Airbnb’s Superhost badge signals quality to potential guests. Properties with Superhost status often book faster, command higher rates, and attract better guests. But achieving and maintaining the status requires consistent performance across multiple metrics.
This guide covers what it takes to become a Superhost and whether the effort pays off.
What Is Superhost Status?
Superhost is Airbnb’s recognition program for top-performing hosts. The badge appears on your listing and profile, signaling to guests that you’ve demonstrated excellence over time.
The Requirements
Airbnb evaluates Superhost status quarterly. To qualify, you must meet all four criteria:
| Requirement | Threshold |
|---|---|
| Completed trips | At least 10 trips OR 3 reservations totaling 100+ nights |
| Response rate | 90% or higher |
| Cancellation rate | Less than 1% (with exceptions) |
| Overall rating | 4.8 or higher |
Assessment periods: January 1, April 1, July 1, October 1
You must meet all requirements during the assessment period. Miss one, and you lose (or don’t achieve) the status until the next quarter.
What Superhost Gets You
Visibility benefits:
- Superhost badge on listing and profile
- Superhost filter in search (guests can filter for Superhosts only)
- Potential search ranking boost
- Featured in Superhost collections
Tangible perks:
- $100 Airbnb travel coupon annually
- Priority support access
- Early access to new features
- Referral bonuses for new hosts
Intangible benefits:
- Guest trust and confidence
- Higher perceived quality
- Competitive differentiation
- Pride in achievement
Meeting Each Requirement
Requirement 1: Completed Trips
The threshold: 10 trips OR 3 reservations totaling 100+ nights
This is usually the easiest requirement for active hosts. If you’re regularly hosting, you’ll meet this naturally.
Strategies if you’re close:
- Reduce minimum night requirements temporarily
- Accept more last-minute bookings
- Consider pricing adjustments to increase bookings
- Expand to additional platforms (trips count across Airbnb only)
What counts:
- Completed reservations (guest checked out)
- Reservations you didn’t cancel
- Both short and long stays
Requirement 2: Response Rate (90%+)
What it measures: How often you respond to new inquiries and booking requests within 24 hours.
What counts toward response rate:
- Initial messages from potential guests
- Booking requests
- Pre-approval requests
What doesn’t count:
- Follow-up messages in existing conversations
- Messages from current guests
- Post-stay communication
Strategies for maintaining 90%+:
Set up notifications:
- Push notifications on phone
- Email alerts
- Multiple notification methods as backup
Use saved replies:
- Pre-written responses for common questions
- Quick replies you can customize
- Templates for different inquiry types
Enable Instant Book:
- Booking requests are automatically “responded to”
- Reduces response burden
- Still respond to messages for hospitality
Manage your availability:
- If you can’t respond quickly, adjust calendar
- Use snooze feature when truly unavailable
- Have backup responder during travel
Automation options:
- Auto-responses for initial contact
- Scheduled messages for common scenarios
- But personalize when possible
Requirement 3: Cancellation Rate (<1%)
What it measures: Host-initiated cancellations as a percentage of total bookings.
Extenuating circumstances exceptions:
- Documented emergencies
- Property damage preventing hosting
- Serious illness
- Some natural disasters
These don’t count against you if properly documented.
Strategies for avoiding cancellations:
Calendar management:
- Block dates you’re not available
- Sync calendars across platforms
- Don’t accept bookings you might need to cancel
Preparation:
- Maintain property consistently
- Have backup plans for common issues
- Build reliable vendor relationships
Before accepting:
- Consider if you can honor the commitment
- Don’t overbook hoping something will change
- Be realistic about your availability
When you must cancel:
- Document everything
- Contact Airbnb support immediately
- Follow proper cancellation procedures
- Be honest about circumstances
Requirement 4: Overall Rating (4.8+)
This is typically the hardest requirement. It requires consistent excellence across many stays.
