Airbnb Instant Book: Pros, Cons & Should You Enable It?

When Airbnb first rolled out Instant Book, I was skeptical. Let strangers book my property without my approval? No way.

Then I ran an experiment. I enabled Instant Book on half my properties for 6 months. The result? 17% more bookings on Instant Book listings. Here's everything I learned.

What is Airbnb Instant Book?

Instant Book allows guests to book your property immediately—no host approval required. It's like booking a hotel: click, confirm, done.

Without Instant Book, guests send a booking request, you review it, and then you accept or decline within 24 hours.

The Pros of Instant Book

1. More Bookings (15-20% Increase)

This is the biggest advantage. Based on my data across 12 properties:

Why? Many guests book impulsively. A 24-hour wait gives them time to find another listing or change their mind.

2. Higher Search Ranking

Airbnb's algorithm favors Instant Book listings. You'll appear higher in search results, which means more views and more bookings.

💡 Pro Tip: Instant Book is one of the easiest ways to meet Superhost requirements—it automatically gives you 100% acceptance rate.

3. Less Work for You

No more:

• Waking up to booking requests at 2 AM
• Rushing to respond within 24 hours
• Back-and-forth messages before accepting

Guests book, you get notified, and your automated messages handle the rest.

4. Meets Superhost Acceptance Rate Requirement

To maintain Superhost status, you need a 90%+ acceptance rate. With Instant Book, this is automatically 100%—one less thing to worry about.

5. Appeals to Last-Minute Travelers

Business travelers, spontaneous vacationers, and people with urgent accommodation needs want to book NOW. If you require approval, they'll book your competitor.

The Cons of Instant Book

1. Less Control Over Guest Selection

This is the main concern. Without pre-approval, you might get:

• Guests who didn't read your house rules
• Large groups trying to throw parties
• Guests who aren't a good fit for your space

My solution: Use Instant Book requirements (see below).

2. Party and Problem Guests

⚠️ Warning: Some hosts report more issues with Instant Book guests. However, in my experience, proper guest requirements filter out 95% of problem guests.

Pair Instant Book with noise monitors and clear house rules to protect yourself.

3. Potentially Unprepared Guests

Some guests book without reading your listing carefully. They might not realize:

• It's a shared space
• There's no parking
• Pets aren't allowed

Solution: Make critical info impossible to miss. Bold it in your title and first paragraph.

4. Still Allows Cancellation Within 48 Hours

Even with Instant Book, guests can cancel penalty-free within 48 hours (or before check-in, depending on your policy). This can leave you with orphan dates.

Instant Book Requirements: Your Safety Net

You're not completely giving up control. Airbnb lets you set requirements for who can Instant Book:

My settings: Verified ID + Positive reviews + No recent cancellations. This filters out most issues while keeping bookings high.

Instant Book vs. Request to Book: Data Comparison

Here's my 6-month experiment data:

Key takeaway: Instant Book generated $7,600 more revenue over 6 months, despite slightly higher cancellation rates.

Who Should Enable Instant Book?

✅ Enable if you:

• Want maximum bookings
• Are working toward Superhost
• Have good automated systems in place
• Offer a clear, straightforward listing
• Can handle occasional guest issues

❌ Avoid if you:

• Rent a room in your home (shared space)
• Have complex house rules
• Have limited availability (want to be selective)
• Are brand new to hosting (learn manual screening first)

How to Enable Instant Book

1. Go to your listing on Airbnb
2. Click "Manage listing" > "Booking settings"
3. Toggle "Instant Book" ON
4. Set your guest requirements
5. Save

Instant Book Best Practices

1. Set Clear Guest Requirements

At minimum: Verified ID + Positive reviews + No recent cancellations.

2. Use Automation

Instant Book works best with automated messages that send:

• Welcome message immediately after booking
• Check-in instructions 24 hours before arrival
• Post-arrival follow-up

3. Enable Self Check-In

Instant Book + self check-in = completely hands-off hosting. Guests book instantly, get instructions automatically, and let themselves in.

4. Monitor for Issues

Use tools like noise monitors and smart home devices to catch problems early.

5. Review Your Settings Quarterly

If you're getting too many issues, tighten requirements. If bookings are low, loosen them.

FAQ: Airbnb Instant Book

Can I cancel an Instant Book reservation?

Yes, but there are penalties. You can cancel penalty-free in specific cases (guest violating house rules, extenuating circumstances). Otherwise, you'll face Superhost and ranking penalties.

Does Instant Book affect my pricing?

No. You still control your pricing strategy. Instant Book only affects how guests confirm bookings.

Can I screen guests before they arrive?

Yes! After an Instant Book, review their profile. If something seems off, message them. In extreme cases, you can contact Airbnb support.

What if someone Instant Books for a party?

This is rare with proper requirements. If it happens, document everything, contact Airbnb, and consider using noise monitoring.

Will I lose my personal touch?

Not if you set up good welcome messages. Automation can still feel personal.

My Recommendation

For most hosts, Instant Book is worth enabling. The 15-20% booking increase outweighs the minor risks, especially with proper guest requirements.

Start with conservative settings (Verified ID + Positive reviews + No cancellations), monitor for a few months, and adjust based on your experience.

Related Guides

• How to Become a Superhost — Instant Book helps meet requirements
• Self Check-In Guide — Perfect pairing with Instant Book
• Automated Messages — Essential for Instant Book
• Pricing Strategy — Maximize revenue from more bookings
• Getting More Bookings — Other strategies to increase bookings.