Airbnb Checkout Instructions Template (Copy, Paste, Customise)
Bart — GuestIntro team
Checkout instructions should take a guest 30 seconds to read and 10 minutes to follow. Anything longer and they'll ignore them entirely. Anything shorter and your cleaner walks into a mystery.
Here are the templates. Grab the one that fits your property, swap in your details, and stop writing checkout messages from scratch every time.
Template 1: The Simple Checkout (Best for Most Properties)
Use this if you have a cleaning team handling the turnover and you just need guests to do the basics.
Checkout Instructions
Thanks for staying with us! Checkout is by [TIME].
Before you leave:
Lock all windows and doors
Leave the keys [WHERE — on the kitchen counter / in the lockbox / etc.]
Put any used towels in the bathtub
Start the dishwasher if you've used dishes
Take your rubbish to the [bin location]
Turn off the AC / heating
That's it — our cleaning team handles everything else.
Safe travels, and thanks again for being a great guest!
[Your name]
This works for 80% of properties. The guest does the minimum, your cleaner does the rest. Five items is the sweet spot — enough to save your cleaner time without making the guest feel like they're doing unpaid labour.
Template 2: The Detailed Checkout (Self-Managed Properties)
If you clean the property yourself or there's a gap between checkout and the next check-in, you need guests to do a bit more.
Checkout Instructions
Hi [Guest name], hope you had a great stay! Just a few things before you head off — checkout is by [TIME].
Kitchen:
Wash and put away any dishes you've used (or start the dishwasher)
Wipe down the countertops
Check the fridge and take any food you brought
Empty the coffee machine
Bathroom:
Put used towels in the bathtub
General:
Strip the bed sheets and leave them in a pile on the bed (don't worry about remaking it)
Close and lock all windows
Turn off all lights, the AC / heating, and any fans
Take your rubbish to the [colour/type] bin at [location]
Recycling goes in the [colour/type] bin
Locking up:
Lock the front door and [return key instructions — put the key back in the lockbox, leave on the kitchen counter, etc.]
Make sure the [back door / patio door / gate] is locked
If you've noticed anything broken or damaged, please let me know — no judgement, things happen. I'd rather know now than discover it during cleaning.
Thanks for staying! If you enjoyed your trip, I'd really appreciate a review — it makes a big difference for small hosts like me.
[Your name]
The "if anything is broken" line is doing more work than it looks. Guests who broke something minor (a glass, a handle) often say nothing out of embarrassment. Giving them explicit permission to tell you — without consequence — means you find out before the next guest does.
Template 3: The Short-Stay / Last-Minute Checkout
For one-night stays or situations where your turnaround time is tight and you need the place cleared fast.
Quick Checkout Reminder
Morning! Checkout is [TIME] today.
The short version:
Keys → [location]
Rubbish → [bin location]
Lock the door behind you
Thanks for staying — safe travels!
[Your name]
Short stays don't need a paragraph. The guest slept there for eight hours. They probably used a towel and a coffee mug. Don't send them a 15-point checklist for a one-night stay.
Template 4: The Eco-Friendly / Rural Property Checkout
For properties with septic systems, composting, wood burners, or other features that need specific instructions.
Checkout Instructions
Hi [Guest name], checkout is by [TIME]. A few things specific to this property:
Heating:
If you used the wood burner, please make sure the fire is completely out and close the flue
Turn the thermostat back to [temperature]
Water & waste:
Please don't put anything other than toilet paper in the toilet (we're on a septic system)
Food scraps go in the compost bin by the [location]
General rubbish goes in the [bin location]
Recycling: [specific instructions]
Outside:
Bring in any outdoor cushions or blankets from the deck
Close the [gate / garden gate] so [reason — neighbour's dog, livestock, etc.]
Locking up:
Lock all doors and windows
Leave the key [location]
If you had a good stay, I'd love a review — and I hope you'll come back. You can book direct next time through our website for a better rate: [your website URL]
[Your name]
That last line matters. Checkout communication is one of the few places where you can mention your direct booking website without violating Airbnb's terms. The guest has already completed their stay. They're off-platform. If they want to come back, give them a reason to book direct — and a link to do it.