How ratings work:
- Guests rate 1-5 stars
- Overall rating is an average
- Recent ratings matter (rolling period)
- Every low rating hurts significantly
The math challenge: To maintain 4.8 with a mix of ratings:
- One 4-star review needs about four 5-star reviews to offset
- One 3-star review needs about nine 5-star reviews to offset
- Low ratings have outsized impact
Strategies for high ratings:
Exceed expectations:
- Under-promise, over-deliver
- Surprise guests with thoughtful touches
- Anticipate needs before they arise
Nail the basics:
- Spotless cleanliness every time
- Everything works as described
- Accurate listing and photos
- Smooth check-in process
Communication excellence:
- Respond quickly and helpfully
- Proactive information sharing
- Personal touches in messages
- Available when guests need you
Address issues immediately:
- Don’t let problems fester
- Offer solutions proactively
- Follow up to ensure resolution
- Show you care about their experience
Request reviews thoughtfully:
- Thank guests and mention you’d appreciate a review
- Make it easy (Airbnb does this automatically)
- Don’t pressure or incentivize (against policy)
Common Superhost Challenges
The 4.8 Struggle
Many hosts find the rating requirement hardest to maintain.
Why guests give 4 stars:
- Minor issues that weren’t deal-breakers
- Expectations not quite met
- Personal preferences not matched
- Nothing “wrong” but not “wow”
- Some guests never give 5 stars
How to address:
- Ask for feedback during stay (fix issues before checkout)
- Follow up on any mentioned concerns
- Continuously improve based on patterns
- Accept that some 4-star reviews will happen
Response Rate Drops
Life happens, and sometimes you miss messages.
Recovery strategies:
- Respond to everything immediately for a period
- Set up better notification systems
- Use automation as backup
- Consider co-host for coverage
Seasonal Challenges
Low season can make trip counts difficult.
Strategies:
- Adjust pricing to maintain bookings
- Lower minimum stays
- Target different guest segments
- Accept that some quarters may be harder
One Bad Experience
A single terrible review can threaten your status.
Prevention:
- Screen guests carefully
- Set clear expectations
- Address issues immediately
- Document everything
Recovery:
- Respond professionally to the review
- Learn from what went wrong
- Double down on excellent subsequent stays
- Time will push bad reviews down
Is Superhost Worth It?
The Benefits in Practice
Booking impact:
- Some studies suggest 5-10% booking increase
- Guests filtering for Superhost will see you
- Trust factor may reduce questions/hesitation
Pricing impact:
- Some ability to command premium
- But market still sets limits
- Brand value more than price power
Operational impact:
- Forces consistent quality
- Creates accountability
- Builds good habits
The Costs
Time investment:
- Maintaining response rates
- Addressing every concern
- Going above and beyond consistently
Financial investment:
- Higher cleaning standards
- Better amenities
- Thoughtful touches
Stress factor:
- Pressure to maintain status
- Anxiety over ratings
- Fear of losing badge
The Honest Assessment
Superhost is worth pursuing if:
- You’re already close to the requirements
- You host on Airbnb primarily
- The badge matters in your market
- You enjoy hospitality excellence
Superhost may not be worth obsessing over if:
- You’re far from requirements
- Most bookings come from other sources
- Your market doesn’t filter for it
- Stress outweighs benefits
The requirements generally align with good hosting anyway. Focus on being excellent, and Superhost often follows naturally.
Maintaining Status Long-Term
Systems Over Heroics
Don’t rely on extra effort each quarter. Build systems:
- Automated communication flows
- Consistent cleaning standards
- Reliable vendor relationships
- Regular property maintenance
- Guest experience playbook
Regular Assessment
Before each quarterly review:
- Check your current metrics
- Identify any risk areas
- Address issues proactively
- Plan for upcoming period
Continuous Improvement
Use Superhost requirements as a framework:
- Review all guest feedback
- Identify patterns in ratings
- Test improvements
- Iterate on what works
Achieving Superhost status requires consistent excellence. Learn how professional management maintains the standards that earn top ratings and recognition.
