What Is an Airbnb Cancellation Policy?
An Airbnb cancellation policy is the refund rule a host sets for a home, and it decides how much a guest gets back after canceling. Each host picks one policy for stays under 28 nights and one for longer stays, and that policy governs cancellations and refunds under normal circumstances (Cancellation policies (Airbnb Terms)) (Major Disruptive Events Policy (Airbnb Help Centre)).
Last updated: November 2026
How an Airbnb cancellation policy works
Each short-term policy is named for how strict it is and sets a deadline for a full refund, including taxes. After the deadline, the guest gets part of the money back or none, and the host keeps a set share of the nights (Cancellation policies for your home (Airbnb Help Centre)).
| Policy (stays under 28 nights) | Full refund until | After the deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Flexible | 24 hours before check-in | Host is paid for nights stayed plus one night |
| Moderate | 5 days before check-in | Host is paid one extra night plus 50% of unspent nights |
| Limited (bookings made on or after 1 October 2025) | 14 days before check-in | 50% refund from 7 to 14 days out; under 7 days the host is paid 100% of nights and the guest gets the taxes back |
| Firm | 30 days before check-in | 50% refund from 7 to 30 days out; under 7 days the host is paid 100% of nights and the guest gets the taxes back |
Table source: Cancellation policies for your home (Airbnb Help Centre)
Three stricter policies sit outside that list: Strict, Super strict 30 days and Super strict 60 days are offered only to certain hosts, by invitation from Airbnb (Cancellation policies (Airbnb Terms)). From 1 October 2025, Strict was withdrawn for new listings and existing Strict listings moved to Firm unless the host opted out, as reported in the trade press at the time (Airbnb makes major changes to cancellation policy (Short Term Rentalz, 17 July 2025)).
Stays of 28 nights or more use the long-stay policy the host picked. On long-stay Firm, the full-refund deadline is 30 days before check-in (Cancellation policies for your home (Airbnb Help Centre)).
Local rules can change the picture. In Italy, different cancellation policies applied to stays booked before 1 October 2025 (Cancellation policies (Airbnb Terms)).
Why the Airbnb cancellation policy matters for hotel distribution
Refund terms weigh on the booking decision. More than 40% of guests consider free cancellation a top priority when booking, a figure attributed to Airbnb with no survey base given (Airbnb makes major changes to cancellation policy (Short Term Rentalz, 17 July 2025)). A tighter policy gives up some of that appeal in exchange for more certainty on the nights already sold.
Markets settle on different answers. Strict was the most common policy among US Airbnb listings, chosen by 26% of hosts, in an analysis first published in August 2024 that gives no data date (Airbnb Cancellation Policies: The Best Choice for Hosts (AirDNA)). That share predates the October 2025 move from Strict to Firm, so treat it as history (Airbnb makes major changes to cancellation policy (Short Term Rentalz, 17 July 2025)). Coastal and mountain or lake markets lean to stricter policies, while small city and rural markets have the most flexible ones (Airbnb Cancellation Policies: The Best Choice for Hosts (AirDNA)).
The heavier cost sits on the host side. Airbnb charges a host who cancels a fee of 50% at 48 hours or less before check-in, 25% between 48 hours and 30 days, and 10% more than 30 days out, with a minimum of USD 50 (Host Cancellation Policy for homes (Airbnb Help Centre)). A host who cancels also loses the payout and can lose Superhost status or have the listing suspended (Host Cancellation Policy for homes (Airbnb Help Centre)).
For a hotel or rental that sells the same room on Airbnb and on other channels, a room sold twice means one of those bookings has to be canceled. When the canceled booking is the Airbnb one, the property pays those penalties, so accurate availability across channels protects the Airbnb account as much as the revenue.
Airbnb cancellation policy compared with related terms
| Term | What it covers | How it relates to the Airbnb cancellation policy |
|---|---|---|
| Vrbo cancellation policy | Seven host-selectable policies on Vrbo, from Day-before to No refund | Vrbo Firm gives a 100% refund up to 60 days before check-in and 50% from 30 to 60 days; Vrbo Relaxed gives 100% up to 14 days |
| Non-refundable option | A discounted rate hosts can add, typically 10% off the base price in all regions except China | Guests who book it are not covered by the host's standard cancellation policy |
| Host cancellation fees | What Airbnb charges a host who cancels a confirmed booking | The listing's policy covers guest cancellations; host cancellations fall under Airbnb's Host Cancellation Policy |
| Major Disruptive Events Policy | Lets guests cancel regardless of the listing's policy when a qualifying event occurs; foreseeable weather and unexpected injury or illness are excluded | When it does not apply, the reservation stays subject to the host's cancellation policy |
Table sources: About cancellation policy options (Vrbo Help) Offer a discounted, non-refundable option (Airbnb Help Centre) Cancellation policies for your home (Airbnb Help Centre) Host Cancellation Policy for homes (Airbnb Help Centre) Major Disruptive Events Policy (Airbnb Help Centre)
Frequently asked questions
Is there a free 24-hour cancellation window?
How do you change the cancellation policy on a listing?
What is the Airbnb strict cancellation policy?
Is the guest service fee refunded after a cancellation?
Related terms
See all termsWhere Jetstream fits
An Airbnb policy only holds up if the room behind it is really free when the guest books, and that depends on every other channel selling the same room. Jetstream builds an AI channel manager that connects a property's reservation system to the channels where guests book and keeps rooms, rates and availability accurate on each one, managed from one place.