Your description is where a guest who liked your photos decides whether to book. Airbnb's advice is short: lead with what matters, keep it brief, don't repeat the amenity list, and be realistic. Here's a template that follows it, with an example for each part.
What Airbnb recommends
Airbnb's Resource Center article on descriptions makes four points:
- Keep it brief. "Guests often scan listing descriptions for key features. Lead with what's most important, and avoid duplicating information that appears in other parts of your listing."
- Tell the story of your space. Be specific about the experience, not just the room count.
- Focus on special features. Explain what sets your place apart.
- Be realistic. Overselling leads to disappointment and negative reviews. Be upfront about anything that could be a challenge, such as for guests with limited mobility or small children.
It also points hosts to the other sections (your property, guest access, interaction with guests, other details) so the main description doesn't have to carry everything.
The template
Copy this, fill in the brackets, then cut anything that doesn't help a guest decide.
Section by section, with examples
1. The opening
Only the first lines show before a guest taps to read more, so put the reason to book there. Compare:
- Weak: "Welcome to our lovely home! We're so happy you're here."
- Better: "Soak in the hot tub on a deck that looks straight across the lake. This 3-bedroom cabin sits on a quiet road, 10 minutes from town."
The second version names the feature, the experience and the location in two sentences, using only facts the host can stand behind.
2. The space
Describe how the space is used, not just what's in it. "Open kitchen with an island that seats six" tells a family more than "fully equipped kitchen". Airbnb's own example: a top-floor apartment surrounded by trees can "feel like you're in a treehouse."
3. Sleeping arrangements
Groups book on beds. List each room and bed size. If the photo tour already shows it, keep this short, but don't make guests hunt.
4. Good to know
This is where honest listings win. Mention the steep driveway, the 20 steps to the front door, the train you can hear at night. A guest who reads it and books anyway won't be surprised, and surprises are what lead to low ratings.
5. Location
Use times and distances instead of "close to everything". "8 minutes' drive to the ski lift, 2 minutes' walk to a coffee shop" is concrete and checkable.
Mistakes to cut
- Restating the amenity list. Airbnb shows amenities in their own section. Mention only the ones that make your place different.
- Rules in the opening. "NO PARTIES. NO PETS." as your first line reads as hostile. House rules have their own section.
- Phone numbers, emails or off-platform links. Airbnb's policies don't allow sharing contact details before a booking, and our free score flags them.
- Vague superlatives. "Amazing", "perfect", "best" without a fact behind them don't persuade anyone.
- Walls of text. Short paragraphs and line breaks are easier to scan on a phone.
Check it against your reviews
Read your last ten reviews. If guests keep praising something your description doesn't mention (the quiet, the sunsets, the coffee setup), move it up. If they mention something they weren't expecting, add it to "good to know".
Frequently asked questions
How long should an Airbnb description be?
Long enough to cover the experience, sleeping arrangements, practical details and location, and no longer. Airbnb advises keeping it brief because guests scan for key features. Lead with what matters most; the first lines show before guests tap to read more.
What should I put first in my Airbnb description?
Your standout feature and the experience it creates, plus where you are in plain terms. That's what convinces a guest who liked your photos to keep reading.
Should I list all my amenities in the description?
No. Airbnb recommends avoiding information that appears elsewhere, like your full amenity list. Mention only the amenities that make your place different, and make sure every amenity is ticked in the amenities section so guests can filter for it.
Can I use AI to write my Airbnb description?
You can use a tool to draft it, but check every sentence against reality. Airbnb warns that overselling leads to disappointment and negative reviews, and AI drafts tend to add generic superlatives and features you don't have.
Related guides
- The Airbnb title formula: 50 characters that earn the click
- 10 Airbnb listing mistakes that quietly cost bookings
- Airbnb Listing Optimization: A Complete Checklist (2026)
Sources
- Airbnb Resource Center: Writing an effective listing description
- Airbnb Resource Center: How to set up an effective listing page
- Airbnb Help Center: How search results work
Airbnb and Vrbo update their guidance from time to time. We read these pages in October 2026. GlowListing is independent and not affiliated with or endorsed by Airbnb or Vrbo.