Airbnb reviews: open your trip, choose “Leave review,” rate, comment, and submit within 14 days of checkout.
You booked, you stayed, and now you want your voice to count. Reviews shape bookings for hosts and help travelers set expectations. The platform gives every guest a simple path to post feedback and a clear deadline. This guide walks you through the taps and clicks on phone and desktop, the 14-day window, what shows publicly, what stays private, and how to edit or respond the right way.
Ways To Post A Review On Airbnb (Phone And Web)
You can add feedback from the mobile app or from a browser. Both routes land you on the same review form with star ratings, a public comment box, and a private note option. Below is a quick map so you can find the button fast.
Where To Find The Review Form
| Platform | Menu Path | Quick Notes |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone Or Android App | Trips → Past → Select Stay → Leave Review | Shows after checkout; stays visible for 14 days. |
| Mobile Browser | Airbnb.com → Trips → Past → Choose Stay → Leave Review | Same fields as the app; works without the app. |
| Desktop Web | Airbnb.com → Trips → Past → Open Reservation → Leave Review | Easiest for longer comments or screenshots. |
Step-By-Step On The App
Open the app and log in. Tap Trips and switch to the Past tab. Pick the reservation. Tap Leave review. Add star ratings for categories the form shows, type your public comment, and add private notes if you want the host to see something that shouldn’t appear on the listing page. Add photos only if the form offers that slot. Tap Submit. You’re done.
Step-By-Step On The Web
Sign in on Airbnb.com. Click Trips, then open the finished reservation. Hit Leave review. The web form mirrors the app. Select the star ratings, write your comment in full sentences, and keep names or contact details out of the text. Use the private feedback box for suggestions you want the host to read without publishing them. Press Submit.
Timing Rules, The 14-Day Window, And Blind Publishing
You get 14 days after checkout to submit. Reviews stay hidden from both sides until each party posts or until the window closes. That design keeps feedback balanced and prevents score trading. If you miss the deadline, the form disappears and you can’t post retroactively. The official help page spells out the 14-day limit and the submission flow in plain terms—see Leave a review. Airbnb also documents what is allowed in feedback and what gets removed in its Reviews Policy. Both pages are worth a quick read before you write.
What Counts As Checkout Time
The clock starts at the scheduled checkout time on your itinerary, not the hour you walk out. If a stay ends at 11:00 a.m. on the booking, the 14-day window begins then. Travel delays don’t change this timer. Plan to write your note within the first few days while details are fresh.
Can You See The Host’s Words Before You Post?
No. Feedback remains hidden until both sides submit or the window closes. Once the review period ends, both posts go live at the same time. That avoids rating wars and encourages honest, stand-alone opinions based on the stay itself.
What Shows Publicly And What Stays Private
Your star ratings and public comment appear on the listing page and on the host profile. Private notes go only to the host and Airbnb. Use the public box for facts that help the next guest: cleanliness, noise level, check-in clarity, accuracy of the description, and sleep quality. Use the private box for small fixes or sensitive items like door code placement or a neighbor’s name.
How To Structure A Helpful Comment
Lead with the headline detail a traveler wants to know. Mention one or two clear strengths. Add one actionable suggestion if needed. Keep it specific and neutral. Avoid personal data, profanity, or threats. Stick to what happened during the stay, not unrelated disputes.
Rating Categories You May See
The form can include an overall score and separate sliders for things like cleanliness, accuracy, communication, location, check-in, and value. Each slider feeds into the host’s average. Use the full range—perfect stays earn fives; real misses earn lower scores. A short, balanced comment paired with honest stars helps the system work.
How To Edit, Add, Or Remove After Posting
You can edit your review for a short window after you submit or until the other party posts. The help article on editing covers the limits and the path to request a change if the wrong pronoun appears or if you spot a small error—see Editing a review. Once both sides publish and the timer closes, only content that breaks policy gets removed. Content disputes about opinions do not qualify for removal.
What You Can Change
Minor text fixes are possible during the edit window. You can adjust spelling, tighten a sentence, or add a missing detail. Major rewrites after the window closes aren’t available. If the other party posts quickly, your edit window may close sooner, so proofread before you hit submit.
