Airbnb Check Out Instructions: Guide for Guests and Hosts

Key Takeaways

• Clear Airbnb check-out instructions are the fastest way to protect your turnover, and Airbnb limits them to six fields with 140 characters of detail each.
• If a listing does not specify its own times, Airbnb’s documented defaults are 3:00 p.m. check-in and 11:00 a.m. check-out, local time.
• Hosts may not charge guests a fee for skipping a check-out task. Ratings and reviews are the only lever Airbnb allows.
• Check-out instructions are visible on the listing before a guest books. Check-in instructions are not shared until 48 hours before arrival.
• Guests find their check-out steps under Trips, then Things to know, then Before you leave.
• Hosts may charge for a late check-out, but only if the fee is disclosed on the listing before booking and collected through the Resolution Center. Cash at the door is prohibited.
• Copy the ready-made template in this article straight into your Listing editor, or download the full version as a file.

What Airbnb Check-Out Instructions Are

When staying in a rental, guests often want clear Airbnb check-out instructions. Smooth check-out makes the experience stress-free for guests and easier for hosts to prepare the property for the next stay. While check-in sets the tone, check-out leaves the final impression. Knowing the Airbnb check-in time and the Airbnb check-out time helps travelers plan their schedule. This guide explains everything you need to know about Airbnb check-out instructions, from what guests should do before leaving to what hosts should include in their listings.

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Standard Airbnb Check-Out Time

The standard Airbnb check-out time is 11:00 a.m. local time. That is the platform default, applied automatically when a host has not set their own. Airbnb pairs it with a 3:00 p.m. default check-in. Hosts can change either one in the Listing editor, so the time shown on the reservation always overrides the default.

Because hosts can set their own window, the figure on your booking is the one that counts. Many move check-out earlier, to 10:00 a.m., when the turnover is tight. However, exact times vary, so guests must read the listing carefully. Some hosts may allow late check-out if no other guests are arriving on the same day, but this should be agreed upon in advance.

What the listing says	When you leave	Who decides
No check-out time set	11:00 a.m. local, Airbnb’s default	Airbnb
A check-out time is set	Whatever the reservation shows	The host
You asked for a late check-out and the host agreed	The agreed time	The host, and a fee may apply

Guests should always respect the official check-out time. Leaving late without notice can cause problems for hosts. It can delay cleaning services and disrupt the schedule for new arrivals. Airbnb’s ground rules for guests are explicit here: guests should complete check-out, including key return, by the designated check-out time, and should not leave belongings behind for later pickup without the host’s approval. To avoid issues, confirm your check-out time with the host a day before departure.

Arrival runs on its own set of rules, including a check-in window with a start and an end time. We cover those separately in our guide to Airbnb check-in instructions.

Basic Airbnb Check-Out Instructions for Guests

Most hosts provide a short checklist to make the process easy. Common requests include:

• Place used towels in the bathroom or laundry basket.
• Wash or load dirty dishes into the dishwasher.
• Take out trash and recycling.
• Turn off lights, heating, or air conditioning.
• Lock all doors and return the key to a lockbox or designated spot.

These steps are simple and ensure the property stays in good shape. Unlike hotels, Airbnbs do not have housekeeping staff waiting immediately after departure. That makes guest cooperation important.

How to Check Out of an Airbnb, Step by Step

Your instructions are attached to the reservation, not sent as a separate email. On the desktop, open Trips, select your reservation, click Things to know, then scroll to Before you leave.

1. Read the instructions the day before. With the Airbnb app and push notifications on, you also get a reminder carrying your check-out time.
2. Decide early if you need more time. Late check-out is a request: message the host, name the hour, expect a possible charge.
3. Clear the list the night before. Trash, dishes and packing are all easier at 9 p.m. than at 10:45 a.m.
4. Do the final pass in the morning. Towels gathered, appliances off, windows shut, doors locked.
5. Return the keys exactly where asked. A key left on the counter in a keyless building strands the next guest.
6. Send one short message. “We’re out, thank you” closes the loop.

Cleaning Expectations and Chores

Airbnb draws the line at excessive cleaning, and the rule is more specific than most hosts realise. Under Airbnb’s ground rules for home guests, cleaning fees are meant to cover standard cleaning between reservations, which Airbnb names as laundry and vacuuming. Guests are asked not to leave a place needing deep cleaning. Crucially, hosts may not charge guest fees for failing to perform specific cleaning or check-out tasks. They can rate and review on cleanliness, and that is the whole of the enforcement mechanism. So a host can ask a guest to load the dishwasher. A host cannot invoice them for leaving it full. Instead, Airbnb check-out instructions focus on tidying up.

