies and terms, and message the host before you submit.


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  1. Respond to the inquiry as soon as possible.
  2. Start with a note of appreciation.
  3. Take time to understand their inquiry.
  4. Be concise, don't add unnecessary details.
  5. Give a thorough response that answers all their questions.
  6. Offer your future availability for further inquiries.


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Airbnb managed to stay afloat through the COVID-19 pandemic, but new challenges have emerged, including a drop in demand for short-term rentals in the U.S. over the increased cost of living and less desire to work from home in states like Montana, Texas and Tennessee, according to Gerli.

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Considering the current trends and market analysis, it can be concluded that while the Airbnb market has witnessed a surge in listings and increased competition, it is not necessarily oversaturated. The market continues to exhibit healthy demand, and certain locations remain strong and resilient.

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Before we get into exactly how to decline bookings, let's review some of the most common reasons why Airbnb hosts decline bookings: Scheduling conflicts. Sometimes hosts forget to update their calendars. They may have to then decline dates for which their properties should have been marked off as unavailable on Airbnb.

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Airbnb prohibits security cameras or recording devices that are in or that observe private spaces like bedrooms, bathrooms, or sleeping areas. You must indicate the presence of all security cameras or other recording devices in or around a listing, even if they're not turned on or hooked up.

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Cancellation fee
If you cancel a confirmed reservation, a fee will be deducted from your first payout after the cancellation. The amount depends on when you accepted the reservation and how soon before check-in you canceled it: More than 7 days before check-in, $50 will be deducted from your next payout.

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