What Airbnb Removes
Reviews can be taken down if they include hate speech, threats, doxxing, spam, or references unrelated to the actual stay. Extortion, payments for reviews, or linking to off-platform deals also breach policy. The platform aims to leave honest opinions intact even when they are negative, so write with care and stick to verifiable details.
Writing Tips That Travelers Trust
Short, specific notes help people decide quickly. Aim for three parts: one-line summary, two or three clear details, and a single suggestion if needed. That format reads fast on phones and still gives substance. Keep tone calm and factual. Avoid sarcasm and personal digs. If something went wrong, describe the issue, mention any fix the host tried, and tell readers how it affected your stay.
Plain-Language Templates You Can Adapt
Great stay: “Quiet studio near the park. Check-in took two minutes. Bed is firm, blackout curtains work, and Wi-Fi hit 150 Mbps. A kettle in the kitchen would help tea drinkers.”
Good with a fix: “Bright flat with a lively street vibe. Spotless bathroom and clear house manual. Traffic noise reaches the bedroom; a white-noise machine would help.”
Needs improvement: “Location is central and walkable. Door code arrived late, and the oven didn’t heat past 200°C. Host replied fast, but the oven stayed cold. Consider a service check.”
Common Questions Guests Ask
Can I Add Photos?
Some review forms include a photo slot. If you see it, share pictures that reflect the space accurately. Skip faces and personal data. Avoid images that reveal lock codes, legal documents, or third-party messages.
Will My Host See Private Notes?
Yes. Private notes route to the host and Airbnb only. They do not appear on the listing page. Use that channel for suggestions that help hosting without shaping public perception of the place.
Should I Post If The Host Already Posted?
Yes. Your perspective still gets published. Both sides appear together when the window closes, so readers see each review in context.
Mistakes To Avoid Before You Hit Submit
Don’t copy text from other listings. Don’t include phone numbers, emails, or links. Don’t accuse without facts. Don’t share private disputes unrelated to the space or service. Avoid all-caps or emoji strings that read as noise. Keep it readable and grounded in the stay.
Check These Items In Your Draft
- Dates match your booking.
- Names, addresses, and codes are not in the text.
- Ratings reflect the narrative you wrote.
- One clear suggestion in private notes if needed.
Deadlines, Edits, And Responses At A Glance
Here’s a compact view of the time limits and tools you might use after posting. If you need to fix a small typo or reply with your side of a story, act before the window closes so everything stays tidy on your profile.
| Action | Time Window | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Post Your Review | Within 14 days after checkout | Trips → Past → Leave Review |
| Edit Minor Text | Short window or until the other party posts | Open Your Review → Edit |
| Request Removal | Any time for policy breaches | Help Center → Reviews Policy → Submit Request |
What Hosts See And How Replies Work
Once reviews go live, a host can post a public reply under your comment. That reply sits with the review and gives context for future readers. Replies should stay short and courteous. If you get a message through the inbox that addresses your private note, respond there, not in public review text.
Why Balanced Detail Helps Everyone
Specific notes help hosts improve and steer future guests to the right fit. A line about the mattress feel, water pressure, or neighborhood noise tells people what to expect better than a vague rating. Honest reviews keep great stays full and push fixes for issues that matter.
How To Handle Sensitive Or Safety Issues
If you faced a safety risk, contact Airbnb support through the app or site and use the Safety section first. You can still write feedback, but make sure any urgent matter gets reported through official channels. Avoid posting lock codes, medical details, or third-party identities in public text. Keep your public comment factual and skip speculation.
Quick Recap You Can Follow Next Time
Open Trips, find the finished stay, and hit the review button. Add clear star ratings and a short, honest comment. Share suggestions in private notes. Submit within 14 days so your feedback counts. If you need to tweak a typo, use the edit option before the other party posts or the window ends. For policy-breaking content, use the Reviews Policy page to request moderation.
Sources You Can Trust
For the official rules on deadlines, features, and what stays up, read Airbnb’s help articles: Leave a review and the Reviews Policy. Those pages outline the 14-day window, double-blind publishing, edit limits, and removal standards.