This balance keeps the experience fair. Guests enjoy a relaxing end to their trip without feeling overburdened, while hosts still receive the property in manageable condition. The clearer the instructions, the better the outcome for both sides.

Communication During Check-Out

Guests should notify the host once they leave. A short message like “We’ve checked out, thank you for hosting” is polite and reassures the host that everything went smoothly. Some hosts request photos of the locked property, especially in remote areas.

If guests run into delays or unexpected changes, they should inform the host as soon as possible. Open communication prevents misunderstandings and builds goodwill. Even small gestures, such as leaving a note of thanks, help create a positive relationship.

Airbnb Check-Out Instructions Template You Can Copy

This is the version you fill in and paste into your listing, organised around the six fields Airbnb gives you under the Arrival guide in the Listing editor. Each field takes up to 140 characters of optional detail, so brevity here is the format, not a style choice.

• Return keys

Leave both keys in the lockbox on [location] and scramble the dial. [If keyless: no keys to return, the code expires at check-out.]

• Lock up

Close all windows and lock the [front door / patio door]. Please double-check the [balcony / back] door.

• Turn things off

Set the thermostat to [temperature] and switch off lights, the [AC unit], and any appliances you used.

• Throw trash away

Bins are [location]. [Garbage in the grey bin, recycling in the blue, organics in the green.]

• Gather used towels

Leave used towels in the [tub / laundry basket in the bathroom]. Please do not strip the beds.

• Additional requests

Message us when you are out. Check-out is [time]. Need a later departure? Ask the day before and we will do our best.

Worth knowing before you write: check-out instructions appear on the listing page before a guest books, unlike check-in instructions, which stay hidden until 48 hours before arrival. They are read by people still deciding. A six-line list reads as organised. A twenty-line chore rota reads as a warning.

Your check-out time and your check-out instructions are separate fields. On the desktop both sit under Listings > your listing > Listing editor > Arrival guide: the time under Check-in Checkout, the departure steps under Checkout instructions.

The time appears in a second place too. “Check-in and checkout times” is one of Airbnb’s standard house rules, so it also shows under House rules, and that is the version guests read: it produces the “Checkout before 11:00 AM” line on your listing page. These are two views of one setting, not two settings. Change the time in either place and the other updates on its own. Airbnb then carries your house rules into the listing description, the booking terms at the moment of booking, automated guest emails, and the arrival guide sent before the trip.

What does not update on its own is anything you typed by hand. A time written into your checkout instructions, or into one of the 140-character detail fields, stays exactly as you left it when you move your actual check-out time. That is where the two end up contradicting each other, and it is the only version a guest is reading on the morning they leave.

Download the free check-out card (PDF). One page, ready to print and put up in the property. Type your check-out time, bin location, thermostat setting and contact details straight into it, or leave the blanks empty and fill them in by hand after printing. Airbnb check-out card (PDF)

Tips for Hosts Writing Instructions

Hosts should keep instructions simple and avoid long lists of tasks. Overloading guests with chores can hurt reviews. Instead, focus on key steps that protect the property and prepare it for cleaning.

It also helps to:

• Post instructions in the Airbnb listing.
• Print Airbnb Guest Book and leave it inside the property.
• Send a reminder message a day before check-out.

Repetition ensures that guests see the instructions at least once. This reduces the chance of forgotten steps.

The reminder is the one most hosts skip, and it is the cheapest of the three. Schedule this roughly 18 to 24 hours before check-out and fill in the brackets once:

Hi [Guest name], hope you have enjoyed [city]. Quick reminder that check-out is tomorrow at [time].

Before you head out: used towels in the [tub], dishes in the dishwasher, trash and recycling to the bins [location], lights and thermostat off, windows closed, keys back in the [lockbox].

Then just message us to say you are out. If you need a later check-out, tell us today and we will check the calendar.

Safe travels, [Host name]

That last line does double duty. It invites the late check-out conversation while you can still do something about it, rather than at 11:05 the next morning.

How Check-Out Affects Reviews

Hosts often rate guests on cleanliness and respect for rules. Following Airbnb check-out instructions carefully increases the chance of getting a five-star review. Positive reviews make it easier to book future Airbnbs.

