Airbnb Guest Check-Out Message Template: Say Goodbye the Right Way

What should an Airbnb checkout message say now that Airbnb has new house rules? Well, the good news is you can still send one, and it should thank the guest, confirm the checkout time and repeat what was on your listing when they booked. For reservations booked on or after November 20, 2026, Airbnb's policy says hosts can't add new house rules or requests after booking, and that includes by message, so the reminder part can't ask for anything new.

That rule is a real change if your old template asked guests to strip the beds, wash the dishes or take their trash with them. So let's rebuild the message around what's still allowed, including a kind ask for a review on Airbnb, then finish with a template you can copy.

What Changed for Airbnb Checkout Messages in 2026?

Two things changed, and both started with Airbnb's October 20, 2026 announcement. First, checkout instructions no longer get their own tab. Locking up is now a standard rule, and anything else you want done before checkout sits under "Before checkout" in the Requests part of your House rules and requests section. Second, for bookings made on or after November 20, 2026, whatever the stay date, every rule and request has to be on the listing before the guest books.

None of that stops you messaging guests. Airbnb now offers your house rules as a quick reply, and its announcement calls messaging "another way to help make sure they understand your expectations." The catch is that the message can repeat expectations, not create them.

Airbnb also does some of the reminding for you now. According to its checkout guide, guests see your checkout time and any related rules or requests in their Trips tab, and opted-in guests get a push notification at 5:00 PM in the local time zone. Then, after checkout, Airbnb reminds guests to let you know they've left.

The same guide explains why the old chore list is risky as well. After checkout, guests can rate how accurately your listing described your place, and one of the reasons they can give is "unexpected or excessive rules or requests."

What to Include in an Airbnb Checkout Message

So what goes in it? Keep it short, warm and limited to what the guest already agreed to, in roughly this order.

Start With a Thank-You

Open by thanking the guest by name for staying. It sets a friendly tone for the practical part, and since checkout is the last thing they'll do at your place, a warm note makes a better final impression than a list of instructions on its own.

Confirm the Checkout Time

Give the checkout time exactly as it appears on the reservation. Under Airbnb's ground rules for guests, guests already have to finish checkout, including returning the key, by that time, so you're reminding them of something they've agreed to rather than asking for anything new.

Repeat Your Lock-Up Details and Before-Checkout Requests Word for Word

Your lock-up details and before-checkout requests are what the new policy cares about most. If you've set the lock up at checkout rule with key-return details, repeat those details, and if you've added requests under "Before checkout", copy them across word for word. Just make sure you repeat what was on your listing when that guest booked, because Airbnb's help article says edits only apply to reservations received after you save them, so a request you've added since doesn't belong in their message.

If your listing doesn't have before-checkout requests yet, add them in the Listing editor for future bookings rather than slipping them into the message. Our guide to writing Airbnb house rules covers which requests Airbnb generally allows, like putting used dishes in the sink or gathering used towels.

Say How to Reach You in the Airbnb App

Let guests know they can message you in the Airbnb app if anything comes up before they leave. Keeping the conversation in the Airbnb thread also gives you a record if something does go wrong, and Airbnb's ground rules point to the message thread as a place to keep that record.

Ask for a Review on Airbnb, Then Say Goodbye

A short, polite ask for a review is fine, as long as it's a review on Airbnb. Airbnb's policy on host-imposed requirements doesn't let hosts ask guests to review an Airbnb stay or fill out a survey on another website unless the listing is a hotel, so leave out links to Google or your own site.

Then wish them safe travels and tell them you'd be glad to host them again. If securing five-star reviews is the goal, the stay itself does most of that work, and the message only has to make it easy.

When to Send Your Airbnb Checkout Message

Since Airbnb already sends its own checkout reminders, your message is the personal touch rather than the only reminder, so one message from you is plenty. The morning of checkout day works for most stays. If your checkout is early, like 9 am, the evening before is kinder, because guests can plan their morning around it.

You don't need to ask guests to message you once they've left, either. Airbnb already reminds them to let you know, and if your cleaner needs a heads-up, the reservation's checkout time is a safer trigger than waiting on a guest's message.

Airbnb Guest Checkout Message Template

Copy this into your messages and fill in the brackets from the reservation and from your listing as it was when the guest booked.

Hi [guest name],

Thank you so much for staying at [listing name]! We hope you've had a great trip.

A quick reminder that checkout is at [checkout time on the reservation] [today or tomorrow]. Before you go, here's what's in the house rules and requests you saw when you booked:

• [Your lock up at checkout details, as written on your listing]
• [Each "Before checkout" request, copied word for word]

If anything comes up before you leave, message us here in the Airbnb app.