Template 5: The Checkout Message for Repeat Guests
Different tone, different ask.
Hey [Guest name],
So glad to have you back! You know the drill — checkout by [TIME], keys in [location], lock up behind you.
If you're ever planning another trip, you can book directly through our site at [URL] — saves you the Airbnb fees and it's the same property, same experience, just a better price.
Hope to see you again. Safe travels!
[Your name]
Repeat guests don't need instructions. They need a nudge toward your direct channel. This is your highest-conversion moment for shifting bookings off OTAs — they already love the property, they're already familiar with the process. Make the direct booking option obvious.
When to Send Checkout Instructions
Timing matters more than most hosts realise.
Don't send them at check-in. A guest arriving at your property is thinking about WiFi, parking, and where the towels are. They're not thinking about checkout. If you include checkout instructions in your check-in message, they'll read the check-in part and skip everything else.
Send them the evening before checkout. Airbnb actually does this automatically — it sends a push notification at 5pm local time the day before checkout with your instructions. But relying on that alone is risky because not every guest has notifications enabled, and the automatic message only includes what you've entered in the "Checkout instructions" field in your listing editor.
A personal message the evening before — sent around 6-7pm — gives the guest time to read it, plan their morning, and pack without feeling rushed. It also feels more personal than an automated platform notification.
For multi-night stays, don't send checkout instructions on day one and expect guests to remember them on day five. One message, the evening before departure. That's it.
Where to Put Your Checkout Instructions
Your checkout message is one touchpoint. But guests don't always read messages — especially if they've been getting automated ones all stay. Put your checkout instructions in multiple places:
Your Airbnb listing. Go to Listing → Arrival guide → Checkout instructions. Whatever you enter here gets sent automatically by Airbnb the day before departure. Keep it concise — the automatic notification shows a condensed version.
Your digital guidebook. A dedicated "Checkout" section in your guidebook means the information is always accessible on the guest's phone. They don't have to scroll through a message thread to find it at 10am on departure day. Tools like GuestIntro let you create a checkout section that sits alongside your house manual and house rules — everything in one link.
A printed sign near the front door. Sounds old-fashioned. Works incredibly well. A simple A5 card on the entrance table or the back of the front door catches guests on their way out. It should have your top 3-4 checkout items — not the full list. Think of it as the "don't forget" reminder, not the complete instructions.
What Not to Include in Checkout Instructions
This is where hosts get it wrong. Asking too much is worse than asking too little, because guests who feel the checkout is unreasonable leave worse reviews — even if the rest of the stay was perfect.
Don't ask guests to clean the property. That's what your cleaning fee covers. Asking a guest to mop floors, scrub the bathroom, or vacuum is overstepping. Strip the beds? Fine. Wipe counters? Reasonable. Deep clean the kitchen? That's your cleaner's job.
Don't include more than 6-8 items. Every item beyond 8 reduces the chance that any of them get done. Prioritise the things that actually save your cleaner time — dishes, rubbish, towels, locking up. Everything else is your problem.
Don't threaten fees for non-compliance. "Failure to follow checkout instructions will result in an additional cleaning charge" sets a hostile tone at the worst possible moment — right before the guest writes their review. If someone genuinely leaves the place trashed, handle it through Airbnb's resolution process. Don't put the threat in writing before it happens.
Don't include your checkout instructions in a wall of text. Bullet points. Short sentences. Bold the actions. A guest at 9am on departure day with a car to pack and a flight to catch is not reading paragraphs. Respect their time and they'll respect your property.
The Checkout-to-Review Pipeline
Here's something most hosts miss: checkout is your last impression. And your last impression directly shapes the review.
A guest who gets a warm, simple checkout message — "Thanks for being a great guest, here are a few quick things before you go" — ends the stay on a positive note. They feel appreciated. They're more likely to leave a thoughtful five-star review.
A guest who gets a 20-point checklist at 7am on departure day ends the stay feeling like a tenant being inspected. Even if the stay was perfect, the checkout soured it.
The templates above are designed to be warm and practical. Copy them, adjust the details for your property, and send them at the right time. Your reviews will reflect the difference.
