Yes, hosts and guests can post public responses to Airbnb reviews; time your reply and keep it factual to help future bookings.
If you’re wondering whether you can answer feedback on your listing or on your stay, the short answer is yes. Airbnb lets both sides add a public reply beneath the published review. A clean, timely response helps future guests read context, and it shows that you listen and fix problems. This guide explains who can respond, where the reply shows up, what timing windows matter, and how to write replies that build trust without pouring fuel on the fire.
Replying To Airbnb Reviews: Rules And Timing
Here’s the plain setup. After a trip ends, guests and hosts each have a 14-day window to leave a star rating and written feedback. Once both sides submit—or the window closes—reviews publish. After a review is public, either side can add a public comment beneath it. You can’t delete the original feedback yourself, but you can ask Airbnb to review it if it breaks policy. Replies are tied to that single review and live on the listing or profile page under the “Reviews” area.
What You Can Reply To
Your public note can add context, fix a factual slip, outline a repair you completed, or offer a brief apology and make-good. Keep it specific and about the stay. Don’t argue line by line. Readers want signal, not a diary.
| Situation | Who Can Reply | Where The Reply Appears |
|---|---|---|
| A guest rates your place and writes feedback | Host and guest | Under that review on your listing and your profile |
| You review a guest and they disagree | Guest and host | Under the guest’s profile review |
| An experience or service gets feedback | That experience or service host | Under the review on the experience page |
| A canceled stay after check-in date | Host and guest (if eligible) | Publication follows the standard review rules |
Timing At A Glance
The review window is 14 days from checkout morning, and the reply option appears once a review is live. There isn’t a hard cutoff for the public comment, but answering within a few days keeps it fresh for readers scanning new stays.
Why A Calm Reply Helps Bookings
Future guests scan patterns. When they see measured replies, they assume you’re responsive. Even one or two lines can steady the ship: acknowledge the experience, share one concrete step, and thank the reviewer. Short, useful notes travel better.
House Rules For Writing Replies
Stick to facts from the stay record—message timestamps, maintenance orders, check-in instructions sent, and photos. Be courteous. If you made a fix, name it. If the guest raises a fair point, thank them and explain what changes next. If a claim crosses a line (hate speech, threats, doxxing, or unrelated rants), flag it with Airbnb for a policy review rather than sparring in public.
Style Checklist
- Open with a name or a neutral greeting (“Hi Maria,” or “Hi there”).
- Acknowledge the experience in one short line.
- Share one fact or fix that adds context.
- Invite future contact through the platform for anything unresolved.
- Keep it under 600 characters; many readers skim on phones.
When You Should Ask Airbnb To Step In
Airbnb may remove feedback that breaks its rules: hate or harassment, irrelevant accusations, incentives for a better score, or claims about events that didn’t happen at the property. You can request a review of a specific comment through the Help Center. Save screenshots and reference message timestamps to make moderation faster.
How To Post A Public Reply (Step By Step)
Desktop Steps For Hosts
- Open your profile and choose Reviews.
- Pick Reviews about you.
- Find the target review and click Leave public response.
- Write the note and hit Submit.
Desktop Steps For Guests
- Open your profile and choose Reviews.
- Select Reviews about you.
- Choose the relevant comment and click Leave public response.
- Write your message and submit.
Reply Length, Tone, And Examples
Keep replies tight. Two to four sentences cover most cases. Avoid sarcasm, speculation, or quoting private details. If the review is glowing, a simple thank-you is enough. If the review raises issues, give one clear fix and, if needed, mention that your team followed up in messages.
Polite Templates You Can Adapt
- Great stay: “Thanks for staying with us, Alex! We’re glad the blackout curtains helped with early sun. We’d be glad to host you again anytime.”
- Minor issue: “Thanks for the note, Priya. Our cleaner replaced the kettle the same day, and we’ve added a spare on the shelf to prevent repeats.”
- Noise complaint: “Thanks for flagging the street noise, Eli. We’ve placed white-noise machines in both bedrooms and listed the decibel range at night.”
- Check-in confusion: “Appreciate the feedback, Cam. We’ve simplified the lockbox directions and added a photo of the gate and keypad in the arrival guide.”
- Unfair claim: “We’re sorry the stay missed the mark. Records show heat was restored 20 minutes after your message; we refunded the first night through the Resolution Center.”