If you enjoyed your stay, a review on Airbnb would mean a lot to us, and it helps future guests too.

Safe travels, and we'd love to host you again!

[Your name or team name]

And here's how the middle of it reads for a listing that requires guests to lock up and has three before-checkout requests:

• Lock the front door and leave the key in the lockbox by the side door.
• Please put used dishes in the sink.
• Please gather used towels.
• Please turn off the lights when you leave.

Every line in that version is on that listing, which is what makes it safe to repeat, and each one follows the lock-up rule or one of Airbnb's example requests, which is what makes it safe to have on the listing in the first place.

Lines to Cut From Older Airbnb Checkout Messages

A lot of older checkout templates, including the earlier version of this one, carry lines that don't fit the new policy. None of this came out of nowhere, either. Back in November 2022, Airbnb told hosts that guests shouldn't have to strip the beds, do laundry or vacuum at checkout, while turning off the lights and locking the doors were fair to ask.

Line in an older template	Why it's a problem now	What to do instead
"Strip the beds and start a load of laundry"	A cleaner's job, which Airbnb generally doesn't allow as a request	Ask guests to gather used towels, if that request is on your listing
"Wash and put away the dishes"	Also a cleaner's job	"Please put used dishes in the sink," if it's on your listing
"Take your trash with you"	Taking trash off-site is generally not allowed	Ask guests to sort trash into the indoor bins, if that's on your listing
"Return all items to their original locations"	Vague, and new if it isn't on your listing	Drop it, or add a specific, light request to your listing first
"Leave us a review on Google"	Off-Airbnb review requests aren't allowed unless you're a hotel	Ask for a review on Airbnb
"A $50 fee applies if..."	Fines are generally not allowed, and hosts can't charge for skipped checkout tasks	Drop it, and price the work into your cleaning fee

The left column is what you'll find in a lot of older templates, and the right column is the fix. Notice that most of the fixes depend on your listing, because a message can only repeat what the listing already says.

So, What Should an Airbnb Checkout Message Say?

Thank the guest, confirm the checkout time from the reservation, repeat your lock-up details and before-checkout requests word for word, and ask for a review on Airbnb. For bookings made on or after November 20, 2026, anything that wasn't on your listing when the guest booked stays out of the message. If your cleaner now handles the dishes and laundry guests used to do, BNBCalc Markets shows what listings your size charge for cleaning, so you can check whether your fee covers it.

I think people remember how a stay ended more than how it started, so the last thing you send is worth getting right, and the best goodbyes rarely ask for anything at all.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I Ask Guests to Do Chores in My Airbnb Checkout Message?

Not new ones, and not cleaner-type chores. For bookings made on or after November 20, 2026, Airbnb's policy says hosts can't add new rules or requests after booking, including by message, and it generally doesn't allow tasks a cleaner would normally do, like stripping beds, washing dishes or taking trash off-site. A checkout message can repeat light requests that are already on the listing, such as putting used dishes in the sink.

Does Airbnb Send Checkout Reminders to Guests Automatically?

Yes. Airbnb automatically sends guests notifications with the checkout time and instructions, shows a checkout reminder with any related rules or requests in their Trips tab, and sends a push notification at 5:00 PM local time to guests who've opted in. After checkout, Airbnb also reminds guests to let the host know they've left, so a host message works best as a short, personal goodbye.

Can I Ask for a Review in My Airbnb Checkout Message?

Yes, as long as the review is on Airbnb. Airbnb's policy doesn't allow hosts to ask guests to review an Airbnb stay or fill out a survey on a separate website unless the listing is a hotel. A short, polite ask for an Airbnb review, with no pressure, fits comfortably in a checkout message.

What If a Guest Ignores a Checkout Request on My Listing?

A request is something guests are encouraged to follow, so it doesn't carry the penalty-free cancellation Airbnb ties to house rules. Airbnb's ground rules also say hosts can't charge guests for skipped cleaning or checkout tasks. You can contact Airbnb for help with next steps and leave an honest review that reflects the stay.

Should I Raise My Cleaning Fee If I Can't Ask Guests to Do Checkout Chores?

It's worth checking if your cleaner now does more per turnover. BNBCalc Markets shows what listings your size charge for cleaning in your market, so you can see whether your fee covers the extra work before you change it. Airbnb's ground rules say cleaning fees cover standard cleaning between reservations, laundry and vacuuming included, and the BNBCalc Calculator shows what a higher cleaning cost does to your cash flow.

Run Your Rental's Numbers in BNBCalc

If you're thinking about adding a rental, or just want to see how cleaning costs change your returns, run the property through the BNBCalc Calculator first. As of October 2026, both BNBCalc plans start with a 7-day free trial.