As an Airbnb host you choose two cancellation policies for each home: a standard one for stays of 27 nights or fewer and a long-term one for stays of 28 nights or more. As of October 2026, Flexible, Moderate, Limited and Firm are open to every host, while Strict, Super strict 30 days and Super strict 60 days are by invitation from Airbnb only.
Here's the catch that surprises new hosts. Every standard policy carries a 24-hour cancellation period. A guest can cancel for a full refund, taxes included, for up to 24 hours after the booking's confirmed, as long as it was confirmed at least 7 days before check-in. That applies even to your discounted non-refundable option, apart from certain non-refundable hotel listings. So the strictest policy you pick still gives guests that first day.
Standard policies for stays under 28 nights
| Policy | Guest gets a full refund if they cancel | If they cancel later, you're paid |
|---|---|---|
| Flexible | Up to 24 hours before check-in | Each night they stay, plus one more night |
| Moderate | Up to 5 days before check-in | One extra night plus half of all unspent nights, plus nights stayed if after check-in |
| Limited | Up to 14 days before check-in | Half of all nights from 7 to 14 days out, then every night under 7 days |
| Firm | Up to 30 days before check-in | Half of all nights from 7 to 30 days out, then every night under 7 days |
| Strict, by invitation | Only within the 24-hour period | Half of all nights at 7 days or more out, then every night under 7 days |
| Super strict 30 days, by invitation | Only within the 24-hour period | Half of all nights at 30 days or more out, then every night |
| Super strict 60 days, by invitation | Only within the 24-hour period | Half of all nights at 60 days or more out, then every night |
Limited is the newest option and covers reservations booked on or after October 1, 2025. On Limited, Firm, Strict and both Super strict policies, a guest who cancels after check-in gets no refund and you're paid for every night. Whenever you keep half, the guest gets the other half back with full taxes, and when you keep every night because they cancelled close to check-in, they still get their taxes back.
Long-term policies for monthly stays
Your long-term policy covers reservations of 28 or more consecutive nights, and there are two to choose from.
| Long-term policy | Full refund window | If the guest cancels later |
|---|---|---|
| Firm | At least 30 days before check-in | You're paid for nights spent plus 30 more nights |
| Strict | Within 48 hours of booking and at least 28 days before check-in | You're paid for nights already spent plus the next 30 nights |
On both, if fewer than 30 nights are left when the guest cancels, you're paid for all of those remaining nights and the guest gets a pro-rated refund of taxes. After check-in, there's no refund and you're paid for all nights.
The non-refundable option
When you set your standard policy, you can also offer a non-refundable option. Guests book at a discounted rate that isn't covered by your standard policy, and if they cancel they get nothing back, outside the 24-hour period. It's a trade: a lower rate in exchange for certainty that a booking sticks.
When Airbnb overrides your policy
Your policy can be set aside so a guest gets a full or partial refund if they cancel because of a Major Disruptive Event, or because of an issue covered by Airbnb's Refund and Rebooking Policy for Homes. If you've already been paid for that booking, Airbnb recovers what you owe under its Payments Terms of Service by deducting an adjustment from your next scheduled payout. That's worth knowing when you plan around an expected payout.
The fine print hosts should check
- Full refund means the price you set for your listing, including taxes. Refunds of Airbnb's guest fees depend on several factors.
- Cancellation and booking confirmation times always run on the listing's local time zone.
- Your chosen policy has to comply with local rules and regulations where your home is.
- Different policies apply for stays in Italy before October 1, 2025, for South Korean guests at places with Strict policies, and in Germany. California reservations have a 24-hour free cancellation period.
- Airbnb sometimes tests new policies. If yours isn't described in its help article, the reservation details for that booking are the reference.
What your guests see
Guests find your policy on the listing under Things to know, where it shows whether there's a free cancellation period, and Show more lists what's refunded. They see it again during booking before they pay, and in their reservation details afterwards. A clear free cancellation date is the first thing a cautious guest looks for, so pick a policy you're happy to have on display.
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My verdict for hosts
I'd start most homes on Moderate or Limited. Moderate keeps you competitive with guests who want flexibility, while Limited protects you in the two weeks before arrival when a cancellation is hardest to refill. Firm suits places that book up far ahead. Add the non-refundable option if you want guaranteed bookings at a lower rate, and set your long-term policy on purpose rather than leaving monthly stays to chance. Whatever you choose, budget for the 24-hour window and the occasional override.
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Frequently asked questions
What cancellation policies can Airbnb hosts choose?
For stays under 28 nights: Flexible, Moderate, Limited and Firm, plus Strict and Super strict 30 or 60 days by invitation. For 28 nights or more: long-term Firm or Strict.
Can guests cancel a non-refundable Airbnb booking?
Yes, within the 24-hour cancellation period if the booking was confirmed at least 7 days before check-in, except certain non-refundable hotel listings. After that they aren't refunded.
What does a host get paid on the Airbnb Flexible policy?
If the guest cancels after the free window, the host is paid for each night the guest stays plus one additional night.
Can Airbnb override a host's cancellation policy?
Yes, for a Major Disruptive Event or an issue covered by the Refund and Rebooking Policy for Homes. If the host was already paid, an adjustment comes off the next payout.
Which Airbnb policy applies to monthly stays?
Your long-term cancellation policy applies to reservations of 28 or more consecutive nights.
