Airbnb check-out instructions: a free template guests actually follow
Clear check-out instructions make the last morning easy for your guests and the turnover easy for you. This guide covers what to ask and what to leave out, a template you can copy, a reminder message to send the evening before, and where to put the instructions so guests see them.
In this guide
What to ask guests to do at check-out
Choose from these and keep your final list to three to five quick tasks.
01 The time
State the check-out time clearly, for example “Check-out is by 11:00”. Put it first, because it is the one thing every guest needs.
02 The keys
Exactly where keys or cards go: back in the lockbox, on the kitchen table, or nothing to do with a smart lock. Say whether the door locks itself.
03 Dishes
Pick one: “please load and start the dishwasher” or “please leave used dishes in the sink”. Do not ask guests to wash, dry and put everything away.
04 Towels and linen
Where used towels go (bathtub, laundry basket). Most hosts prefer that guests do not strip the beds, because it slows down the cleaner, so say so if that applies.
05 Trash
Whether to take the bags to the outdoor bins, and where those are. One sentence saves a smelly surprise for the next guest.
06 Windows, lights and heating
Close the windows, turn off the lights and set the heating or air conditioning to a given setting. Quick to do and it protects your home.
What not to ask
Guests pay a cleaning fee, and a long list of chores is one of the things that most often turns up in a disappointed review. Leave out vacuuming, mopping, stripping and remaking beds, cleaning the bathroom, and washing and putting away every dish. If a task takes your cleaner five minutes but takes a guest twenty, it does not belong on the list.
Tone matters as much as length. “Please” and “thank you” go further than capital letters, and a short reason helps: “Please take the trash out, so the next guests arrive to a fresh home.”
Free Airbnb check-out instructions template
Copy this into your welcome book or listing, replace everything in [brackets] and delete what you do not need.
CHECK-OUT Check-out is by [11:00]. Thank you for staying with us! Before you go, please: 1. Load and start the dishwasher [or: leave dishes in the sink] 2. Put used towels in the [bathtub / laundry basket] 3. Take the trash to the [outdoor bins, location] 4. Close the windows and turn off the lights and [heating / AC] 5. Leave the keys [in the lockbox / on the kitchen table] and close the door behind you No need to strip the beds or clean, our cleaner takes care of that. Need a later check-out? Message us before [8 pm] the evening before and we will do our best. Questions? Call or message [name] on [phone].
Check-out reminder message
Send something like this the evening before departure:
Hi [guest name], we hope you are enjoying your stay! A quick reminder that check-out is tomorrow by [11:00]. Before you leave, please start the dishwasher, put used towels in the [bathtub], and leave the keys [in the lockbox]. No need to strip the beds. Safe travels, and thank you for staying with us! [Your name]
Keep it to a few sentences. The full list already sits in the home; the message only covers the time, the keys and one or two key tasks.
Where to put your check-out instructions
Put them in three places: in your listing so guests know what to expect before they book, on the check-out page of your Airbnb welcome book, and on a small sign by the front door, where guests are when they leave. Make sure all three say the same thing.
If you host international guests, the check-out page is one of the most useful to translate: it is where a misunderstanding about keys or the time costs you the most. House rules belong in the same place; the free house rules generator makes a printable page for them.
Get a printed check-out sign and welcome book in about 5 minutes
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- Complete Kit: €39 / $39 one-time, all languages (up to 7)
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Frequently asked questions
What should Airbnb check-out instructions include?
The check-out time, what to do with the keys, and a short list of three to five tasks that really matter to you, such as starting the dishwasher, putting used towels in one place, taking out the trash, and closing windows and turning off lights. Add your phone number in case something comes up.
How many check-out tasks can I ask guests to do?
Keep it to a handful of quick tasks. Guests are paying a cleaning fee, and long chore lists are a common complaint in reviews. Ask only for things that take a few minutes and make a real difference to your turnover.
When should I send the check-out message?
The evening before departure works best. Guests are usually planning their last morning then, and a friendly reminder of the time and the key drop gives them time to pack without rushing.
Can guests see check-out instructions in the Airbnb app?
Yes. Airbnb lets hosts add check-out instructions to the listing, and guests can see them in the app. A printed sign or welcome book page in the home still helps, because that is where guests are when they pack.
Should I allow late check-out?
If your cleaning schedule allows it, offering late check-out on request is an easy way to please guests. Say in your instructions how to ask for it and by when, so guests do not simply stay longer without checking.
Hostpapers is an independent service and is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by Airbnb. Airbnb is a trademark of Airbnb, Inc.