Make Your Reply Work For You
A reply isn’t just damage control. It’s a micro-listing: a tiny ad that shows your standard, your fixes, and your voice. Treat it like storefront copy. Mention the upgrade (“new mattress May 2025”), clarify the house reality (“city traffic is audible noon–8 pm”), and point to solutions guests value (“sound-dampening inserts added”).
Common Situations And How To Respond
Low Stars But Fair Points
Own the fix and move on: “We missed the mark on late checkout. We’ve changed to 11:30 am on request when cleaning allows.” Future readers care about the update more than the score.
Low Stars With A Fact Error
Correct gently and cite a record: “We’re sorry for the confusion. The parking code in your message thread (sent 3:12 pm, Friday) matches the keypad log. We’ve added a photo in the guide.”
Great Score, Brief Text
Don’t over-write. “Thanks for the 5 stars. Glad the workspace and Wi-Fi hit the mark.” Short is fine when the praise is clear.
Complaints About Things You Can’t Change
If the building is historic or the street is lively, set expectations and show mitigations. Name what you’ve added: double-paned inserts, blackout curtains, or a decibel meter snapshot in the listing.
Official Rule Links
For exact steps, see Airbnb’s responding to a review guide. For the 14-day review window and double-blind release, see how long you have to write a review.
Reply Do’s And Don’ts
Do
- Respond within a few days while the stay is fresh in readers’ minds.
- Lead with thanks; then add one clear fact, fix, or next step.
- Keep names and private details out of public notes beyond a first name.
- Offer a make-good only when warranted and through the platform.
Don’t
- Argue point by point or paste long chat logs.
- Accuse a guest or host of motives; stick to what you can verify.
- Share phone numbers, addresses, or other private data.
- Hint at perks for changing a score—that can trigger removal requests.
Shortcut Table: Reply Examples By Situation
| Scenario | Goal | Reply Skeleton |
|---|---|---|
| Great stay | Reinforce strengths | “Thanks, [Name]! Glad [feature] helped. We’d be glad to host you again.” |
| Small fix needed | Show action | “Appreciate the tip—[item] replaced on [date].” |
| Noise or location | Set expectations | “We’ve added [mitigation]; listing notes [condition] during [hours].” |
| Cleanliness miss | Restore trust | “Sorry this slipped. Team re-cleaned same day and retrained staff.” |
| House-rule friction | Clarify rules | “Rules sent with check-in; we’ll bold [policy] in the guide.” |
| Repair delay | Provide timeline | “Part ordered on [date]; installed [date]; backup now on site.” |
| Unfair claim | State facts | “Records show [fact] at [time]; refund issued for [impact].” |
Pros Use A Simple Process
After Checkout
Send a short thank-you through the message thread with any tip that helps the next stay. This nudge often leads to more complete feedback.
When A Review Publishes
Skim for actionable points. Draft a reply in your notes app, run it past a co-host, and then post. If the comment is heated, let an hour pass before you submit.
Where Replies Show Up And What They Affect
Your comment sits directly under the original feedback on the listing page and inside your profile’s review feed. Readers see it paired with that one stay; it doesn’t float to other reservations. The star rating remains unchanged by anything you write. What does change is perception—many shoppers open the few critical comments first to judge how hosts handle bumps. Clear, steady replies raise confidence and reduce pre-booking questions.
What Not To Put In A Reply
Skip anything that could expose private data or breach house rules: last names, phone numbers, codes, payment details, or screenshots of off-platform chats. Don’t offer a discount in exchange for edits or removals. Never hint that better scores earn perks; incentives tied to ratings can trigger moderation. If a claim involves safety or illegal activity, move the conversation into the platform’s message thread and contact Airbnb through the Resolution Center. Keep the public note short and neutral while any investigation happens behind the scenes.
Editing Or Removing Your Public Comment
You can update or delete your public comment later if you need to tighten the wording or reflect a fix you made after posting. That said, frequent edits look messy. Draft in a notes app, read it once out loud, and post when you’re sure the tone lands. If the original feedback breaks policy, request moderation separately; removing your own comment won’t affect the review’s visibility.
Bottom Line For Hosts And Guests
Yes—you can add a public note beneath published feedback. Keep it short, factual, and helpful. That small habit shapes how future readers judge the stay before they ever message you.