For hosts, giving clear instructions shows professionalism. Guests are more likely to leave good feedback when they feel the process was easy and stress-free. This cycle benefits both sides and creates a better Airbnb community overall.

Flexibility in Check-In and Check-Out

Some hosts offer flexible Airbnb check-in time and Airbnb check-out time for an extra fee. This can be useful for travelers with late flights or early arrivals. Guests should always confirm flexibility before booking.

Flexibility can also make a property stand out in competitive markets. A host who allows late check-out may attract business travelers who need extra hours to finish work. Meanwhile, early check-in can appeal to international guests arriving after long flights.

Late Check-Out and Overstays: What Hosts Can Charge, and How

Charging for a late check-out is allowed. The mechanism is where hosts get caught, because the obvious approach is the one Airbnb prohibits.

Airbnb confirms hosts may accommodate a late check-out and that “there might be extra charges, like if they need to hire additional cleaners”. The conditions sit in a different article: an optional fee must be stated in the listing before the guest books and collected through the Resolution Center. Cash or an e-transfer at the door is not a grey area. Hosts may not collect reservation fees outside the platform unless Airbnb has expressly authorised it.

Three consequences worth knowing:

• A few extra hours is an optional fee. Disclose it on the listing, then request it in the Resolution Center.
• A whole extra night is not a fee at all. Nights, guest counts and pet counts go through Change reservation, which the Resolution Center explicitly cannot be used for.
• You have 60 days after the check-out date to open a Resolution Center request, so nothing has to be settled on the morning itself.

When a guest will not leave, the ground rules are worth quoting back: guests should complete check-out, including key return, by the designated check-out time, and should not leave belongings past that time for storage or later pickup without the host’s prior approval. Put the request in writing on the platform, then contact Airbnb if the place is still occupied when the next guest is due.

Technology and Self Check-Out

Many Airbnbs now use smart locks or keypads. This makes check-out easier because guests do not have to meet the host in person. Self check-out also allows guests to leave at any time before the deadline.

Hosts benefit because they do not need to adjust their schedules. Automated systems send codes that expire after check-out time, ensuring security. Technology is changing the way Airbnb check-out instructions are delivered and followed.

Final Thoughts

When traveling, guests should always check the Airbnb check-in time and the Airbnb check-out time before booking. Planning ahead ensures smooth arrivals and departures. For hosts, writing clear Airbnb check-out instructions prevents confusion and protects their property. For guests, following those instructions builds trust and secures good reviews.

In the end, the key to a stress-free trip is respect and communication. By following the right Airbnb check-out instructions, both hosts and guests enjoy a better overall experience. If the turnovers, the messaging and the cleaning schedule are more than you want to run yourself, that is exactly what professional Airbnb management is for.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What happens if I check out late?

No fee. Airbnb does not let hosts charge you for a missed check-out time. What you get instead is a record: Airbnb enforces its ground rules with warnings, and says guests “may also be suspended or removed from our community” where violations are repeated or severe. Your host also rates you on house rules. A few minutes over, flagged in advance, is a non-event. An hour over in silence lands in the review.

2. Do I have to strip the beds or clean before I check out?

No. Airbnb states that cleaning fees “are only meant to cover the cost of standard cleaning between reservations”, naming laundry and vacuuming as exactly that. What is expected is that you do not leave the place needing deep cleaning: no mouldy dishes, no stains, no piles of trash. Gathering towels and starting the dishwasher is courtesy, not an obligation you can be billed for skipping.

3. Can I leave my luggage at the Airbnb after check-out?

Only with the host’s agreement. Airbnb’s ground rules are specific: guests “should not leave belongings at the listing past the designated checkout time for storage or later pickup without prior approval from the host”. Ask the day before, not on the morning, because the answer usually turns on whether a cleaner is walking in behind you. Hosts who get asked often keep a solution ready, which we cover in our guide to Airbnb luggage storage.

4. What if the listing has no check-out instructions?

The default applies, and you ask. Where a listing sets no times of its own, Airbnb uses 11:00 a.m. check-out and 3:00 p.m. check-in. For the steps, Airbnb’s own advice is that “the best way to confirm the checkout instructions is to ask your host before the end of your stay”.

5. Can a host change the check-out time after I book?

Not without asking you. Airbnb’s ground rules for hosts say they “should only change the details of an accepted booking (dates, price, etc.) with the guest’s prior consent”. Check-out time is not named in that list, so treat it as a strong expectation rather than an absolute rule. The time on your reservation is the one that counts.